According to the I Will Always Love You Songfacts, this ballad came in at #1 in a 2011 Valentine's Day poll by CMT to find the best love song.
I Will Always Love You
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well I would only be in your way
And so I'll go, and yet I know
I'll think of you each step of the way
And I will always love you
I will always love you
That's all I'm taking with me
Good-bye, please don't cry
'Cause we both know that I'm not
What you need
But I will always love you
I will always love you
And I hope life, will treat you kind
And I hope that you have all
That you ever dreamed of
Oh I do wish you joy
And I wish you happiness
But above all this
I wish you love
I love you
I will always love you
I, I will always, always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
The song "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton is a hauntingly beautiful ballad about love, loss, and moving on. In the opening lines of the song, Parton recognizes that, although she loves the person she is singing to, staying with them would only be to their detriment. Despite this realization, she assures them that she will always love them, even as she walks away. The bitterness and sweetness of their memories together, both good and bad, resonate throughout the song, as Parton prepares to leave and start a new chapter in her life.
The lyrics of the song suggest that love is not always enough to make a relationship work. Sometimes, as painful as it may be, it is necessary to let go and move on, even if you love the other person deeply. Parton's message is ultimately one of hope and well-wishes for the person she is leaving behind. The lines "And I hope life will treat you kind / And I hope that you have all / That you ever dreamed of" show that even as she is saying goodbye, she still wants the best for the person she is leaving.
Line by Line Meaning
If I should stay
If I were to continue to stay by your side
Well I would only be in your way
I fear that my presence would only hinder your progress
And so I'll go, and yet I know
Therefore, I must leave, even though I am aware
I'll think of you each step of the way
That I will be reminiscing about you at every point of my journey
And I will always love you
However, I will continue to cherish and love you from afar
Bitter-sweet memories
I will look back at our time together with a mix of happiness and sadness
That's all I'm taking with me
I carry only those memories with me as I depart
Good-bye, please don't cry
I bid you farewell and hope you don't shed tears
'Cause we both know that I'm not
As we both acknowledge that I am not
What you need
The person you require in your life
And I hope life, will treat you kind
I hope that life treats you with the kindness you deserve
And I hope that you have all
And I hope that you have achieved everything
That you ever dreamed of
That you have ever desired
Oh I do wish you joy
I sincerely wish you happiness
And I wish you happiness
And I send my best wishes for your life going forward
But above all this
But most importantly
I wish you love
I hope that you find love, as that is what truly matters in life
I love you
I want you to know that I love you
I will always love you
And I will continue to love you, always
I, I will always, always love you
There is no question that I will always, always love you
I will always love you
So know that I will always, always love you
I will always love you
And again, I will always, always love you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dolly Parton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tabeijunko9362
If I should stay
I would only be in your way
So I'll go, but I know
I'll think of you each step of the way
And I will always love you
I will always love you
Bittersweet memories
That's all I'm taking with me
Goodbye, please don't cry
We both know that I'm not what you need
But I will always love you
I will always love you
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope that you have all
That you ever dreamed of
And I wish you joy and happiness
But above all this, I wish you love
And I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
@mc14m33
Listen to Dolly's original version when your heart is breaking, listen to Whitney's version when you're ready to move on. I don't know why, but you can feel the difference.
@laitesiu612
This makes TOTAL sense.
@MotiVibes1137
Man, you nailed it
@auntsissy45
Bootiful both ways
@marissamares8318
Completely agree❤️
@elginhehe8919
this was well said
@sigissigis3174
She wrote this and 'Jolene' on the same day...
@fockingreat1125
Love was def going through it that day lmao
@purplepuzzlemo556
she was in her feelings lol
@jackspiegel4
That is called a good day.