Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946 in Sevierville, Tennessee, U.S… Read Full Bio ↴Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946 in Sevierville, Tennessee, U.S.) is an American country singer, songwriter, composer, producer, entrepreneur, author and actress.

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 Me
Dolly Parton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's you that
I run to
Whenever I need to
Darling, you console me
When trouble surrounds me
When bad times have found me
Just reach out your arms and hold me
Hold me

Hold me
Darling please take me
In your arms of safety
Reach out your arms
And hold me
Hold me
When my feelings are showing
When my tears are flowing
Just reach out
Reach out and hold me
Hold me
Hold me

You know all of my needs
You fill them completely
You know
That you control me
I depend on
Your lovin'
Without you
I'm nothin'
So reach out
Your arms and hold me
Hold me
Hold me

Darling please take me
In your arms of safety
Reach out you arms
And hold me
Hold me
When life is demanding
When I need understanding
Reach out
Reach out and hold me

Hold me
Hold me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dolly Parton's song Hold Me depict a deep and intimate connection between two people who are in love with each other. The lyrics convey that the singer runs to her lover whenever she needs support or consolation. She feels safe and secure in the arms of her lover, who comforts her during bad times, and holds her when she needs it the most. The song highlights the importance of a loving and caring relationship where one partner can rely on the other for emotional support, love, and comfort.

The lyrics convey a strong message about the power of love and how it can give us the strength to face our insecurities and fears. The singer mentions that her lover controls her, which may seem negative, but it's more about the trust and the faith that she has in her lover. The singer feels that she is incomplete without her lover, and she depends on her lover's love to survive in this world. The lyrics, therefore, offer a deep insight into a passionate and intense romantic relationship, where love and comfort are essential.

Overall, the lyrics of Hold Me offer a message of hope, love, and comfort to those who are going through tough times. It reminds us that a loving relationship with someone we trust and cherish can give us the emotional support we need to overcome any challenge that life throws our way.

Line by Line Meaning

It's you that
You are the one I confide in

I run to
I seek you out

Whenever I need to
Whenever I am in need

Darling, you console me
You comfort me

When trouble surrounds me
When I am in turmoil

When bad times have found me
When I am going through a rough patch

Just reach out your arms and hold me
I need you to embrace me

Hold me
Hug me

Hold me
Embrace me

Darling please take me
Please take me

In your arms of safety
In a place where I feel secure