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
He's Everything
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear Him when the church bells ring on wedding days
I feel Him when the breezes blow
Adore Him where the flowers grow
Revere Him when the oceans roll
He's everything
Oh, oh, oh
We're born, we live, we die and life goes on
We love, we laugh, we cry
And we're a part of His creation
Every person, every nation
He's in every situation
Everything
He's everything
Let's lift Him up
Through everything, He's loving us
Is it asking all that much
That we should do the same
So let us sing and raise our voice
Let us make a joyful noise
Let us praise His holy name
He's everything
Oh, oh, oh
He's everything
In everything, He plays a part
In everything, He leaves His mark
Restores our lives, our broken hearts
The God of hope and change
So let us sing and raise our voice
Let us make a joyful noise
Rejoice and praise His name
Rejoice, sing it again
Rejoice, His joy remains
He's everything
Oh, oh, oh
He's everything
Oh, oh, oh
He's everything
He's everything
He's everything
Praise His name, His holy name
He's everything
He's always lovin' us
We should show a little love in everything, everything
He's the God of hope and change
He's the cure for hurt and pain
You know He loves us all the same
'Cause He's everything, He's everything
Everything He plays a part
Heals and mends our broken hearts
Restores us when we fall apart
'Cause He's everything, He's everything
So lift Him up, rejoice, rejoice
Let us sing and raise our voice
And let us make a joyful noise
He is everything
In Dolly Parton's song "He's Everything," she sings about her belief in God and his presence in every aspect of life. She sees him in the play of children, hears him in the church bells on wedding days, feels him in the breeze, adores him in the beauty of the flowers, and reveres him in the vastness of the ocean. For her, God is everything that makes life worth living, and he deserves all the praise and love that humanity can offer. In every situation and circumstance, God is present, playing a part, and leaving his mark. He restores broken hearts, brings hope and change, and loves everyone the same.
The song is a passionate call to lift God up, to rejoice and sing His praises, and to share His love with others. It emphasizes the importance of showing a little love in everything we do and recognizing the presence of God in every moment of our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I see Him when the children are at play
I see the beauty of God's creation when I watch children playing
I hear Him when the church bells ring on wedding days
I hear God's love and blessings ringing in the sound of church bells on wedding days
I feel Him when the breezes blow
I feel the presence and movement of God in the gentle breeze
Adore Him where the flowers grow
I cherish and appreciate God's work in the blooming of flowers
Revere Him when the oceans roll
I show deep respect and wonder at the power and beauty of God's creation in the oceans
He's everything
God is present and at work in every aspect of creation
We're born, we live, we die and life goes on
Life is a cycle of birth, living, death, and continuation
We love, we laugh, we cry
Throughout life, we experience a range of emotions including love, laughter, and tears
And we're a part of His creation
As living beings, we are a part of God's creation
Every person, every nation
God's love and work is present throughout every person and every nation
He's in every situation
Through all circumstances, God is present and at work
Let's lift Him up
We should elevate God in our thoughts and actions
Through everything, He's loving us
God's love is present and sustaining through all experiences
Is it asking all that much
It is not too great of a request
That we should do the same
We should show love and kindness to others as God shows to us
So let us sing and raise our voice
We should express joy and gratitude through song and praise to God
Let us make a joyful noise
We should joyfully express our worship to God
Let us praise His holy name
We should give honor and worship to God's holy name
In everything, He plays a part
God is at work in every aspect of life
In everything, He leaves His mark
God's presence is evident and impactful in all experiences
Restores our lives, our broken hearts
God can heal and restore our brokenness and pain
The God of hope and change
God offers hope and transformation
Rejoice and praise His name
We should celebrate and worship God with joy
Rejoice, sing it again
We should continue to joyfully praise God
Rejoice, His joy remains
We can experience God's joy even in difficult circumstances
He's always lovin' us
God's love is constant and unfailing
We should show a little love in everything, everything
As representatives of God, we should show love and kindness to others in all situations
He's the God of hope and change
God offers hope for a better future and the power to transform lives
He's the cure for hurt and pain
God can heal and provide relief from emotional and physical pain
You know He loves us all the same
God's love is equal and unconditional for all individuals
Heals and mends our broken hearts
God has the power to heal and restore emotional wounds
Restores us when we fall apart
God can help us rebuild after difficult times and overcome adversity
So lift Him up, rejoice, rejoice
We should celebrate and worship God with joy and reverence
And let us make a joyful noise
We should express our worship and joy to God through singing and praise
Praise His name, His holy name
We should give honor and worship to God's holy name
He's everything
God is all-encompassing and present in all aspects of life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Romy K.
on Gypsy Joe And Me
As a matter of fact she's contemplating suicide standing on the bridge, that's how they'll be together again.