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 Will Forever Hate Roses
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The card always read, "You're my number 1".
But love never goes the way one supposes,
And I will forever hate roses.
You sent me roses, I thought it was nice.
Opened the card and it read, "goodbye".
You're movin' on as this chapter closes,
And I will forever hate roses.
I'll never see a rose from now on
That will not remind me that you're really gone.
Don't trust the rose for the danger it poses
I will forever hate roses.
The fragrance of roses will last throughout time.
Their beauty will linger, but not in my mind.
No, I'll love the daisies, the tulips, the posies,
But I will forever hate roses.
And I'll never see a rose from now own
That will not remind me that you're really gone.
Oh, and don't trust the rose for the pain it imposes.
I will forever hate roses.
Now you're movin' on as this chapter closes,
And I will forever hate roses.
Yes, I will forever hate roses.
In Dolly Parton’s “I Will Forever Hate Roses,” the lyrics suggest that the singer used to associate roses with love and affection but now, after a breakup or a painful event, they have become a symbol of heartbreak and loss. Previously, receiving roses often meant that the giver considered the singer his "number one," but now the flowers are a reminder of a goodbye and a chapter closing. The lyrics emphasize how memories can trigger strong emotions and how the experience of loss can alter people’s perspectives on things (in this case, flowers). The phrase “don’t trust the rose for the danger it poses” can be interpreted as a warning to the listener about the potential pain or heartbreak that even the most beautiful and seemingly benign things in life can bring.
The imagery of roses, which are typically associated with romance and passion, contrasting with the bitterness and loss conveyed in the lyrics, creates a powerful contrast. The chorus, repeating “I will forever hate roses,” drives home the magnitude of emotions being felt by the singer. However, it is interesting to note that the song does not really have a single antagonist - the singer blames neither the giver of the roses, nor the roses themselves. Instead, the lyrics simply describe the emotional fallout of a failed relationship or a painful experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to love it when roses would come.
At one point, receiving roses brought me joy and happiness.
The card always read, "You're my number 1".
The accompanying card would always express the sender's love and devotion.
But love never goes the way one supposes,
Despite what we may hope or expect, love doesn't always have a happy ending.
And I will forever hate roses.
Although roses were once a symbol of love and affection, they are now a reminder of heartbreak and loss.
You sent me roses, I thought it was nice.
When you gave me roses, I appreciated the gesture and found it sweet.
Opened the card and it read, "goodbye".
However, upon reading the card, I discovered that you were leaving me.
You're movin' on as this chapter closes,
You are ready to move on from our relationship as this chapter of our lives comes to an end.
And I will forever hate roses.
As a result, I will forever associate roses with the pain and heartbreak of losing you.
I'll never see a rose from now on
In the future, every rose that I come across will always remind me of the painful ending to our relationship.
That will not remind me that you're really gone.
No matter the circumstance or situation, roses will forever be tied to the memory of you leaving me behind.
Don't trust the rose for the danger it poses
Despite the beauty and allure of roses, there is a hidden danger and pain that comes with them.
The fragrance of roses will last throughout time.
Although our relationship has come to an end, the sweet scent of roses will remain in the world for eternity.
Their beauty will linger, but not in my mind.
The visual appeal and aesthetic beauty of roses may last forever, but the memories of our love will eventually fade away.
No, I'll love the daisies, the tulips, the posies,
Instead of roses, I'll find love and beauty in other types of flowers like daisies, tulips, and posies.
But I will forever hate roses.
Even if I find love and beauty in other flowers, the pain associated with roses will never disappear.
Oh, and don't trust the rose for the pain it imposes.
Roses may appear harmless and innocent, but in the end, they can bring about a great deal of heartache and suffering.
Now you're movin' on as this chapter closes,
As our relationship comes to a close, you're ready to move on and begin a new chapter in your life.
And I will forever hate roses.
For me, however, roses will forever represent the pain and loss of our broken love.
Yes, I will forever hate roses.
No matter what the future may hold, my hatred for roses will never fade away.
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.