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
Lord Hold My Hand
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
The above lyrics belong to the song “Lord Hold My Hand” by Dolly Parton. The song talks about the need for divine guidance, comfort and protection in difficult moments. In the opening verse, the singer addresses the Lord, asking Him to hold her hand and lead her on because she feels tired, weak and worn. She is asking for strength to face the storm and make it through the night into the light. The chorus repeats the plea, asking the Lord to lead her home.
The second verse picks up from where the first left off, acknowledging that life can sometimes feel dreary especially when one is at the brink of giving up. It is at such moments that the singer is asking the Lord to linger near and hear her cry and call. She fears falling and so she is asking the Lord to hold her hand, reminding us that even when we feel like life is slipping away, we only need to call on God and He shall answer. The chorus repeats the plea and asks the Lord to lead her home.
The final verse talks about the end of life when darkness appears and the night draws near. The singer imagines standing at the river awaiting to be guided home by the Lord. She acknowledges her dependence on the Lord, and that without Him, she is lost. The chorus repeats the plea, reminding us that despite the uncertainty of life, we have a sure guide in the Lord who holds our hand and leads us home.
Line by Line Meaning
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Dear God, please take my hand and be with me.
Lead me on, let me stand,
Guide me in the right path and help me to stand strong.
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
I am exhausted, I am feeble, and I am defeated.
Through the storm, through the night,
Even when I face difficult times and it's dark and scary,
Lead me on to the light:
Help me find my way to the light and overcome any challenges.
Take my hand, precious Lord,
God, please hold my hand and be with me.
Lead me home.
Guide me to my eternal home in heaven.
When my way grows drear,
When my path seems long and difficult,
Precious Lord, linger near,
Please stay close to me, God,
When my life is almost gone,
When I am near the end of my life,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Please listen to my pleas and requests,
Hold my hand lest I fall:
Please hold my hand so I don't stumble.
When the darkness appears
When it becomes dark and unclear,
And the night draws near,
And night comes closer,
And the day is past and gone,
When the day is over,
At the river I stand,
When I reach the river that separates me from eternal life,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:
Please guide me in the right direction and hold me so I don't stray.
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Dear God, please hold my hand and be with me.
Lead me home.
Guide me to my everlasting home in heaven.
Contributed by Gianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@davedillion012
LYRICS
Hold my hand, lest I lose my way
Hold my hand and lead me home
Guide each step that I might take
Hold my hand and keep me strong
And let the path I walk be straight
Let the deeds I do be kind
Let me never hesitate
To help my brother walking blind
Hold my hand, lest I lose my way
Hold my hand and lead me home
Guide each step that I might take
Hold my hand and keep me strong
And let my words have meaning Lord
Anything that I might speak
If you see me leaning on
Just hold my hand and strengthen me
Hold my hand, lest I lose my way
Hold my hand and lead me home
Guide each step that I might take
Hold my hand and keep me strong
@medicatedmenorah
That’s so awesome how she wrote this with her mother-in-law. Most in-laws can’t even get together for Christmas without arguing.
@andilencube9871
It's been over 3 decades, this song is still my fort and lighthouse when the stormy nights threaten my safety and I don't know what my way forward should be on my way HOME..... that divine place where my soul will content to call home.
@nkurunzizagedeon
I'm blessed with this song! Dear Parton be blessed again
@marilynkent4558
Thanks so much for uploading this song, I love it and my little granddaughter loved it too when she was little, she would tell me, Nana I want to hear Hold my Hand.
@edgaruzezi1141
Dolly Parton has inspired and put smiles, joy and happiness to so many like me worldwide - please do have more years of health and happiness
@Egahi4real
I sing this song each time with tears swelling in my eyes at church. So touching! Dolly, thank GOD for your voice well in use. Praise JESUS!!
@deborahomayio9429
I can't stop singing this song... powerful indeed
@rhondaboncutter5812
I have never heard this song, but it is a song I can relate to! God will lead us to a safe place!
@isaacadane9104
gracious song
@tommoore7041
Thank you Luther for sending me that song