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
Greatest Gift of All
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our friends have all gone home
You and I are waiting
For Santa Clause to come
There's a present by the tree
Stockings on the wall
And knowing you're in love with me
Is the greatest gift of all
The fire is slowly fading
Chill is in the air
All the gifts are waiting
For children everywhere
Throught the window I can see
Snow begin to fall
Knowing you're in love with me
Is the greatest gift of all
Just before I go to sleep
I hear a church bell ring
Merry Christmas everyone
Is the song it sings
So I say a silent prayer
For creatures great and small
Peace on Earth, good will to men
Is the greatest gift of all
Peace on Earth, good will to men
Is the greatest gift of all
The lyrics to Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers's song The Greatest Gift Of All are a beautiful portrayal of the joy and happiness felt during Christmas time. As dawn slowly breaks, the couple is waiting for Santa Clause to come and the fire is slowly fading with chill in the air. However, the presence of a present by the tree, stockings on the wall, and the knowledge that they are in love with each other is the greatest gift of all. As snow begins to fall outside, they realize their true love for each other and how blessed they are to have each other during the holiday season.
The song also portrays a deeper meaning, as the couple says a silent prayer for "creatures great and small," hoping for peace on Earth and good will towards all men. This message of unity and love is the ultimate meaning of Christmas, and the lyrics serve to remind us that the greatest gifts we can ever receive are not material gifts, but rather love and compassion towards each other.
Overall, The Greatest Gift Of All is a beautiful and moving song that captures the essence of Christmas through its warm and inviting lyrics. It reminds us of the importance of love, kindness, and peace during the holiday season, and encourages us to share these sentiments with the people around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Dawn is slowly breaking
The sun is slowly rising and a new day is beginning.
Our friends have all gone home
Our friends and family have left after celebrating Christmas Eve with us.
You and I are waiting
We are eagerly waiting for Santa Clause to arrive and bring us presents.
For Santa Clause to come
We are excitedly waiting for Santa Clause to bring us gifts on Christmas Day.
There's a present by the tree
We have placed a gift under the Christmas tree for each other to open.
Stockings on the wall
We have hung stockings on the wall that we hope Santa will fill with small gifts.
And knowing you're in love with me
Being aware of your love for me is the most valuable gift I could receive.
Is the greatest gift of all
Knowing that you love me is even more important than any material gift.
The fire is slowly fading
The warmth of the fireplace is beginning to subside and the room is becoming cooler.
Chill is in the air
The temperature is dropping and the air is getting colder.
All the gifts are waiting
All of the presents that we've wrapped and prepared are eagerly waiting to be opened by their recipients.
For children everywhere
The gifts are not just for us, but for children all over the world who celebrate Christmas.
Throught the window I can see
Looking out of the window, I can see snowflakes beginning to fall.
Snow begin to fall
Small snowflakes are starting to descend from the sky and land on the ground.
Just before I go to sleep
Right before I fall asleep, I hear a church bell ringing in the distance.
I hear a church bell ring
In the nighttime silence, a church bell can be heard as it tolls the arrival of Christmas Day.
Merry Christmas everyone
The sound of the church bell signals that Christmas Day has finally arrived and we wish everyone a Merry Christmas.
Is the song it sings
The church bell's chime is like a beautiful melody that sings out to the world, welcoming Christmas Day.
So I say a silent prayer
I take a moment to quietly ask for blessings and good wishes for all creatures, both big and small.
For creatures great and small
I wish goodness and peace upon all creatures and living beings, no matter their size or standing.
Peace on Earth, good will to men
Let there be peace and goodwill among all people, no matter their race, religion, or creed. This is the greatest gift we could give and receive.
Is the greatest gift of all
Wishing for peace and goodwill on Earth is the most valuable and important gift that we can give and receive.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN JARVIS, JOHN BARLOW JARVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Poeticsam
Ms. Dolly you are the world's "Greatest Gift of All" 🦋❤
R.I.P. Mr. Kenny Rogers
@valerieselau7384
Nothing beats like a timeless Christmas classic. Legends forever. 😊
@isaacstodolist4201
Dolly Parton is the greatest singer ever
@allentrice1703
I felt like I missed old Kenny Rogers so much! It's not Christmas without him! Thanks! 👍⛄❄👱🎅🎄
@user-fx3yr4ss8e
This song will never get old
Rest in peace Kenneth
@johnothy
Their voices blend together perfectly in this song. This is one of my favorites every holiday season! Their album and special are probably my most favorite.
@acideddy589
Ft🎉m6w6eh
@countrymusic650
Whoever’s reading this I pray you are happy and become extremely successful! GOD bless you all
@user-fx3yr4ss8e
The greatest
Christmas song of all times
Absolutely the best
Rest in peace, Kenneth
@0707patty
Kenny Rogers is definitely missed ! I love him! And of course Dolly 😘😘😘😘