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
It's Sure Gonna Hurt
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since my baby left me, I don't know what to do
Just couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him with you
He left me for you, oh, he's treating me like dirt
It may not kill me but it's sure gonna hurt
It's sure gonna hurt to lose you
Don't see how you could abuse me
It's driving me insane
Oh, you're both out paintin' the town red
Well, I'm paintin' it too but I'm not paintin' the town red
I'm paintin' it blue
It hurts to lose everything to such a little flirt
It may not kill me but it's sure gonna hurt
It's sure gonna hurt to lose you
My poor heart's in pain
Don't see how you could abuse me
It's driving me insane
Oh, you're both out paintin' the town red
Well, I'm paintin' it too but I'm not paintin' the town red
I'm paintin' it blue
It hurts to lose everything to such a little flirt
It may not kill me but it's sure gonna hurt
It's sure gonna hurt
It's sure gonna hurt to lose you
My poor heart's in pain
Don't see how you could abuse me
It's driving me insane
Dolly Parton's song "It's Sure Gonna Hurt" is about the pain and heartache that comes with being betrayed by a loved one. The first verse talks about how the singer's partner left her for someone else and now she doesn't know what to do. She is hurt, but she knows she will survive the pain even though it may not seem like it at the moment. As the chorus repeats, she knows that losing her partner is sure to cause her pain.
The second verse describes the actions of the partner now that they have left. They are out "paintin' the town red" with the new person while the singer is feeling blue and hurt. The partner's actions make the betrayal even more painful since it seems as though they are having a good time without any regard for the pain they have caused the singer. The chorus repeats emphasizing the pain of the betrayal and abuse.
The final verse is similar to the second verse but with the repetition of the chorus emphasizing the pain. The pain that Parton sings about is a universal feeling that most can relate to. Although the lyrics seem straightforward, the emotion and pain that Dolly Parton invokes through her performance is palpable.
Line by Line Meaning
Since my baby left me, I don't know what to do
My partner has left me and I am feeling lost and unsure of what to do next.
Just couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him with you
I was shocked and hurt when I saw my partner with someone else.
He left me for you, oh, he's treating me like dirt
My partner has chosen to leave me for this other person and is treating me badly in the process.
It may not kill me but it's sure gonna hurt
While this situation may not be physically fatal, it will definitely cause me a great deal of emotional pain.
Oh, you're both out paintin' the town red
You and my partner are enjoying yourselves and having fun together.
Well, I'm paintin' it too but I'm not paintin' the town red
I am also trying to have fun and enjoy my life, but my sadness and pain prevent me from truly enjoying myself.
I'm paintin' it blue
The color blue is often associated with sadness and depression, which is how I am feeling at the moment.
It hurts to lose everything to such a little flirt
It is painful to lose my partner to someone who I perceive as being insignificant and unimportant.
It's sure gonna hurt to lose you
Losing my partner will definitely cause me a great deal of emotional pain.
My poor heart's in pain
My heart is hurting because of the situation with my partner.
Don't see how you could abuse me
I cannot understand how my partner could treat me so badly and cause me this much pain.
It's driving me insane
This situation is causing me a great deal of mental and emotional anguish.
It's sure gonna hurt
The pain of this situation is certain and unavoidable.
Writer(s): Dolly Parton, Bill Owens
Contributed by Jason T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@OleanderSmoothie
It may not kill me but it's sure gonna hurt
Since my baby left me, I don't know what to do
Just couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him with you
He left me for you, oh, he's treating me like dirt
It may not kill me but it's sure gonna hurt
It's sure gonna hurt to lose you
My poor heart's in pain
Don't see how you could abuse me
It's driving me insane
Oh, you're both out paintin' the town red
Well, I'm paintin' it too but I'm not paintin' the town red
I'm paintin' it blue
It hurts to lose everything to such a little flirt
It may not kill me but it's sure gonna hurt
It's sure gonna hurt to lose you
My poor heart's in pain
Don't see how you could abuse me
It's driving me insane
Oh, you're both out paintin' the town red
Well, I'm paintin' it too but I'm not paintin' the town red
I'm paintin' it blue
It hurts to lose everything to such a little flirt
It may not kill me but it's sure gonna hurt
It's sure gonna hurt
It's sure gonna hurt to lose you
My poor heart's in pain
Don't see how you could abuse me
It's driving me insane
@romrom920
Dolly was 16 when she recorded this, she sounds amazing!
@alexritchie7869
I'm only 38 and a massive fan of dolly the old records I have of her are the same ones I used to listen to as a kid . Their will never be a voice like hers again .
@Ph-jt8ey
27 😂 swedish
@gorgonique
More of Dolly's early rock roots -- love it!
@06DESMARAIS
I gotta find this and own it, I dig how it still has that 1950's sound
@kingsleymoeng3758
Beautiful
@kingsleymoeng3758
This is masterpiece
@ShireGeordie
Another great song and thanks once more
Davy
England
@ChryslerThomas
This one goes over and over in the Cad Limo 1962.
@rhettjanes1056
Definitely proves how diverse Dolly Parton can be