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 Feel the Blues Movin' in
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though the miles are between us
I thought our love would strengthen
As it has so many times before
But something has happened
I can see it in your eyes
I can feel my world is crumblin'
The last letter that you wrote was
On a blue piece of paper
That old feelin's back
The clouds are movin' in
The beginning of the end is near
I feel your love has faded into darkness
It seems I have no friend
I feel the blues movin' in
Oh it's not the words you wrote that made me sad
And broken-hearted
That's put me in this sad shape I'm in
Between the lines are mixed emotions
And there's teardrops on the paper
You said that's all I'll write today
I'll cose for now old friend
The last letter that you wrote was
On a blue piece of paper
That old feelin's back
The clouds are movin' in
My state of mind is desperate
And this hole that I'm sinkin' in
Gets deeper while I'm diggin' to get out
Oh please give the right answer to the questions I'm askin'
Tell me you still love me
That would turn my world about
The last letter that you wrote was
On a blue piece of paper
That old feelin's back
The clouds are movin' in
The lyrics to "I Feel the Blues Movin' In" tell the story of a relationship falling apart. Despite being separated by distance, the singer believed that their love would remain strong. However, something has happened, and they can feel it in their bones. The last letter they received from their loved one was written on a piece of blue paper, a sign that the old feelings are back and that the blues are at their door. The letter contains mixed emotions and teardrops, and the singer realizes that the beginning of the end is near. They feel that their loved one's love has faded into darkness and that they have no friend. The state of mind is desperate, and the hole they're sinking into is getting deeper. All they want is for their loved one to answer the question that's been nagging them- whether they still love them or not. That one answer would turn their world around.
Line by Line Meaning
Though the miles are between us
Despite the distance between us
I thought our love would strengthen
I believed our love would grow stronger
As it has so many times before
Based on past experiences
But something has happened
Something has changed
I can see it in your eyes
Your eyes give it away
I can feel my world is crumblin'
I feel like my world is falling apart
And the blues are at my door
I am feeling the sadness and despair
The last letter that you wrote was
Referring to a recent message
On a blue piece of paper
The color symbolizes sadness
That old feelin's back
The feeling of heartbreak has returned
The clouds are movin' in
Symbolizing an impending storm
It seems I have no friend
Feeling alone and abandoned
I feel the blues movin' in
Feeling overwhelmed by sadness
Oh it's not the words you wrote that made me sad
The content of the message is not the issue
And broken-hearted
Feeling deeply hurt
That's put me in this sad shape I'm in
The message has not caused the sadness
Between the lines are mixed emotions
There are hidden feelings in the message
And there's teardrops on the paper
Evidence of the writer's sadness
You said that's all I'll write today
Limiting the communication
I'll cose for now old friend
Closing the letter
My state of mind is desperate
Feeling very anxious and worried
And this hole that I'm sinkin' in
Feeling trapped in a bad situation
Gets deeper while I'm diggin' to get out
The more I try to escape, the worse it gets
Oh please give the right answer to the questions I'm askin'
Seeking reassurance
Tell me you still love me
Asking for affirmation
That would turn my world about
It would make everything better
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JENNIFER K KIMBALL, TOM KIMMEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jimmmmy41
Though the miles are between us
I thought our love would strengthen
As it has so many times before
But something has happened
I can see it in your eyes
I can feel my world is crumblin'
And the blues are at my door
The last letter that you wrote was
On a blue piece of paper
That old feelin's back
The clouds are movin' in
The beginning of the end is near
I feel your love has faded into darkness
It seems I have no friend
I feel the blues movin' in
Oh it's not the words you wrote that made me sad
And broken-hearted
That's put me in this sad shape I'm in
Between the lines are mixed emotions
And there's teardrops on the paper
You said that's all I'll write today
I'll cose for now old friend
The last letter that you wrote was
On a blue piece of paper
That old feelin's back
The clouds are movin' in
The beginning of the end is near
I feel your love has faded into darkness
It seems I have no friend
I feel the blues movin' in
My state of mind is desperate
And this hole that I'm sinkin' in
Gets deeper while I'm diggin' to get out
Oh please give the right answer to the questions I'm askin'
Tell me you still love me
That would turn my world about
The last letter that you wrote was
On a blue piece of paper
That old feelin's back
The clouds are movin' in
The beginning of the end is near
I feel your love has faded into darkness
It seems I have no friend
I feel the blues movin' in
@jimmmmy41
You didn't have to love me like you did
But you did, but you did.
