Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946 in Sevierville, Tennessee, U.S… Read Full Bio ↴Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946 in Sevierville, Tennessee, U.S.) is an American country singer, songwriter, composer, producer, entrepreneur, author and actress.

Parton began performing as a child, singing on local radio and television in East Tennessee. At age 12 she was appearing on Knoxville TV, and at 13, she was recording on a small label and appearing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. When she graduated from high school in 1964 she moved to Nashville, taking many traditional elements of folklore and popular music from East Tennessee with her.

Parton's initial success came as a songwriter, with her songs being covered by Kitty Wells, Hank Williams, Jr., Skeeter Davis, and a number of others. She signed with Monument Records in late 1965, where she was initially pitched as a bubblegum pop singer, earning only one national chart single, "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby," which did not crack the Billboard Top 100. Additional pop singles also failed to chart.

The label agreed to have Parton sing country music after her composition "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" as recorded by Bill Phillips (and with Parton, uncredited, on harmony) went to No. 6 on the country charts in 1966. Her first country single, "Dumb Blonde" (one of the few songs during this era that she recorded but didn't write), reached No. 24 country 1967, followed later the same year with "Something Fishy," which went to No. 17. The two songs anchored her first full-length album, Hello I'm Dolly, that same year.

In 1967, Parton was asked to join the weekly syndicated country music TV program hosted by Porter Wagoner, replacing Norma Jean. She also signed with RCA Records, Wagoner's label, during this period, where she would remain for the next two decades. Wagoner and Parton immediately began a hugely successful career as a vocal duet in addition to their solo work and their first single together, a cover of Tom Paxton's "The Last Thing on My Mind," reached the top ten on the U.S. country charts in late 1967, and was the first of over a dozen duet singles to chart for them during the next several years.

Parton is a hugely successful songwriter, having begun by writing country songs with strong elements of folk music in them based upon her upbringing in humble mountain surroundings. Her songs "Coat of Many Colors" and "Jolene" have become classics in the field, as have a number of others. As a composer, she is also regarded as one of country music's most gifted storytellers, with many of her narrative songs based on persons and events from her childhood.

In 1982 Dolly Parton sang her song "I Will Always Love You", for the movie "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas", starring Parton and Burt Reynolds. The song - originally composed around 1974 - made few ripples, but it wasn't until Whitney Houston re-recorded it for "The Bodyguard" a decade later, that the song made yet another international hit for Dolly Parton. She later put out her own version on the 1996 album of the same name.

In 1987, Parton left her longtime label, RCA, and signed with Columbia Records, where her recording career continued to prosper, but by the mid 1990s, Parton, along with many other performers of her generation, found that her new music was not welcome on country radio playlists. She recorded a series of critically acclaimed bluegrass albums, beginning with "The Grass is Blue" (1999) and "Little Sparrow" (2001), both of which won Grammy Awards. Her 2002 album "Halos and Horns" included a bluegrass version of the Led Zeppelin classic Stairway to Heaven. In 2005, Parton released Those Were The Days, her interpretation of hits from the folk-rock era of the late 1960s through early 1970s. The CD featured such classics as John Lennon's "Imagine," Cat Stevens' "Where Do The Children Play," Tommy James' "Crimson & Clover," and the folk classic "Where Have All The Flowers Gone", as well as the title track.

In 2007, Dolly paved new musical ground by forming her own record label, Dolly Records. The label's first release - Backwoods Barbie - debuted at #2 on the Billboard country albums charts and marks Parton's first mainstream country album in 17 years. Parton is touring North America and Europe throughout 2008 in support of her latest release.

1955

Gonna Hurry
Dolly Parton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You found someone else
And you're sending, sending me away
Oh, I hate so badly but I know
I know I can't stay

You tell me that I must go
I'll try to understand
Well, I'm gonna leave

And I'm gonna hurry
Just, just as slow as I can

Well, I'm gonna cry, cry myself
Cry myself to death
Just crying, crying over you
Well I, I feel sorry, so sorry for myself
But I, I've got to leave, I know it's true

Oh, oh the little ring you gave to me
I took it, took it from my hands
'Cause I'm gonna leave you

And I'm gonna hurry
Just, just as slow as I can

Overall Meaning

In Dolly Parton's song "Gonna Hurry," the lyrics depict a heartbroken individual who has been informed by their partner that they have found someone else and want them to leave. The singer expresses their deep sadness and their struggle to accept the situation, acknowledging that they cannot stay despite their strong feelings of resentment. They understand the necessity of their departure, and though they express a desire to leave quickly, they also emphasize the contradiction of leaving "just as slow as I can."

The emotional turmoil is evident in their decision to cry themselves to death over the loss, highlighting the intensity of their love and the pain they feel. Despite their self-pity and sorrow, they ultimately recognize that they have to leave and accept their reality. The reference to the little ring given by their partner symbolizes the end of their commitment and emotional attachment.

Overall, "Gonna Hurry" captures the complicated emotions of heartbreak and acceptance, showcasing the internal struggle of letting go while experiencing profound sorrow.

Line by Line Meaning

You found someone else
You have discovered another person to be with

And you're sending, sending me away
You are insisting that I leave and go away

Oh, I hate so badly but I know
Although it pains me greatly, I am aware

I know I can't stay
I understand that I cannot remain

You tell me that I must go
You inform me that I have to depart

I'll try to understand
I will make an effort to comprehend

Well, I'm gonna leave
Well, I am going to depart

And I'm gonna hurry
I will hasten my departure

Just, just as slow as I can
But I will make it appear as if I am leaving slowly

Well, I'm gonna cry, cry myself
I am going to cry excessively

Cry myself to death
Cry until it feels like I am dying