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
Happy Happy Birthday Baby
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Although you're with somebody new
Thought I'd drop a line to say
That I wish this happy day
Would find me beside you
Happy, happy birthday baby
No, I can't call you my baby
Seems like years ago we met
Cause that's when we fell in love
Do you remember
The names we had for each other
I was your pretty
You were my baby
Oh, how could we say goodbye
Hope I didn't spoil your birthday
I'm not acting like a lady
So I'll close this note to you
With good luck and wishes too
Happy happy birthday baby
The lyrics to Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson's song "Happy Happy Birthday Baby" convey a bittersweet message of love lost and the longing for what could have been. The song is sung from the perspective of someone wishing a happy birthday to a former lover who has moved on and is now with someone new. The singer expresses a desire to be with their ex-lover on their special day, but understands that it is not possible. This sentiment is captured in the line "Although you're with somebody new, thought I'd drop a line to say that I wish this happy day would find me beside you." This line conveys a sense of yearning and regret, as well as a touch of resignation to the fact that they can no longer be together.
The song's lyrics also touch on the memories of the past, when the couple met and fell in love. The singer asks their former lover if they remember the endearments they used to call each other, such as "I was your pretty, you were my baby." The chorus of the song is a repetition of the phrase "Happy, happy birthday baby," which serves as a reminder of the connection that the two used to share.
Line by Line Meaning
Happy, happy birthday baby
Wishing you a very happy birthday on this special day.
Although you're with somebody new
Even though you are with someone else now, I still remember what we had.
Thought I'd drop a line to say
I wanted to write this letter to let you know I am thinking of you today.
That I wish this happy day
I hope that this day brings you much joy and celebration.
Would find me beside you
I wish I could be there to celebrate with you.
No, I can't call you my baby
I know we are no longer together and I cannot refer to you affectionately anymore.
Seems like years ago we met
It feels like it has been a long time since we first met.
On a day I can't forget
I still remember the day we met very vividly.
Cause that's when we fell in love
We fell in love on that day and it will always be a special memory to me.
Do you remember
Can you recall and reminisce about our past together?
The names we had for each other
Do you still remember the affectionate nicknames we gave each other?
I was your pretty
You called me 'pretty' as your term of endearment.
You were my baby
I referred to you as 'my baby' as a term of affection.
Oh, how could we say goodbye
It was very difficult to say goodbye to each other and end our relationship.
Hope I didn't spoil your birthday
I hope that my letter did not ruin your birthday celebration in any way.
I'm not acting like a lady
I am aware that my behavior and emotions may seem unbecoming for a woman.
So I'll close this note to you
I will end this letter now.
With good luck and wishes too
I wish you all the best and good luck in your life.
Happy happy birthday baby
Once again, happy birthday to you.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Gilbert Lopez, Margo Sylvia
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DeCorozalSoy
Dolly's gracious acceptance of quick-witted Willie's not-so-subtle (and well-deserved) compliment before they start singing here just takes my breath away.
@reneekennedy716
Oh, man - this just made my day!!!! Thank you! Happy 77th Dolly! You're the bomb!
@jillfrost
After 7 Decades of Fun in the Sun ..Happy Reminder day to Me too Phffft
@meganzubovnik2184
Both Dolly and Willie sound AMAZING! Such an epic, magical performance 🙀💜
@mirandawinners
The sincere looks in thier eyes esp Dolly you will mistake them for lovers. Oooh Dolly she brings emotions and passion into every moment that she sings. Am her greatest fan!
@louisesimard571
Très belle performance. Leur sourire est à leur meilleur. Quel duo. Merci.
@captlarry-3525
Here, you have two of America's Best 20th Century Song Writers, Paying Homage to a Great Rock/Doo Wop Classic... Perfect.
@MostlyBrenda
Tidbit - For the album, they used Dolly's 1960s recording, electronically lowered by one key. Her record company would not release her for this project. So, this live show is unique.
@COLEY72
I love the little squeek in Dolly's giggle ❤️
@tinamallin2570
I love these two so much