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 Not Worth the Tears
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And daddy once was able to hold his head up high
But now I brought disgrace to my whole family
Now they cry, but I'm not worth
The tears they cry for me
I loved a boy and then I found that he just lead me on
So in my hurt and bitterness
I let myself go alone
And shame my family
And now they cry but I'm not worth
The tears they cry for me
No I'm not worth
The salt in one tiny tear
Oh why have I brought shame
To the one I loved so dear
I'm so sorry that I hurt them
But they'll never know how sorry
And now they cry but I'm not worth
The tears they cry for me
Yes now they cry, but I'm not worth
The tears they cry for me
The song "I'm Not Worth the Tears" by Dolly Parton depicts a young woman who has made some mistakes in her life and feels that she has let down her family. The lyrics talk about how her parents' faces have changed and they always have tears in their eyes because of the shame that she has brought on them. The singer talks about how her family was once proud of her accomplishments and how her father used to hold his head high, but now they are all filled with shame and sadness because of what she has done.
The song talks about how the singer fell in love with a man who turned out to be a liar and led her on. In her hurt and bitterness, she made some choices that hurt herself and brought shame to her family. She also talks about how sorry she is for hurting them and how she wishes they knew how sorry she truly is, but the damage has been done and now her family cries for her, even though she feels that she is not worth the tears.
Overall, the song is a sobering reminder of the consequences of our actions and how they can affect not only ourselves but also those we love. It speaks to the feelings of shame and regret that can come with making mistakes and how we must face the consequences of our choices.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama didn't always have those tears in her eyes
My mother used to be happy, but I have caused so much pain that she is now constantly crying.
And daddy once was able to hold his head up high
My father used to be proud of me, but I have done something to make him feel ashamed.
But now I brought disgrace to my whole family
I have done something terrible that has brought shame to everyone in my family.
Now they cry, but I'm not worth The tears they cry for me
Although my family is crying over what I have done, I don't feel I am worth their tears because of how badly I have hurt them.
I loved a boy and then I found that he just lead me on
I was in love with someone who didn't love me back and only used me.
So in my hurt and bitterness I let myself go alone
Feeling hurt and angry, I isolated myself from everyone.
But all I did was hurt myself And shame my family
My actions not only hurt me, but they also brought shame to my family.
And now they cry but I'm not worth The tears they cry for me
My family is still crying over what I did, but I don't feel I am worthy of their tears because of the pain I have caused.
No I'm not worth The salt in one tiny tear
I am so unworthy that I am not even worth the salt in a single tear that is shed for me.
Oh why have I brought shame To the one I loved so dear
I am filled with regret over bringing shame to the person I loved so much.
I'm so sorry that I hurt them But they'll never know how sorry
I am deeply sorry for the pain I have caused, but I don't think I can ever truly express how sorry I am.
And now they cry but I'm not worth The tears they cry for me
Although my family is still crying over my actions, I feel I am not worthy of their tears because of the pain I have caused.
Yes now they cry, but I'm not worth The tears they cry for me
My family may continue to cry over what I have done, but I don't feel I am deserving of their tears because of how badly I have hurt them.
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.