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
Hello God
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are You out there?
Can You hear me?
Are You listenin' anymore?
Hello, God?
If we're still on speakin' terms
Can You help me like before?
I have questioned Your existence
Can you help me go the distance?
Hello God?
Hello?
Hello?
This old world has gone to pieces
Can we fix it?
Is there time?
Hate and violence just increases
We're so selfish, cruel, and blind
We fight and kill each other
In Your name defending You
Do You love some more than others?
We're so lost and confused
Hello, God?
Are you out there?
Can you hear us?
Are you listenin' anymore?
Hello, God?
If we're still on speakin' terms
Can You help us like before?
Oh, the free will You have given
We have made a mockery of
This is no way to be livin'
We're in great need of Your love
Hello, God?
(Hello hello)
Hello, God?
Can You grant us
Love enough to make amends?
(Hello, God)
Is there still a chance
That we could start again?
Hello, God?
We've learned our lesson
Dear God, don't let us go
(Hello, hello)
More than ever
Hello God?
Hello?
Hello?
Hello, God?
We really need You
We can't make it without You
(Hello, God)
We beseech You
In the name of all that's true
Hello, God?
Please forgive us
For we know not what we do
Hello, God?
Give us one more chance
To prove ourselves to You
Hello, God?
Hello, God?
Dolly Parton's song "Hello God" is a powerful plea to God for help in a world that has become cruel, hateful, violent, and confused. The singer questions God's existence but ultimately seeks his guidance and salvation. The song expresses a feeling of desperation in the face of overwhelming problems in the world, including war and strife, which are often perpetrated by humans in the name of God.
The song's lyrics touch on many themes that are relevant to contemporary society, including the meaning of life, the nature of God, and the struggle to find hope in the face of adversity. The singer recognizes that people have free will but have made a mockery of it by creating chaos and destruction. She pleads with God for forgiveness, for another chance to make things right, and for a chance to prove ourselves worthy of his grace.
In "Hello God," Dolly Parton reflects on the struggles of humanity and acknowledges our own faults and mistakes. Her heartfelt plea to God for help is a reminder that we all need guidance and support from a higher power. The song's poignant message and emotional lyrics have resonated with audiences around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, God?
I'm reaching out to you, hoping you're there
Are You out there?
I'm questioning your existence
Can You hear me?
I'm wondering if you're listening
Are You listenin' anymore?
I'm feeling like you've stopped listening
If we're still on speakin' terms
I'm wondering if our connection is still there
Can You help me like before?
I need your help again
I have questioned Your existence
I have doubted your presence and power
My resistance leaves me cold
My doubt has made me feel disconnected and empty
Can you help me go the distance?
Can you help me keep the faith?
This old world has gone to pieces
I'm recognizing the chaos and destruction in the world
Can we fix it?
Is it possible for us to make a positive change?
Is there time?
Do we have enough time to make things right?
Hate and violence just increases
I'm noticing the prevalence of hate and violence
We're so selfish, cruel, and blind
We're acting in negative, harmful ways towards ourselves and others
We fight and kill each other
We're engaging in violent and aggressive behavior in your name
In Your name defending You
We're justifying our harmful actions in your name
Do You love some more than others?
Is there any validity to the belief that you love certain people more than others?
We're so lost and confused
We're feeling lost and directionless
Oh, the free will You have given
I'm acknowledging the gift of free will you've given us
We have made a mockery of
We've been misusing our gift of free will
This is no way to be livin'
We're recognizing that our current behavior and actions are unsustainable
We're in great need of Your love
We're recognizing that your love is what the world needs most
Can You grant us
I'm hoping and asking for your help
Love enough to make amends?
Can your love help us reconcile and make positive changes?
Is there still a chance
Is it still possible for us to make things right?
That we could start again?
Can we have a fresh start?
We've learned our lesson
We're recognizing our mistakes and are ready to make amends
Dear God, don't let us go
I'm asking for your help in keeping us on the right path
More than ever
Right now, more than ever, we need your help
We can't make it without You
We recognize that without you, we are lost
We beseech You
We are asking and pleading for your help
In the name of all that's true
We're calling upon you to help us in the most honest and sincere way
Please forgive us
We're asking for your forgiveness for our wrongs
For we know not what we do
We're acknowledging that we don't always know what the right thing to do is
Give us one more chance
We're asking for another opportunity to make things right
To prove ourselves to You
We're ready to show you that we're capable of positive change
We really need You
We're emphasizing just how much we need your help
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jjadedboii8013
Hello God, are you out there?
Can you hear me, are you listenin' any more?
Hello God, if we're still on speakin' terms
Can you help me like before?
I have questioned your existence,
My resistance leaves me cold
Can you help me go the distance?
Hello God, hello, hello
This old world has gone to pieces
Can we fix it, is there time?
Hate and violence just increases
We're so selfish, cruel and blind
We fight and kill each other
In your name, defending you
Do you love some more than others?
We're so lost and confused
Hello God, are you out there?
Can you hear us, are you listenin' any more?
Hello God, if we're still on speakin' terms
Can you help us like before?
Oh, the free will you have given
We have made a mockery of
This is no way to be livin',
We're in great need of your love
Hello God
Hello God, can you grant us
Love enough to make amends
(Hello God) Is there still a chance
That we could start again
Hello God, we've learned our lesson
Dear God, don't let us go
More than ever
Hello God, hello, hello
Hello God, we really need you
We can't make it without you
(Hello God) We beseech you
In the name of all that's true
Hello God, please forgive us
For we know not what we do
Hello God, give us one more chance to prove ourselves to you
Hello, God; hello, God
@chizukwanwugo3981
Anyone listening in 2024?
@EmilyNyakundi
Why not
@annrosemaina1624
Ooh yes!
@prudencenmunyuki2723
March 2024, here I am
@chemutaidiana
March 24 here
@tripplelaughter
My all time favorite 1:06
@Deprincehenry
who is here in 2021, happy 75 years old DOLLY PARTON, master piece!!!
@gettotvmachukimedia7891
Strong she is
@lorinegatwiri8426
She is always on top.
@bethwambani1037
Meeee