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
I
Dolly Parton Lyrics
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If you need a love that's true
Need someone to stand by you
Here I am, oh here I am, here I am
If you need a helping hand, need someone to understand
Here I am, oh here I am, here I am
I can help you find what you've been searching for
Oh here I am, come to me, take my hand because I believe
I can give you all the love you need and more
Oh here I am, oh here I am, here I am
My world is such an empty place
I need someone to fill the space
And here I am, oh here I am, here I am
Because I've got so much love to give
I need someone to share it with
And here I am, oh here I am, here I am
Here I am, I'm reaching out to give you love that you're without
I can help you find what you've been searching for
Oh here I am, come to me, take my hand because I believe
I can give you all the love you need and more
Oh here I am, oh here I am, here I am
Oh here reaching out to give you love that you're without
I can help you find what you've been searching for
Oh here I am, come to me, take my hand because I believe
I can give you all the love you need and more
Oh here I am, oh here I am, here I am
Oh here I am, here I am, here I am
Here I am, oh here I am, here I am
Here I am, oh here I am, oh here I am
Here I am
The lyrics of Dolly Parton's song "Here I Am" convey the message of love and companionship. The artist offers herself as a source of comfort and support for someone in need. The song's opening lines - "If you need a love that's true, Need someone to stand by you" - indicate the singer's willingness to lend her love to someone who needs it. This theme is further emphasized as the lyrics go on to say: "If you need a helping hand, need someone to understand."
The chorus of the song emphasizes the singer's intention to be present for someone in need. The repetition of the phrase "Here I am" reinforces her availability and desire to help. The words "reaching out" and "take my hand" suggest that the singer is actively offering herself as a solution to the listener's problems. The final lines of the song "My world is such an empty place, I need someone to fill the space" express the singer's own need for companionship, suggesting that the offer of love goes both ways.
Overall, "Here I Am" is a message of love, hope, and companionship. It speaks to the human need for love and the importance of reaching out to those who need it. The song's simple and catchy tune adds to its heartfelt message, making it a favorite among Dolly Parton fans.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I am, oh here I am, here I am
I am present and available
If you need a love that's true
If you are looking for genuine love
Need someone to stand by you
Looking for someone to support you
If you need a helping hand, need someone to understand
If you need someone that comprehends and assist
Here I am, reaching out to give you love that you're without
I'm here to help you find love that you lack
I can help you find what you've been searching for
I can aid you in finding what you've been looking for
Oh here I am, come to me, take my hand because I believe
I'm asking you to come to me and trust me, as I believe in myself
I can give you all the love you need and more
I have an abundance of love to give
My world is such an empty place
My life feels quite barren
I need someone to fill the space
I'm looking for someone to fill that emptiness
Because I've got so much love to give
I have plenty of love to offer
I need someone to share it with
I'm searching for someone to share my love with
Oh here reaching out to give you love that you're without
I'm again stating I'm offering love that you may be missing
Oh here I am, here I am, here I am
I'm presenting myself repeatedly
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dolly Parton
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.