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
Jeannie's Afraid of the Dark
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her two little feet would come running into
Our bedroom almost every night
Her soft little face would be wet from her tears
And her little heart pounding with fright
She'd hold out her arms, then she'd climb in beside us
In her small voice, we'd hear her remark
'Cause Jeannie's afraid of the dark"
One day in the summer, we took some flowers
To place on some old family graves
Jeannie said, "Mommy, ain't it dark in the ground
Oh, Daddy, I'd be so afraid"
Then she looked up at her daddy and me
And said somethin' that broke both our hearts
She said, "When I die, please don't bury me
'Cause Jeannie's afraid of the dark"
Jeannie was always afraid of the dark
And we never could understand why
'Cause we looked after Jeannie with the very best of care
Because Jeannie was our only child
Perhaps it was death that she was so afraid of
'Cause it took her one dark stormy night
I think we always knew that we'd never see Jeannie grown
'Cause it seemed she was destined to die
But on Jeannie's grave, we placed an eternal flame
That glows and never loses its spark
And on the darkest night, there's always a light
'Cause Jeannie's afraid of the dark
Our Jeannie's afraid of the dark
Dolly Parton's "Jeannie's Afraid of the Dark" is a heart-wrenching ballad that tells the story of a little girl, Jeannie, who is afraid of the dark. Every night, she runs into her parents' bedroom, seeking comfort and safety from her fear. One summer day, while visiting some old family graves, Jeannie expresses her fear of the dark and asks her parents not to bury her when she dies because of it. Ultimately, Jeannie passes away, and her parents place an eternal flame on her grave so that even in the darkest night, there will always be a light since Jeannie was afraid of the dark.
The song's lyrics touch the listener's emotions with the poignant story of Jeannie's fear and the love and care of her parents. The song encapsulates the feeling of helplessness that parents feel when they cannot protect their children from their fears, real or imaginary. The story of Jeannie reminds us of the fragility of life and how we need to cherish our loved ones when we have them.
Line by Line Meaning
Her two little feet would come running into
Our bedroom almost every night
Every night, Jeannie would run into her parents' room because she was scared
Her soft little face would be wet from her tears
Jeannie would cry and her face would be wet with tears
And her little heart pounding with fright
Jeannie's heart would beat quickly because she was scared
She'd hold out her arms, then she'd climb in beside us
Jeannie would climb into bed with her parents and hug them
In her small voice, we'd hear her remark
Jeannie would talk in a soft, little voice
"Mommie and Daddy, can I sleep here with you
Jeannie would ask her parents if she could sleep with them
'Cause Jeannie's afraid of the dark"
She was scared of the dark and wanted to sleep with her parents
One day in the summer, we took some flowers
To place on some old family graves
Jeannie's family went to visit some family graves in the summer
Jeannie said, "Mommy, ain't it dark in the ground
Oh, Daddy, I'd be so afraid"
Jeannie was scared of the darkness in the ground where people were buried
Then she looked up at her daddy and me
Jeannie looked at her parents
And said somethin' that broke both our hearts
Jeannie said something that made her parents feel sad
"When I die, please don't bury me
Jeannie didn't want to be buried when she died
'Cause Jeannie's afraid of the dark"
She was scared of the darkness in the ground
Jeannie was always afraid of the dark
Jeannie was scared of the dark her whole life
And we never could understand why
Her parents didn't understand why she was scared of the dark
'Cause we looked after Jeannie with the very best of care
Her parents took good care of Jeannie
Because Jeannie was our only child
Jeannie was their only child
Perhaps it was death that she was so afraid of
Jeannie may have been scared of death
'Cause it took her one dark stormy night
Jeannie died on a dark and stormy night
I think we always knew that we'd never see Jeannie grown
Her parents knew that Jeannie wouldn't live to be an adult
'Cause it seemed she was destined to die
Jeannie's parents had a feeling that she wouldn't live a long life
But on Jeannie's grave, we placed an eternal flame
Her parents put a special light on Jeannie's grave that never goes out
That glows and never loses its spark
The light on Jeannie's grave continues to shine brightly
And on the darkest night, there's always a light
Even on the darkest night, the light on Jeannie's grave shines
'Cause Jeannie's afraid of the dark
The light on Jeannie's grave is there because she was scared of the dark
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kodongoogada3741
just buried my son a week ago from a road crush, he was so afraid of the dark, continue resting in peace Craig Adrian
@stefanosantangelo9362
Another masterpiece from Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, who made me cry like a child. Rest in peace, mr. Wagoner, and my best wishes to mrs. Parton
@julielacaze7256
Dolly and Porter influenced my magical world of childhood. May their songs blanket the world in self-love and terror about what is being done to Children. Dollywood is my home. Thank you both for grace from the doves. <3
@najmaabdallah1
So sad, for sure nobody can beat Dolly interms of song writing. She the woman who made love country music n I will forever love country till death just like jeannie 😭😭😭😭😭😭
@robertoalessandro2808
Hello
@sashadimetries1258
I remember crying to this song at 10 years old and still cry to it today at 30.
@jessicawilliams6727
who's still bawling to this in 2020?
@jeanbudgell7015
My God!! how I ❤ this song so much. Dolly and porter can surely sing this so good.😢 heartbreaking 💔👍🙏🙏🙏
@davidhudson6754
When we talk about great country songs this song must be included. It is true master piece of pure country music. Porter was the perfect one sing with her on this song. He was a master of songs like this as was Dolly in the early years. This is a sad song but it has a lot of meaning. This will always be a song that will be played by traditional country music fans.
@cynthiamlambo3532
My mom told me this story before just before God took her... for many years it did not make any sense to me ... but whenever i listen to this song i find a solace of some sort ... i miss u mom😑