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
Livin' a Lie
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Spotlight's on, it's shining bright
And I like standin' in it
It's only superficial light
But I don't want to end it
It's warmth and glow has taken hold
And I'm caught uup in it's shine
I want to claim as mine
Fancy clothes, a magic coach
And happy ever after
Like something from a story book
The Cinderella chapter
But when the clock strikes midnight
And I lie awake in bed
Things my Daddy told me
Keep running through my head
You gotta walk the straight and narrow
And to thine own self be true
Gotta aim straight as an arrow
All eyes are up on you
But sometimes it feels so good
That I can almost justify
Livin' a lie -- livin' a lie
Livin' a lie -- livin' a lie
Is it wrong for me to want
The sweeter grass that's greener?
To chase the all-American dream
I've always been a dreamer
At the top and still I've got
A heavy heart inside
I keep remembering
Things my Daddy told me as a child
You gotta walk the striaght and narrow
Gotta hold fast to the right
Gotta aim straight as an arrow
Walk onward toward the light
Oh, but when I'm out there in it
I think I might get by
Livin' a lie -- livin' a lie
But I don't feel right livin' a lie
Livin' a lie -- livin' a lie
All the fame and fortune
Glory and prestige
Can't make me happy if it goes
Against what I believe
And I've sacrificed my honor
My values and my pride
Livin' a lie -- livin' a lie
Livin' a lie -- livin' a lie
Livin' a lie -- livin' a lie
Livin' a lie
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, I don't feel right
In Dolly Parton's song "Livin' a Lie," the lyrics depict a conflict between the allure of fame and success, and the internal struggle of staying true to oneself and one's values. The singer expresses a fascination with the spotlight and the superficial glamour that comes with it, likening it to a Cinderella fairy tale that she wants to claim as her own. This imagery symbolizes the desire for a perfect, happy ending and the temptation of a life that seems glamorous and idealized.
Despite the enchantment of this dream-like existence, there is an undercurrent of doubt and inner turmoil. The singer recalls the wisdom imparted by her father, emphasizing the importance of integrity, staying on the right path, and remaining true to oneself. This conflict between external success and internal values creates a sense of tension within the singer as she grapples with the pressure to maintain appearances while struggling with her conscience.
The theme of duality continues as the singer acknowledges her conflicting desires - the longing for the supposed greener grass on the other side, the pursuit of the American dream, and the innate dreamer spirit within her. However, these aspirations come at a cost, as she reflects on the sacrifices she has made, including compromising her honor, values, and pride for the sake of external validation and success.
Ultimately, the song conveys a poignant message about the emptiness of external achievements if they come at the expense of one's authenticity and moral compass. The repeated refrain of "Livin' a lie" serves as a poignant reminder of the internal conflict and the toll that compromising one's values takes on the soul. Dolly Parton's introspective lyrics speak to the universal struggle of balancing ambition and integrity, and the poignant realization that true happiness and fulfillment stem from living a life aligned with one's true self.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
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.