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
Heartsong
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A heartsong melody play like a symphony
The sweetest music I have ever known
A song of joy and pain
The mountain angels sing
A bittersweet refreign of my Smokey Mountain Home, heartsong
Farmer's daughter if you will
In memories where I rammbled as a child
Makes me cry and makes me laugh
My reflections on the past
And the family, friends, and faith that shaped my life
Ragged clothes and hand-me-downs
Just enough to go around
But the sweetest things in life are always free
Like the songs the birds would sing
And the sweet new grass of spring
And the sacred blossoms on the dogwood tree
Repeat Chorus
And I recall the thrill and joy
Of a Smokey Mountain boy
I remember my first kiss and my first love
And the songs I'd song and write
And the dreams I'd clutch so tight
And the loved ones that gave me that extra shove
And in that little house 'a prayer
Where I spent many hour
Prassin' God and liftin' up His name
And asking Him to lead and to keep watch over me
As I headed up that rocky road to fame
And now this, Smokey Mountain girl has been all around the world
But it makes no difference just how far I roam
I still cling to that part that is so dear to my heart
My faith in God and memories of home
Repeat Chorus
The song "Heartsong" by Dolly Parton is a nostalgic tribute to her childhood memories in the Smokey Mountains. The chorus contains a heartfelt message about the emotional connection between music and the heart. Parton describes the melodic symphony that is her heartsong, a song of joy and pain that the mountain angels sing. The bittersweet refrain reminds her of her beloved Smokey Mountain Home and the memories she holds dear.
In the verses, Parton takes us back to her childhood as a farmer's daughter living in poverty. She reminisces about hand-me-downs and the sweetest things in life that are always free, such as the songs the birds would sing and the sweet new grass of spring. Parton also reflects on the family, friends, and faith that shaped her life, and the moments that gave her the extra push to pursue her dreams. She mentions the little house of prayer where she spent many hours, praying and lifting up God's name, asking for guidance as she headed towards fame.
Overall, "Heartsong" is a heartfelt tribute to the mountain home she loved and the memories that live on within her heart. The lyrics recount the importance of faith, community, and music in shaping her life.
Line by Line Meaning
A heartsong melody play like a symphony
This melody that comes from my heart is so beautiful that it's like a symphony, a perfect harmony.
The sweetest music I have ever known
This heartsong is the sweetest music I have ever come across in my life.
A song of joy and pain
This heartsong is a combination of both joy and pain - it represents all the emotions I've felt in my life.
The mountain angels sing
The angels in the mountains sing this heartsong too, showing how it honors the beauty and spirituality of the area around me.
A bittersweet refreign of my Smokey Mountain Home, heartsong
This refrain is bittersweet because it reminds me of my home in the Smokey Mountains, but also fills me with the warmth and love of that home through this heartsong.
Farmer's daughter if you will
If you want to call me a farmer's daughter, go ahead. It's an aspect of who I am, but not the full picture.
And I often wonder still
Even today, I wonder about my past and how it shaped me into the person I am now.
In memories where I rammbled as a child
These memories are of me wandering around outside, exploring the world around me as a child.
Makes me cry and makes me laugh
These memories bring up a lot of emotions in me - both happy and sad ones.
My reflections on the past
When I think back on my childhood and upbringing, I reflect on who I was then and how I have grown and changed over the years.
And the family, friends, and faith that shaped my life
My family, friends, and faith all played a large role in shaping me into the person I am today - this heartsong is a tribute to them too.
Ragged clothes and hand-me-downs
When I was young, I didn't have much in the way of clothes - they were often hand-me-downs or old and worn out.
Just enough to go around
But we always had enough to make do and get by, even if it wasn't much.
But the sweetest things in life are always free
Even though we didn't have a lot of money, there were a lot of other things in life that were the sweetest and most valuable, like love and kindness, that didn't cost anything.
Like the songs the birds would sing
One of those sweet things was listening to the songs of the birds outside, which was free and brought us joy.
And the sweet new grass of spring
Another sweet thing was the arrival of springtime and the fresh, green grass that came with it.
And the sacred blossoms on the dogwood tree
The dogwood tree blooming in the spring was a sacred sight that filled us with awe and appreciation for nature.
And I recall the thrill and joy
I remember how exciting and joyful it was to be a young girl in the Smokey Mountains, full of dreams and excitement.
Of a Smokey Mountain boy
I also remember the young boys I knew growing up in the area who I had crushes on - this was a part of that joy and excitement.
I remember my first kiss and my first love
Growing up, I also experienced my first romantic encounters, which were all part of that joy and excitement of young love.
And the songs I'd song and write
Even as a kid, I was already writing and singing songs as a way to express myself and share my love of music with others.
And the dreams I'd clutch so tight
I remember how much my dreams and ambitions meant to me as a young girl - they were everything to me and I held them close to my heart.
And the loved ones that gave me that extra shove
I couldn't have gotten where I am today without the help and support of my loved ones - this heartsong is a tribute to them and their role in helping me achieve my dreams.
And in that little house 'a prayer
One of the ways I stayed strong and connected to my faith was by praying in my little house of worship.
Where I spent many hour
I spent a lot of time in that little house, seeking guidance and peace from my faith.
Prassin' God and liftin' up His name
When I prayed, I often gave thanks and praise to God for His blessings and guidance in my life.
And asking Him to lead and to keep watch over me
I also asked for God's guidance and protection, knowing that I couldn't do it on my own.
As I headed up that rocky road to fame
As I started on my journey to becoming a famous musician, I knew it would be hard and full of obstacles, but I trusted that God would guide me through.
And now this, Smokey Mountain girl has been all around the world
Even though I started out as a small-town girl in the Smokey Mountains, my music has taken me all around the world.
But it makes no difference just how far I roam
Even though I've seen so much of the world, I still hold the Smokey Mountains dear to my heart and it will always be my home.
I still cling to that part that is so dear to my heart
That part of me that comes from the Smokey Mountains and my upbringing is still so important to me, and I will always cherish and hold onto it.
My faith in God and memories of home
Above all, my faith in God and the memories of my home in the Smokey Mountains are what sustain me and what I hold onto most tightly in my heart.
Repeat Chorus
This heartsong is so important to me that I want to sing the chorus again, to emphasize its beauty and significance in my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
smsjr19841
I love Dolly Parton. I work at Dollywood and hear this song everyday at work. She is such a great person
Rick
Absolutely the most genuine
entertainer there is today!!!
ellen Richard-Madisa
One of Dolly’s great albums. Thank you Dolly for making life beautiful with hear warming songs. God bless you. Who is listening to this beautiful album in 2023.
mimie melamu
this is a great song....whenever i listen to this i happen to miss home and my childhood days so much,,,thinking of the past always seems like just yesterday
Frank Machotka
I can't get enough of Dolly Parton. I. Will. Always love you. She's. Has. Never. Said. One. Bad. Word. About. Anybody. Thank you. God bless you 🙏💋💋đź¤
Kevin Williams
I love this song.
Wayne A White
The MOST luckiest persons in the world were able to sit in the audience and listen to this GREAT genius recorded this album.
Johntel Gitau
dolly is a real role model word wide.
Brittany H
So proud to live in White Pine,45 minutes from Sevierville. We're so close that all her nieces and nephews go to my school. So three years ago when I was in 5th grade,she made a surprise visit and our tiny little elementary/middle school was able to meet her! Greatest day of my life. Then,a few weeks later I met her at Dollywood for earning her Coat of Many Colors Girl Scout patch because we made a coat of many colors.Then,I just saw her in concert in Knoxville.She's a big part of my life(:
Gillie Thelele
The best and favorite song for me!!!