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
Heartbreaker
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You made me think that I could need you
You weaved your magic spell and I believed you
Lookin' back on you and me
Promises that will never be
I truly thought that we were lovers
But now I find that I'm just like all the others
Sweet little love maker
Takin' my heart and leave me behind
Heartbreaker, couldn't you be
Just a little more kind to me
Played with fire, felt its burn
I would have thought that I would have learned
I melted every time you kissed me
Each time you'd leave I thought that you would miss me
Heartbreaker, wish I'd seen that love was blind
Sweet little love maker
Takin' my heart and leave me behind
Heartbreaker, couldn't you be
A little more kind to me
Heartbreaker, wish I'd seen that love was blind
Sweet little love maker
Takin' my heart and leave me behind
Heartbreaker, couldn't you be
Just a little more kind to me
Heartbreaker, wish I'd seen that love was blind
Sweet little love maker
Takin' my heart and leave me behind
Heartbreaker, couldn't you be
Just a little more kind to me
"Heartbreaker" by Dolly Parton is a ballad about a woman who was left heartbroken after being misled by a man whom she believed was in love with her but eventually left her feeling used and discarded. She reflects on the relationship and realizes that she was just another one of his conquests, left behind and hurt. The lyrics are infused with regret and longing, as she wishes she had seen the truth before falling for his spell.
As the song progresses, we see a shift in tone from sadness to anger towards the Heartbreaker. He is described as a "sweet little love maker" who takes from her without any care or remorse. The lyrics suggest that she knew he was trouble, but she couldn't resist his charms.
The chorus repeats the frustration towards the Heartbreaker, and it is clear that the songwriter wishes he had treated her better. The repetition also emphasizes the pain of the experience and suggests that the Heartbreaker keeps causing injury to other women as well.
Overall, "Heartbreaker" is a powerful account of a woman's struggle with heartbreak, disillusionment, and betrayal. It is a poignant and relatable song that highlights the dangers of falling for the wrong person.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I sit all alone, thinkin' 'bout what I should have known
I am alone, pondering over the things I should have known about you
You made me think that I could need you
You convinced me that I needed you in my life
You weaved your magic spell and I believed you
You used your charms and I fell for it
Lookin' back on you and me
Reflecting on our past relationship
Promises that will never be
Realizing that the promises you made will never come to fruition
I truly thought that we were lovers
I genuinely believed that we were in love
But now I find that I'm just like all the others
I now realize that I am just another person you played with
Heartbreaker, wish I'd seen that love was blind
Addressing the person who broke their heart, wishing they had realized that love can be deceiving
Sweet little love maker
Referring to the person who used their charm to win their heart
Takin' my heart and leave me behind
Breaking their heart and leaving them behind
Heartbreaker, couldn't you be
Asking the person who broke their heart if they could've been
Just a little more kind to me
Kind enough to not break their heart
Played with fire, felt its burn
Took a risk and experienced the consequences
I would have thought that I would have learned
I should have learned from my past experiences
I melted every time you kissed me
I fell for your charms every time you kissed me
Each time you'd leave I thought that you would miss me
I hoped that you would miss me every time you left
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carole Bayer Sager, David Wolfert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrWayneWhite
Sounds as good today as it did back in 1978 when it first came out.
@karenpochiba6074
Could listen to it all day.❤
@Navigation24-7
Well Done!💐
@jasonsturges3540
Love this song.
@user-fx4yj9um8t
3rd comment on the row . Country music is pure stunning poetry to music and it explains why id rather be alone for the right reasons than together for the wrong. Had enough im off bed goodnight God bless x
@Pa-tk1dx
Ever wonder why she is so revered......listen to this vocal
@robbinlara
Exactly. She's so silver and crystal all at the same time. Not only to sing but also the talent behind her songwriting.
@user-fx4yj9um8t
Just wrote last comment forgot to say first time I heard it tonite .straight to the pub after work its now 2.15 am and I've listened to it bout 20 times lol 😢
@jasonsturges3540
This was a #1 Hit.
@jaxstiffler4632
THATS ME 💔!!! #TRUENORTH