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 Just Might
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Things are falling all apart
Trying hard to move ahead
But keep losing ground instead
Still I have to take a chance
Putting fear and doubt aside
Had no warning in advance
[Chorus]
And I just might make it work
I just might make it after all
I just might rise above the hurt
Thought I've suffered quite a fall
But I have to get a grip
And hold on to it like a vice
Have to face the falling chips
I just might make it, I just might
Oh, I might have been a fool
But its true that love is blind
And you have broken every rule
You've taken all that yours and mine
And how does one go on with life?
When your shattered so inside
Pieces of a love gone wrong
Well, ya pick 'em up and you move along
[Chorus]
Rise above it, I just might be stronger then I know
Well, I might even be surprised
I've got to get on with my life
I just might make it
I just might
Nothin' left to do but try
I might make it
I just might
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "I Just Might" show a sense of determination to try and make things work despite the chaos that seems to surround the singer. The opening lines suggest that life is falling apart and the singer is struggling to move ahead. However, instead of giving up, she decides to take a chance and put fear and doubt aside. She acknowledges that she had no warning in advance but decides that the only thing left to do is to try. The chorus repeats the phrase "I just might" in each line, suggesting that despite the odds, the singer is optimistic that she can make things work. She acknowledges that she's suffered a great fall, but she is determined to get a grip and rise above the hurt.
The second verse suggests that the singer might have made mistakes in the past, such as being a fool for love. She has been hurt by someone who has broken every rule and taken all that is hers and his. She wonders how she can go on living when she feels shattered inside because of a love gone wrong. However, she decides that the only way to move forward is to pick up the pieces and keep going. The final lines of the song repeat the sense of determination that the singer has shown throughout, stating that there's nothing left to do but try and that she just might make it.
Line by Line Meaning
What to do and where to start?
I am lost and unsure of how to proceed
Things are falling all apart
My life is in disarray and nothing is going well
Trying hard to move ahead
I am making a sincere effort to avert falling apart
But keep losing ground instead
Regardless of my effort, I keep failing to make progress
Still I have to take a chance
Despite my past failures, I need to take the lead anyway
Putting fear and doubt aside
I need to abandon all apprehensions and qualms
Had no warning in advance
I didn't anticipate the dilemma I now face
Nothing left to do but try
I have exhausted my options; my best bet is to try anyway
And I just might make it work
There is a chance that I will succeed
I just might make it after all
Despite the odds, I have the potential to overcome the obstacles
I just might rise above the hurt
I have the potential to overcome the pain
Thought I've suffered quite a fall
I have previously faced challenges and setbacks
But I have to get a grip
I have to take control of my situation and emotions
And hold on to it like a vice
I need to grasp the opportunity tightly without letting go
Have to face the falling chips
I have to deal with the consequences of my decisions
Oh, I might have been a fool
I acknowledge that I have made mistakes
But its true that love is blind
I have been blinded by love, despite the flaws present
And you have broken every rule
You have consistently gone against what was agreed upon
You've taken all that yours and mine
You have claimed everything, including what originally belongs to me
And how does one go on with life?
I wonder how to proceed with life following the hurt
When your shattered so inside
When I am broken on the inside
Pieces of a love gone wrong
The remnants of a failed relationship
Well, ya pick 'em up and you move along
You have to put the pieces back together and carry on
Rise above it, I just might be stronger then I know
I might be tougher than I give myself credit for
Well, I might even be surprised
I might surprise myself with my strength and resilience
I've got to get on with my life
I must continue living, regardless of the pain and hurt
Nothin' left to do but try
I have no other alternative except to give it my best shot
I might make it
I have the potential to succeed
I just might
There is a chance
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Donna Council
Love this song, she is singing about me. Lord knows I'm trying.
Kaesy Govea
Keep trying never give up ❤❤❤
Tobias Dubose
The "Better Day" album needs to be back on Spotify.
Beverly Matlock
Love her! She's so beautiful!
Elizabeta Katalinic
I just might..........................., and then it hits me right in the middle of the heart, Dolly why do you touch my wounds, like the strings of a guitar tear the strings of my soul. Woman why do you sing like that I have to love you to the point of pain Dolly Parton. I will always, always love you, your Eli. from Switzerland( and Croatia).🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Beverly Matlock
God Bless You! I've been there too honey!
Wayne A White
This is my pick me up song
Donna Council
Love this song, she is singing about me. Lord knows I'm trying.
Donna Council
Love this song, she is singing about me. Lord knows I'm trying.
Donna Council
Love this song, she is singing about me. Lord knows I'm trying.