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
Highway Headin' South
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chorus:
Oh, on a highway headed south somewhere to Dixie
Where the cotton blooms in the spring and the snow don't fly
I'm gonna rest these chillin' bones in the Southern sunshine
And live where the weather's warm until I die
Montana, you got five years of my life
But the earth's sub-zero wind will never touch me again
A Southern girl can't live on snow and ice
Repeat Chorus
When I cross the Dixie line, I'll throw away my coat
And my goose-down underwear will have to go
I'll never live again where the weather chills you to the bone
I'm tired of livin' like an Eskimo
Repeat Chorus
On a highway headed south somewhere to Dixie
Where the cotton blooms in the spring and the snow don't fly
I'm gonna rest these willin' bones in the Southern sunshine
And live where the weather's warm until I die
Repeat Chorus & Fade
The song "Highway Headin' South" by Dolly Parton is a classic country song that talks about leaving the cold, northern states for the warm and sunny South. The singer has spent many years in North Dakota and Montana, but now feels it's time to move to a place where the weather is warm and the snow doesn't fly. She longs to be in the South, where the cotton blooms in the spring and the sun shines all year round. She is tired of living like an Eskimo and can't wait to throw away her coat and goose-down underwear when she crosses the Dixie line.
The song is a celebration of the South and its warm climate, which is in contrast to the cold northern states. The singer is looking forward to enjoying her life in the South, where she can rest her chilling bones in the Southern sunshine. She plans to stay there until she dies, as she loves the warm weather so much. The song also hints at the idea of the singer wanting to settle down in the South, as she refers to it as 'home'. The lyrics are simple yet playful and reflect a sense of joy and excitement about the new beginning the singer is about to embark on.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, on a highway headed south somewhere to Dixie
On a road heading towards the Southern part of the US where I plan to settle.
Where the cotton blooms in the spring and the snow don't fly
A place where cotton grows in the spring and there's no snow in the winter.
I'm gonna rest these chillin' bones in the Southern sunshine
My tired body will finally find some relaxation and rejuvenation in the warm Southern climate.
And live where the weather's warm until I die
I intend to spend the rest of my life in a place where the climate is comfortable and warm.
North Dakota, you got my better years
I lived my prime years in North Dakota.
Montana, you got five years of my life
I spent a significant amount of time, 5 years, in Montana.
But the earth's sub-zero wind will never touch me again
I no longer want to experience the harsh cold of snow and ice.
A Southern girl can't live on snow and ice
Someone like me, who's accustomed to the warmer weather of the South, cannot sustain a living in the cold.
When I cross the Dixie line, I'll throw away my coat
As soon as I reach the region I'm headed to, I'll discard my winter clothing.
And my goose-down underwear will have to go
I won't be needing the winter garments that kept me warm in the North.
I'll never live again where the weather chills you to the bone
I am done with the extreme cold that penetrated deep into my body.
I'm tired of livin' like an Eskimo
I don't want to continue living in a way that's similar to the way the indigenous people of the Arctic live.
Where the cotton blooms in the spring and the snow don't fly
I'll be in a place where cotton grows in the spring and there's no snow in the winter.
I'm gonna rest these willin' bones in the Southern sunshine
I finally get to give relief to my tired and eager body by basking in the warm sunlight of the South.
And live where the weather's warm until I die
My intention is to settle and spend the rest of my days in a region with a consistently warm climate.
On a highway headed south somewhere to Dixie
On my way, travelling down the road, towards where I want to settle in the South.
Where the cotton blooms in the spring and the snow don't fly
Where I am headed has a thriving cotton industry and no snow in the winter.
I'm gonna rest these willin' bones in the Southern sunshine
The abundant warmth and sun in the South presents a great opportunity for me to rest my tired body.
And live where the weather's warm until I die
I am fixed on spending the rest of my life in the warm Southern climate.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Written by: Porter Wagoner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jeff Sagerman
Yes! What a set of lungs. She sure can sing. Porter W. did a fine job on this too. Anyone know who else recorded this tune back around 1975? Thanks for the post.
Jaded Old Coot
Australian radio personality John Laws did a version of it too...
Trucker Kev The Paid Tourist
Jeff Sagerman the osmonds did..I had it on a few trucking cassettes with miscellaneous artists few yrs back
Demetrius Dillard
Sweet!
Lydia Hugh
YAY