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
Little Bit Slow To Catch On
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I do I'm caught on
A little bit slow to move on
But your baby is a' movin' on, on
Your baby is a' movin' on
Well, I couldn't see the light for the brightness
Of the sweet little smile you gave me
But finally I'm a catchin' on, on
Finally, I'm a' catchin' on
I'm a little bit slow to catch on
When I do, I'm caught on
A little bit slow to move on
But your baby is a' movin' on, on
Your baby is a' movin' on
I couldn't see the hurt for the happy
And at first that's the way you made me
It took me a while to get your style
But finally I'm a' catchin' on, on
Finally I'm a' catchin' on
I'm a little bit slow to catch on
When I do, I'm caught on
A little bit slow to move on
But your baby is a' movin' on, on
Your baby is a' movin' on
You say you can't see the light for the darkness
That surrounds you since I'm gone
You can't eat or sleep 'cause you're lonely
Well, finally you're catchin' on, on
Finally you're a' catchin' on
I'm a little bit slow to catch on
When I do, I'm caught on
A little bit slow to move on
But your baby is a' movin' on, on
Your baby is a' movin' on
I'm a little bit slow to catch on
When I do, I'm a caught on
A little bit slow to move on
But your baby is a' movin' on, on
Your baby is a' movin' on
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's Little Bit Slow To Catch On paint the picture of someone who has been slow to catch on to a deceitful relationship, but is finally realizing the truth and moving on. The first verse indicates that the singer was blinded by the brightness of the deception and the perpetrator's smile, unable to see that they were being cheated on. However, the second verse shows that the singer couldn't see the hurt in the midst of happiness, but now understands how their ex-partner operated. In the final verse, the ex-partner is the one who can't see the light now that the singer has moved on.
Overall, the song tells the story of someone who was slow to understand the reality of their relationship, but finally saw through the deceit and found the courage to move on. The lyrics are indicative of someone who has struggled with their understanding of a situation, but eventually comes to the realization that the relationship was not healthy for them. It's a song about empowerment and the freedom that comes with acknowledging the truth.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a little bit slow to catch on
I tend to take a while to understand things
When I do I'm caught on
But when I finally understand something, I really grasp onto it
A little bit slow to move on
It can take me some time to let go of things and move forward
But your baby is a' movin' on, on
However, in this situation, I am able to move on and leave you behind
Well, I couldn't see the light for the brightness
I was so blinded by your charm and positivity that I couldn't see the truth
Of the sweet little smile you gave me
You deceived me with a smile
I couldn't see how you were cheatin' on me
I was oblivious to the fact that you were being unfaithful
But finally I'm a catchin' on, on
But now I am slowly realizing what's been happening
I couldn't see the hurt for the happy
I was too joyous to look beyond the surface and see the pain you were causing me
And at first that's the way you made me
Initially, you deceived me into thinking that everything was fine
It took me a while to get your style
It took me some time to understand your true nature and motives
You say you can't see the light for the darkness
Now you are feeling lost and hopeless without me
That surrounds you since I'm gone
You are struggling to cope with my absence
You can't eat or sleep 'cause you're lonely
The loneliness is taking a toll on you and affecting your health
Well, finally you're catchin' on, on
But now you are beginning to understand the consequences of your actions
I'm a little bit slow to catch on
I have a tendency to not see things right away
When I do, I'm caught on
But once I comprehend something, I am fully invested in it
A little bit slow to move on
It can take me some time to let go and move forward
But your baby is a' movin' on, on
But in this situation, I am able to leave you behind and move on
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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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.