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
Hold Fast To The Right
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of your mother my boy
You have only a moment I know
And stay while I give you this parting advice
It is all that I have to bestow
Hold fast to the right hold fast to the right
Wherever your footsteps may roam
That you've learned from your mother at home
In your satchel you'll find there's
A Bible my boy
It's the book of all others the best
It will teach you to live
And prepare you to die
And will take to the gates of the blest
Hold fast to the right hold fast to the right
Hold fast to the right hold fast to the right
Oh hold fast to the right
The song "Hold Fast to the Right" is a touching and insightful hymn by Dolly Parton. In the lyrics, a mother is giving parting advice to her son who is about to leave home. She urges him to always uphold the values and virtues that he learned from her, no matter where life takes him. She asks him to hold fast to the right path of salvation that she has taught him, and to never forget the guidance and wisdom found in the Bible, which she has given him to take on his journey.
The song is not just a motherly message, but a universal one. It highlights the importance of staying true to one's values and beliefs, even when confronted with uncertain situations or distractions. The mother's words of wisdom and the son's willingness to listen and take them to heart create a powerful emotional connection that resonates with the listener's own experiences of parental guidance and personal growth.
Overall, "Hold Fast to the Right" is a beautiful and timeless piece that speaks to the enduring importance of faith and love in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Come and sit by the side
Mother urges her son to take some time from his busy life and sit beside her for a while.
Of your mother my boy
The person sitting beside the mother is her son.
You have only a moment I know
Mother is conscious of the fact that her son is busy and won't be able to spare much time.
And stay while I give you this parting advice
Mother has some important advice to give her son before he leaves.
It is all that I have to bestow
Mother believes that the advice she gives is the most valuable thing she could give her son.
Hold fast to the right hold fast to the right
Mother advises her son to always follow the right path in life.
Wherever your footsteps may roam
No matter where her son goes in life, he must always follow the right path.
Oh forsake not the way of salvation my boy
Mother stresses on the importance of following the path that leads to salvation.
That you've learned from your mother at home
The son has been taught the right path from his mother at home.
In your satchel you'll find there's
Mother reminds her son about something he already possesses.
A Bible my boy
Mother has given her son a Bible to help him follow the right path.
It's the book of all others the best
Mother believes that the Bible is the best book for teaching one how to live and prepare for death.
It will teach you to live
The Bible contains invaluable lessons for leading a good life.
And prepare you to die
The Bible helps one prepare to meet their maker.
And will take to the gates of the blest
Following the teachings of the Bible will lead one to the gates of heaven.
Hold fast to the right hold fast to the right
Mother repeats her advice to her son to always follow the right path.
Hold fast to the right hold fast to the right
Mother repeats her advice to her son to always follow the right path.
Oh hold fast to the right
Mother once again urges her son to stay on the right path no matter what.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Wungrampha Silas
One of the best song from Dolly, I can listen to this thousand times in a day.
Maureen Barnes
An incredibly talented lady who refused to let poverty defeat her. The great American dream at work. Congrats Dolly!
John Bond
Ah, "Reynold's Rock". Not even Candy Hemphill can hold a candle to Dolly's rendition of this James Vaughn classic, and Candy Hemphill is very, very good.
Though Dolly didn't write it, she sings it like she owns it. Now I gotta go find and dust off my old 45 copy of Apple Jack. See what y'all started...
Maian Chapman
I just heard this song and love it already
Roko Chase
A perfect song for mother from Dolly as a gift
Kamau Joseph
Dolly:Your music has been my favourite and continues to be for more than 40 years now.
thefrisquette
Marvellous Dolly Parton!One of the best american country singer of all time...And she's very beautifull!Thank you for the video.
Johntel Gitau
dolly you are sooooo nice. (vizuri)
lenah okongo
Listening in quarantine 2020
Amen Imchen
can I get karoake..?? for this song?