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

I'm Gonna Sleep With One Eye Open
Dolly Parton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Lester Flatt)

I just found out today
The little game you play
While I been sleepin' all my life away
You been steppin' so they say
Between midnight and day
So I'm gonna sleep with one eye open from now on

From now on, all night long
You won't have a chance
To treat your momma wrong
You been steppin' so they say
Between midnight and day
So I'm gonna sleep with one eye open from now on

There's a honky-tonk down the road
Just about a mile or so
And I understand that's where you spend your time
Baby, I got news for you
Your little game is through
Yeah, from now on baby
You better tow the line

From now on, all night long
You won't have a chance
To treat your momma wrong
You been steppin' so they say
Between midnight and day
So I'm gonna sleep with one eye open from now on

You thought you were bein' smart
Breaking my little heart
And leavin' me to spend my time alone
Well you'll find out today
It just don't work that way
You've started a little game that two can play

From now on, all night long
You won't have a chance
To treat your momma wrong
You been steppin' so they say
Between midnight and day

But you better sleep with one eye open from now on
Yeah an' I'm gonna sleep with eye open from now on

Overall Meaning

The song "I'm Gonna Sleep With One Eye Open" by Dolly Parton (originally written by Lester Flatt) is a classic country tune about a woman who discovers her partner's infidelity and vows to keep a close eye on him from now on. The lyrics detail how the singer has been oblivious to her partner's cheating while she sleeps, until she hears rumors of his behavior from others. Now that she knows the truth, she decides to stay vigilant and watchful, refusing to be taken advantage of any longer.

The lyrics are straightforward and simple, but there are a few interesting elements worth noting. The use of the phrase "sleep with one eye open" is a common idiom meaning to be alert or cautious, but it takes on a more literal meaning in this song. The idea of sleeping with one eye open suggests a hyper-vigilance that is necessary when someone feels betrayed or deceived, and it also adds a bit of menace or threat to the lyrics. The singer isn't just going to watch her partner, she's going to make sure he knows she's watching him.

Another noteworthy aspect of the song is the inclusion of the phrase "treat your momma wrong." This is a common phrase in country music that often refers to infidelity or neglect of one's partner/spouse. It carries a sense of moral judgment as well as a warning to the person doing the mistreating. The fact that the singer uses this phrase to describe her partner's behavior suggests that she sees herself as a victim of his wrongdoing, and that she expects him to be held accountable for his actions.

Overall, "I'm Gonna Sleep With One Eye Open" is a classic country song that explores themes of infidelity, betrayal, and vigilance. It's a simple but effective message that resonates with many people who have experienced similar situations. The song's catchy melody and memorable lyrics have made it a timeless classic in the country music canon.

Line by Line Meaning

I just found out today
I have only just learned of the truth

The little game you play
Your deceitful behavior

While I been sleepin' all my life away
I have been ignorant to your actions

You been steppin' so they say
You have been unfaithful, supposedly

Between midnight and day
During the wee hours of the night

So I'm gonna sleep with one eye open from now on
I will be keeping a watchful eye over you in the future

From now on, all night long
From this point forward, throughout the night

You won't have a chance
You will not have an opportunity

To treat your momma wrong
To continue your unfaithfulness

There's a honky-tonk down the road
A bar nearby

Just about a mile or so
In close proximity