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 Things
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You never bring me pretty things when you come to see me
And you forgot my birthday oh I wish you could see
How I miss the little things that you don't do for me
You never say that I look nice or that you're proud of me
You overlook the little things that you should see
These little things are big enough to hurt but too small to make me want to leave
But I do miss the little things that you don't do for me
How can I taste candy that's still at the candy store
These little things mean a lot to me to you they may be silly
But I do miss the little things that you don't do for me
Yes I miss the little things that you don't do for me
In Dolly Parton's song Little Things, the singer expresses her disappointment with her significant other for neglecting to do the small, thoughtful things that make her feel loved and appreciated. She lists the various ways her partner falls short - not bringing her gifts, forgetting her birthday, failing to compliment her appearance or accomplishments. Despite the seeming insignificance of these actions, the absence of them leaves a significant impact on her emotions. She acknowledges that these little things are not important enough to end the relationship over, but they still hold weight in her heart.
The lyrics highlight how small, seemingly unimportant actions can have a large impact on personal relationships. While grand gestures and big displays of affection are often appreciated, it is often the consistency of small, thoughtful actions that can sustain a relationship. The song emphasises the importance of paying attention to the little things and how these actions show love and appreciation for a partner.
Line by Line Meaning
You never send me flowers or ever buy me candy
You don't show me affection in traditional ways through simple gestures like sending flowers or bringing me candy.
You never bring me pretty things when you come to see me
You don't come bearing gifts or tokens of appreciation when you visit me.
And you forgot my birthday oh I wish you could see
You overlooked one of the most important days of the year for me which makes me wish you could truly understand how much that hurt.
How I miss the little things that you don't do for me
I may not always express it, but I truly miss the small gestures and actions that show me that you care about me.
You never say that I look nice or that you're proud of me
You rarely offer compliments or words of encouragement about my appearance or accomplishments.
You overlook the little things that you should see
You fail to notice or acknowledge the small things that make a big difference to me.
These little things are big enough to hurt but too small to make me want to leave
While I am hurt by your lack of attention to the small things, they are not enough for me to want to end our relationship.
But I do miss the little things that you don't do for me
Again, I want to reiterate that I truly miss the small gestures and actions that show me that you care about me.
Now how can I miss flowers that never reached my door
I cannot miss something that I have never received in the first place, but the fact that you have never attempted to give me flowers still stings.
How can I taste candy that's still at the candy store
I cannot enjoy candy that I have never been given, and it hurts that you have not thought to share simple treats with me.
These little things mean a lot to me to you they may be silly
While they may seem insignificant to you, small gestures mean a great deal to me and contribute to feeling appreciated and loved.
But I do miss the little things that you don't do for me
Once again, I want to emphasize how much I miss the simple gestures and actions that show me that you care about me.
Yes I miss the little things that you don't do for me
In conclusion, I miss the small but significant actions that make me feel valued and loved in our relationship.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MILTON NELSON, UMITAROU ABE
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.