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 Would Know
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In my mind I've made love to you often
But only in my mind can it be so
'Cause there's someone at home that's countin' on me
And if I did, I'm sure that he would know
Yes, he would know, yes, he could tell
For, he has loved me long enough to know me very well
I know my guilt would show and he would know
But I must admit you're someone very special
And it would be so easy to let go
Makin' love to you could be so easy
But if I did, I'm sure that he would know
Yes, he would know, yes, he could tell
For, he has loved me long enough to know me very well
And if I lied, he'd see it in my eyes
I know my guilt would show and he would know
My conscience just won't let me make love to you
I know it would be sweet, but I just can't
When I go home to him I must be able
To look him in the eyes and say I ain't
'Cause he would know, yes, he could tell
For, he has loved me long enough to know me very well
And if I lied, he'd see it in my eyes
I know my guilt would show and he would know
He would know
At surface level, Dolly Parton's "He Would Know" appears to be a story of a woman fighting with her own desires to be with someone outside of her committed relationship. In the lyrics, Parton is very honest about the temptation she feels to cheat on her partner. She describes having made love to this other individual in her mind and how easy it would be to let go and be with him physically. However, she knows that if she were to act on these desires, her partner would immediately be able to tell something was wrong, and she would ultimately live with the guilt of what she had done.
At a deeper level, "He Would Know" speaks to the internal struggles many people have with temptation and loyalty. The song is a reminder that we must always be accountable for our actions, even if we think no one is looking. The woman in the song knows that her partner loves and understands her well enough to know something is off. She knows that if she were to succumb to her desires, the guilt she would carry would weigh heavily on her soul.
The lyrics of "He Would Know" may seem simple on the surface, but Parton's ability to convey complex emotions through her songwriting is truly remarkable. The song stands as a testament to the power of music as a medium for exploring complex themes and emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
In my mind I've made love to you often
I've thought about having a physical relationship with you frequently in my imagination.
But only in my mind can it be so
However, this is unlikely to ever actually happen in reality.
'Cause there's someone at home that's countin' on me
I am in a committed relationship with someone who depends on me.
And if I did, I'm sure that he would know
If I were to cheat, my partner would be able to sense that something was amiss.
Yes, he would know, yes, he could tell
My partner knows me so well that he could pick up on any changes in my behavior or demeanor.
For, he has loved me long enough to know me very well
We have been together for a long time and he has a deep understanding of who I am.
And if I lied, he'd see it in my eyes
Even if I attempted to hide the truth, my partner would be able to read the truth in my eyes.
I know my guilt would show and he would know
I am fully aware that any dishonesty would ultimately be unsuccessful.
But I must admit you're someone very special
I must confess that I have strong feelings towards you.
And it would be so easy to let go
It would be effortless to give in to my desires and pursue a relationship with you.
Makin' love to you could be so easy
The idea of becoming intimate with you is very tempting.
My conscience just won't let me make love to you
However, my moral compass prohibits me from acting on these impulses.
I know it would be sweet, but I just can't
Although it would be a pleasurable experience, I cannot justify hurting my partner and breaking our commitment.
When I go home to him I must be able
I need to be able to face my partner with a clear conscience.
To look him in the eyes and say I ain't
I need to be truthful and honest about my actions, and not hide anything from him.
He would know
Ultimately, my partner would have a sense of what was going on, even if I tried to keep it hidden.
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.