And I thank you.
You didn't have to love me like you did
But you did, but you did.
And I thank you.
But you took your love to someone else
I wouldn't know what it meant to be loved to death
You made me feel like I've never felt
Kisses so good I had to holler for help
You didn't have to squeeze it but you did
But you did but you did
And I thank you.
You didn't have to hold it but you did
But you did but you did
And I thank you.
Every day was something new,
You put on your bag and your fine to-do
You got me trying new things too
Just so I can keep up with you.
You didn't have to shake it but you did
But you did but you did
And I thank you.
You didn't…
@fpl1972
Absolutely love this version! These three harmonize beautifully!
@MrWayneWhite
Dolly's lead on this song is everything
@billrandolph5375
Awesome tune-AWESOME HARMONIES-3 awesome ladies. A damn shame country(?) radio wouldn't give any tunes from the Trio any airplay. This song, if given a chance, would most likely have shot straight to #1 on the country singles charts. Don't really follow the charts, just get frustrated when such a fine tune like this gets no radio airplay, when I KNOW people would like it Everyone I've played it for agrees.
@jimmmmy41
Though the miles are between us
I thought our love would strengthen
As it has so many times before
But something has happened
I can see it in your eyes
I can feel my world is crumblin'
And the blues are at my door
The last letter that you wrote was
On a blue piece of paper
That old feelin's back
The clouds are movin' in
The beginning of the end is near
I feel your love has faded into darkness
It seems I have no friend
I feel the blues movin' in
Oh it's not the words you wrote that made me sad
And broken-hearted
That's put me in this sad shape I'm in
Between the lines are mixed emotions
And there's teardrops on the paper
You said that's all I'll write today
I'll cose for now old friend
The last letter that you wrote was
On a blue piece of paper
That old feelin's back
The clouds are movin' in
The beginning of the end is near
I feel your love has faded into darkness
It seems I have no friend
I feel the blues movin' in
My state of mind is desperate
And this hole that I'm sinkin' in
Gets deeper while I'm diggin' to get out
Oh please give the right answer to the questions I'm askin'
Tell me you still love me
That would turn my world about
The last letter that you wrote was
On a blue piece of paper
That old feelin's back
The clouds are movin' in
The beginning of the end is near
I feel your love has faded into darkness
It seems I have no friend
I feel the blues movin' in
@andrewgold7707
Superb !!! Tailor - made for Dolly
@jimmmmy41
You didn't have to love me like you did
But you did, but you did.
And I thank you.
You didn't have to love me like you did
But you did, but you did.
And I thank you.
But you took your love to someone else
I wouldn't know what it meant to be loved to death
You made me feel like I've never felt
Kisses so good I had to holler for help
You didn't have to squeeze it but you did
But you did but you did
And I thank you.
You didn't have to hold it but you did
But you did but you did
And I thank you.
Every day was something new,
You put on your bag and your fine to-do
You got me trying new things too
Just so I can keep up with you.
You didn't have to shake it but you did
But you did but you did
And I thank you.
You didn't…
@mirkozimmermann4682
I found this song. So fantastical. I love the voices and guithar sound. And realle good rythm. That is fantastical Musik bring my to my self. Yeahhhh.
Best wishes from remblinghausen germany
@seedy_vegan
Thanks, that was a treat!
@HaiderAli-co9jl
Coming here from Niko Matsakis tweet!
@briancarlton9973
66,666 views as I watch this Del Mccoury cover.