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 Sixteen
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm back in my teens
Caution to the wind, yeah
You love me and what could be
More rejuvenating, I am young again
I'm sixteen, I'm sixteen
Loving you's a dream
Kickin' up my heels
Haven't had such thrills
Since I was sixteen cruisin' round the Tasty Freeze
It goes to show you're never old
Unless you choose to be
And I will be sixteen forever
Just as long as you love me
Baby, we can go to the drive-in show
Drinking Cherry Coke and Concession Trees
And maybe kiss and hug
Doing all that stuff
Always leading up
To that old back seat
I'm sixteen, yeah
I'm sixteen, yeah
We're in love
Oh, happy days
You and me, we are wild and free
We'll go steady until your daddy takes the T-bird away
It goes to show you're never old
Unless you choose to be
And I will be sixteen forever
Just as long as you love me
Watch me
You and I take a little dive
In the mill pond after midnight in our birthday suit
Makin' sweet, sweet love
Meet the stars above
Sneakin' back in through the window
'Fore the clock strikes two, yeah
I'm sixteen, burstin' at the seams
I'm back in my jeans
And I feel no pain
Kickin' up my heels
Haven't had such thrills
Since drivin' my old Chevy down Lovers' Lane
It goes to show you're never old
Unless you choose to be
And I will be sixteen forever
Just as long as you love me
Yeah, I'm sixteen, yeah
I'm sixteen, yeah
I'm sixteen, yeah
Caution to the wind
I'm sixteen, I'm sixteen
I'm sixteen, I feel young again
I'm sixteen
Don't I look sixteen?
You don't have to say
But I feel sixteen
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "I'm Sixteen" express the excitement and joy of being young and in love. The singer, who is sixteen years old, feels a sense of rejuvenation and freedom in their relationship. They reflect on the carefree nature of being a teenager, with life feeling like a breeze and filled with thrilling experiences.
The lyrics suggest that age is just a number and that one's mindset and attitude determine how old they feel. The singer declares that they will remain sixteen forever as long as their love interest continues to love them. It emphasizes the idea that youthfulness is a state of mind, and one can choose to embrace the vitality and energy of their younger years at any age.
The song also paints a vivid picture of youthful romance with mentions of going to drive-in movies, drinking Cherry Coke, and engaging in intimate moments in the backseat of a car. These nostalgic references evoke the innocence and excitement of young love, emphasizing the singer's desire to relive those carefree days and create new memories with their partner.
The lyrics celebrate the singer's newfound sense of youth and the enjoyment they derive from feeling sixteen again. They express a willingness to take risks and live in the moment, whether it's skinny-dipping in a pond or sneaking back through a window in the middle of the night. The song captures the exhilaration and vitality of being young, highlighting the idea that age should never limit one's ability to feel alive and experience the joys of youth.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sixteen burstin' at the seams
I am filled with youthful energy and excitement
I'm back in my teens
I feel like a teenager again
Caution to the wind, yeah
I am throwing caution aside and embracing the moment
You love me and what could be
Your love makes me feel hopeful and optimistic about the future
More rejuvenating, I am young again
I feel refreshed and revitalized, as if I am young once more
I'm sixteen, I'm sixteen
I am reminiscing about the age of sixteen
Loving you's a dream
Being in love with you feels like a wonderful dream
And life is a breeze
Everything feels easy and effortless
Kickin' up my heels
I am enjoying myself and having a great time
Haven't had such thrills
I have not experienced such excitement and pleasure
Since I was sixteen cruisin' round the Tasty Freeze
I haven't felt this alive and carefree since I was sixteen, driving around the Tasty Freeze
It goes to show you're never old
This emphasizes the notion that one's age is not determined solely by the number of years
Unless you choose to be
Aging is a choice and mindset
And I will be sixteen forever
As long as you love me, I will always feel youthful and alive
Just as long as you love me
Love is the key to maintaining a youthful spirit
Baby, we can go to the drive-in show
We can enjoy a romantic outing at the drive-in theater
Drinking Cherry Coke and Concession Trees
Indulging in the nostalgic experience of enjoying Cherry Coke and theater snacks
And maybe kiss and hug
Expressing affection through physical intimacy
Doing all that stuff
Engaging in teenage activities and experiences
Always leading up
These experiences build up and contribute to our relationship
To that old back seat
Intimacy and romance often take place in the back seat of a car
We're in love
Our relationship is filled with love and affection
Oh, happy days
These are joyous and delightful times
You and me, we are wild and free
We embrace a carefree and adventurous lifestyle together
We'll go steady until your daddy takes the T-bird away
We'll remain in a committed relationship until external circumstances force us apart
You and I take a little dive
We embark on a daring adventure together
In the mill pond after midnight in our birthday suit
We engage in a late-night swim while naked, enjoying the freedom and excitement
Makin' sweet, sweet love
We share intimate and passionate moments together
Meet the stars above
Our love reaches astronomical heights
Sneakin' back in through the window
Returning home discreetly, trying not to get caught
'Fore the clock strikes two, yeah
Before the time is up, ensuring we make the most of our time together
I'm sixteen, burstin' at the seams
I am bursting with energy and excitement, unable to contain it
I'm back in my jeans
I feel comfortable and confident in my own skin
And I feel no pain
All worries and troubles fade away, leaving only joy and happiness
Haven't had such thrills
I haven't experienced such excitement and pleasure
Since drivin' my old Chevy down Lovers' Lane
Just like the exhilaration of driving my old Chevrolet down Lovers' Lane in the past
Caution to the wind
I am disregarding caution and embracing spontaneity
I'm sixteen, I'm sixteen
I am reliving the feelings and experiences of being sixteen
I feel young again
I am filled with the vitality and spirit of youth
Don't I look sixteen?
I may not physically appear to be sixteen, but I feel young at heart
You don't have to say
You don't need to vocalize it, as I can see it in your eyes and actions
But I feel sixteen
My inner self is rejuvenated and full of youthful energy
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
R&L Funny
I'm 13 and Dolly Parton is my favorite artist there is something about her that just puts everyone in a good mood😍❤️
Taylor Wayne
Dolly Parton says I'm one of her favorite fan and Dolly Parton is my favorite actress and singer
Ella Møller Bjerre
R&L Funny same i'm 12 and Dolly Parton is my favourite singer, I love her so much.🦋❤️✨💞💖😊
Kyle Barnett
Now you are 16!
Joshwa Chartrand
im 14 i saw her june 12 2016 it was lovely i was the youngest there
R&L Funny
Joshua T. All these other people listen to rap or whatever that has so many curse words you can't even understand the song but this is down to earth amazing
Anthony John
OMG this woman is just the best!!! She never tires and each and every one of her songs make me jig in my seat!!!!
Andrew Dawn
This song is so catchy!!! Love you Dolly💞
Shann Luv
Glad my dad brought me up with dolly music 😍 now i play everyday with my two kids i wish the music was more like this and the 70s and 80s and 90s
Sharon Joyce
best country singer ever