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
How Great Thou Art
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
Now I see the stars and I hear the rolling thunder
Thy art throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul my Saviour God to Thee
How great Thou art oh
How great Thou art
Then sings my soul my Saviour God to Thee
How great Thou art
When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation
To take me home what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall kneel in humble adoration and there proclaim my God
How great Thou art
Then sings my soul
Dolly Parton's rendition of the classic hymn, How Great Thou Art, speaks of the awesomeness of God's power and creation. The opening line, "Oh Lord my God when I in awesome wonder" describes a sense of awe and wonder at the sight of the vastness of creation. As the song continues, the singer contemplates the vastness of the universe and sees God's power and glory in the stars and the rolling thunder.
The second verse speaks of the joy and wonder that will fill the singer's heart when Christ comes to take them home. The singer describes kneeling in humble adoration before the Lord and proclaiming the greatness of God.
Overall, the song is a testament to the greatness of God's power and creation. It urges listeners to consider the beauty and magnitude of the universe and to give thanks and praise to God for all He has created.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Lord my God when I in awesome wonder
Lord, I am in awe of you as I consider the vastness of creation.
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I am amazed at the multitude of worlds your hands have created.
Now I see the stars and I hear the rolling thunder
As I look at the stars and hear the rumble of thunder, I am reminded of your greatness.
Thy art throughout the universe displayed
Your artwork is displayed throughout the universe.
Then sings my soul my Saviour God to Thee
My soul sings to you, my lord and savior.
How great Thou art oh
You are truly great.
How great Thou art
You are truly great.
Then sings my soul my Saviour God to Thee
Once again, my soul sings to you, my lord and savior.
How great Thou art
You are truly great.
How great Thou art
You are truly great.
When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation
When Jesus Christ returns with shouts of joy and celebration,
To take me home what joy shall fill my heart
I will be filled with joy when he takes me to my heavenly home.
Then I shall kneel in humble adoration and there proclaim my God
I will kneel in humble adoration and proclaim the greatness of my God.
How great Thou art
You are truly great.
Then sings my soul
Once again, my soul sings.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Tratore, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Stuart Keene Hine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Romy K.
on Gypsy Joe And Me
As a matter of fact she's contemplating suicide standing on the bridge, that's how they'll be together again.