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
If You Go I'll Follow You
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can't leave my love behind
If you go (if you go) I'll follow you
Even death will never end this love of mine
I have loved you for so long
With a love most true and strong
You have all I may request
Where you go I'll come with you
No matter where you take me to
I'll go to hell
And back again
I'll be with you
Until the end
If you go, I'll follow you
You can't leave my love behind
If you go (if you go) I'll follow you
Even death will never end this love of mine
If you go, I'll follow you....
In Dolly Parton's song, "If You Go I'll Follow You," the artist pledges her love and devotion to her partner, emphasizing her commitment to him. The lyrics express her willingness to follow him wherever he goes, even to the ends of the earth, and in death, never leaving his side. The singer acknowledges the duration of her love to this person and how powerful it has been despite any flaws they may have.
Dolly Parton's "If You Go I'll Follow You" conveys a message of love, loyalty, and faith. It communicates the struggle and sacrifice in relationships and how strong bonds can endure through thick and thin. Throughout the song, she is ultimately defining what true love is and how she believes in unconditional love, where she would follow her loved one even in death.
In conclusion, "If You Go I'll Follow You" is a tribute to the depth and intensity of a true love that perseveres through all circumstances of life. It is a song that invokes passion and overwhelming devotion to the ones we hold closest to our hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
If you go, I'll follow you
I will follow you wherever you go, even if it means leaving everything behind.
You can't leave my love behind
You can never escape my love, no matter what you do or where you go.
If you go (if you go) I'll follow you
No matter how many times you leave, I will always be there to follow you.
Even death will never end this love of mine
My love for you is eternal and will continue even after death separates us.
I have loved you for so long
I have been in love with you for an extended period.
With a love most true and strong
My love for you is genuine and powerful.
You have all I may request
You possess everything I could ever ask for in a partner.
And I'll love you good or bad
I will love and support you through all the highs and lows of life.
Where you go I'll come with you
I will stand by your side and accompany you on whatever journey you embark on.
No matter where you take me to
I will willingly go anywhere with you, without any reservations or doubts.
I'll go to hell
I am willing to endure any hardship or challenge for you.
And back again
I am willing to go through difficult times and emerge stronger on the other side for you.
I'll be with you
I will always be with you through thick and thin.
Until the end
My love for you will last until the very end of time.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON, PORTER WAGONER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-od2fq3wp2s
Porter RIP, Dolly keep the fire burning, i enjoy every pie ce of your music 2023
@DennisRaymond-jl3mm
Hello,how are you doing
@natashasigler2446
Those days, when lyrics had so much meaning. Voices that are so blessed. Heaven is also listening to this song. The golden days.God bless our old singers🙏🧚♂️
@dumierickmsimango4302
My father's favourite songs rest in peace baba la ulele khona
@user-lh4ho1qs8s
Love dolly , thanks kandie for introducing me to this.
@gregnormal5101
Hello!!! How are you doing today! Please pardon me for intruding into your privacy but I just wanted to know if you're a fan!.... Stay Safe
@kimkrause8590
I love this song This music will never go out of fashion Just love Dolly and Porter together they make good music the blend of their voices is so right My husband died and I wanted to go and still do to be with him I miss and love him dearly 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩💘💘💘💘💘💘🎵🎼🎶🎤🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🔥🦊😋😋😋😋😋😋💋👄😘😘😘😘😘😘🎸😍😍😍😍😍😍💯💯💯💯💯💯💗🧡♥️💛💜💙❤️💓❣️💝💚💕💖😂😇
@murphycormac3089
Hi Kim 👋
@annekariuki4734
Darling ,,each will go when their time come.please hold on prayerfully ,peacefully until our day comes..love from your sister...blessed year 2024
@theresachiorazzi4571
Just love dolly and porter together they make good music the blend of their voices is so right