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 Need Me
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you need me, I'll be gone
The bed's still warm where you just left
But it'll be colder where I've slept
I've always been where you needed me
But I ain't the fool I used to be
The fragrance on you ain't old spice
Tonight when you come draggin' home
And find you need me, I'll be gone
1st Chorus:
I'll be gone like the moon when the sun comes up
Gone like the dew from the buttercup
Gone like a woman treated wrong
If you need me, I'll be gone
So, what am I still doing here?
You've been doin' me wrong for years
Tired of pickin' up and puttin' out
I'm leaving you lock, stock, and house
So, bye bye, baby, that's it, I'm packed
I'm a'leavin' now, but I'll call back
And leave this message on the code-a-phone
Sayin', if you need me, well, I'll be gone
2nd Chorus:
I'll be gone like the moon when the sun comes up
Gone like the dew from the buttercup
Gone like a woman leavin' home
If you need me, I'll be gone
Repeat 2nd Chorus
I said, if you need me, I'll be gone
Tag:
If you need me, I'll be gone
I said, if you need me, I'll be gone
In “If You Need Me,” Dolly Parton sings about a woman who has finally had enough of her partner’s unfaithful behavior. She’s always been there for him when he’s needed her, but now she’s leaving and won’t be coming back. The lyrics paint a picture of the woman packing up her things and leaving a note on the answering machine, informing her partner that she’s leaving and she won’t be there if he needs her again. The chorus emphasizes the finality of her decision, as she declares that she’ll be gone like the moon when the sun comes up, like the dew from the buttercup, and like a woman leaving home.
The lyrics suggest that the woman has reached her breaking point after years of being mistreated. She’s tired of picking up after her partner and putting up with his infidelity. It’s clear that she’s been the one doing all the work in the relationship, as she’s the one leaving with “lock, stock, and house.” The imagery in the song is vivid, from the warm bed left behind to the fragrance on her partner’s clothes that isn’t Old Spice. The woman knows her worth and won’t stand for being treated like a fool anymore.
Line by Line Meaning
If you need me, I'll be gone
I am leaving and will not be there to help you anymore
The bed's still warm where you just left
You just left the bed after being unfaithful and I know this
But it'll be colder where I've slept
I have moved on and am no longer emotionally attached to you
I've always been where you needed me
I have always been there for you when you needed help
But I ain't the fool I used to be
I am no longer foolish enough to continue putting up with your mistreatment
You come home all hours of the night
You do not respect me or our relationship by staying out all night
The fragrance on you ain't old spice
You smell like a woman and have been unfaithful
Tonight when you come draggin' home
When you come home tired and late as usual
And find you need me, I'll be gone
I will not be there for you to rely on
So, what am I still doing here?
I am questioning why I am still in this relationship
You've been doin' me wrong for years
You have been treating me badly for a long time
Tired of pickin' up and puttin' out
I am tired of doing everything for you and getting nothing in return
I'm leaving you lock, stock, and house
I am leaving you completely and taking everything with me
So, bye bye, baby, that's it, I'm packed
I am leaving and have already packed my things
I'm a'leavin' now, but I'll call back
I am leaving now, but I will contact you later
And leave this message on the code-a-phone
I will leave a message on the answering machine
Sayin', if you need me, well, I'll be gone
If you try to contact me, I will not be there for you
I'll be gone like the moon when the sun comes up
I will be gone quickly and completely, like the moon disappears when the sun rises
Gone like the dew from the buttercup
I will be gone, like the dew evaporates from a flower in the morning sun
Gone like a woman treated wrong
I will be gone, like a woman who has been treated badly and decides to leave
Gone like a woman leavin' home
I will be gone, like a woman leaving her home and starting a new life
I said, if you need me, I'll be gone
I want to make it clear that I will not be there for you if you need me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@frankmachotka3488
I can't get enough of Dolly Parton. She's the best singer in the world 🌏. I. Will. Always love you 💗💗💋💋😙
@sydnee11
Good memories. Love dolly!!!
@KayseSalmon
I found myself humming this out of the blue and had to look it up.
@StephyD327
Great Song!!!
@automaticchic
haha i used to love this song when i was a kid!
@wesleybrindle6547
I remember every word to this song from when I was about7years old every time momma would leave my daddy and we would travel over the mountain from Lincoln county west Virginia to dandridge Tennessee but I knew we was gonna be OK when we got there and momma would be to. Your my inspiration dolly. And so are you momma
@delbertkeller7609
EXPLORING ALL FEELINGS OF HUMAN EMOTIONS FROM LOVE , DEEP SORROWFUL LOSS TO KISS MY ASS, (BYE FELICA). "IF YOU NEED ME I'LL BE GONE" YOU TELL UM DOLLY. GREAT AFFIRMATION SONG FOR ONESELF WHEN YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T APPRECIATE YOU. RESPECT FOR YOURSELF , SETTING BOUNDARIES AND HAVING THE POWERFUL STRENGTH OF WILL TO LEAVE A BAD RELATIONSHIP SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN..
@danielhuber4953
If You need me I will be there. JOL. LOVE
@Ishkhan97
Kargin haghordum
@Vahagn1024
Հա ես ել եմ պառավի ատամի կադրից ստեղ հասել :)