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
J. J. Sneed
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Copyright 1970
At last I have called up with you and you're a sight to see
Could this really be my outlaw lover JJ Sneed
Could a woman with a painted face and pretty sweet disguise
Turn your heart against me with her evil cunning eyes her evil cunning eyes
JJ it's been you and me right from the very start
We'd really stick together until the bitter end
And it was my understanding we were whole lots more than friends
A whole lot more than friends
And it was me that kept you on when nights were dark and cold
But I guess I didn't look like much in these old ragged clothes
But you said it didn't matter cause you love me that a way
You said that no one else could ever steal your heart away steal your heart away
Do you recall the Union Bank we robbed in Franklin Town
And as we made our getaway the sheriff gunned you down
And I doctored up your bullet wounds and nursed you while you sit
But now you have betrayed me is that the thanks I get is that the thanks I get
Oh yeah JJ I'm thinking now of how we'd all begun
Of all the times we've robbed and killed with our trust wordy gun
Why we stood off a fuss it was JJ just you and I
But now you have betrayed me and for that you're gonna die
Yeah for that you're gonna die
The good old days are over as we stand here in the rain
JJ I'm gonna shoot you now I hope you'll feel no pain
I hear whoopees of the horses and fieces on my trail
I guess I'll join you soon but for now JJ farewell for now JJ farewell
In Dolly Parton's song "J.J. Sneed," the lyrics tell the story of an outlaw couple, the singer and JJ Sneed. The singer has been tracking JJ and has finally caught up with him. She reflects on their past together, from their first jobs to the Union Bank they robbed in Franklin Town, where JJ was gunned down by a sheriff. The singer cared for JJ and healed his bullet wounds but now feels betrayed because JJ has chosen another woman over her. Despite her loyalty and love for JJ, the singer has decided to shoot JJ and end their partnership.
The lyrics of "J.J. Sneed" tell a story of love, betrayal, and revenge. The singer, who is a female outlaw, feels betrayed by JJ Sneed for choosing another woman over her. The song's lyrics poem portrays how the singer and JJ have had each other's backs in the past, but now she feels that their bond has been severed. Additionally, the song depicts how far one can go for the person they love and the consequences of betrayal.
Line by Line Meaning
At last I have called up with you and you're a sight to see
I have finally caught up with you, and you look as handsome as ever.
Could this really be my outlaw lover JJ Sneed
Is it really true that you, JJ Sneed, are the man I have been loving despite your criminal activities?
Could a woman with a painted face and pretty sweet disguise
Is it possible that a woman with a deceiving facade has been able to turn you against me?
Turn your heart against me with her evil cunning eyes her evil cunning eyes
Has this woman, with her wicked and deceptive gaze, been able to cause you to betray me?
JJ it's been you and me right from the very start
You and I have always been partners in crime from the start.
And ever job we ever pulled I'd always done my part
I have always played my role to the best of my ability in every crime we have committed together.
We'd really stick together until the bitter end
We have always been loyal to each other till the very end.
And it was my understanding we were whole lots more than friends
I believed that the connection between us was more than just that of friends.
A whole lot more than friends
We shared a deeper connection that extended beyond being just friends.
And it was me that kept you on when nights were dark and cold
I have been the one supporting you, even during the most challenging of times.
But I guess I didn't look like much in these old ragged clothes
Perhaps you did not find me as attractive in my dishevelled appearance.
But you said it didn't matter cause you love me that a way
You assured me that my looks did not matter much and that you loved me for me.
You said that no one else could ever steal your heart away steal your heart away
You promised me that no other person could ever take your love from me.
Do you recall the Union Bank we robbed in Franklin Town
Remember when we robbed the Union Bank in Franklin Town?
And as we made our getaway the sheriff gunned you down
Unfortunately, the sheriff shot you when we were making our escape.
And I doctored up your bullet wounds and nursed you while you sit
I tended to your gunshot wounds and took care of you while you were recuperating.
But now you have betrayed me is that the thanks I get is that the thanks I get
But now, you have gone ahead to betray me; is this the gratitude I deserve?
Oh yeah JJ I'm thinking now of how we'd all begun
As I stand here, I am thinking of how all of these began for us.
Of all the times we've robbed and killed with our trust wordy gun
Thinking about all the times we committed robbery and murder together using our reliable weapons.
Why we stood off a fuss it was JJ just you and I
We always had each other's back, and we were a great duo in pulling off our crimes.
But now you have betrayed me and for that you're gonna die
Unfortunately, you have gone ahead to betray me, and that puts you in danger of losing your life.
Yeah, for that you're gonna die
Yes, you have betrayed me, and you will face the consequences, which could result in your death.
The good old days are over as we stand here in the rain
I am standing in the rain beside you, and our happy moments are long gone.
JJ I'm gonna shoot you now I hope you'll feel no pain
I must shoot you now, JJ, but I hope to do it quickly and without causing you any pain.
I hear whoopees of the horses and fieces on my trail
I can hear the horses' hooves and the sound of the footsteps of the people who are pursuing me.
I guess I'll join you soon but for now JJ farewell for now JJ farewell
Soon, I will join you, but for now, JJ, let this be my farewell to you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON, DOROTHY OWENS
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.