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
Love Isn't Free
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Says the show today is Love Is Free
And inside a boy and a girl on a date
Their folks are gone away
They're going to stay out late
A little later on in a lover's lane
They park in the dark with
Their hearts in flames
I need you so and love is free"
In a simple little room in a Chattanooga home
For girls that need a friend
And are all alone
She wait's for a letter that never comes
From a boy that won't admit what he's done
She had to leave school because
She couldn't stand the shame
Her daddy said she ruined the family name
Her mama cries herself to sleep at night
That's no way to start a young girl's life
Love isn't free, no it ain't free
No matter what they say somebody
Has to pay for love
In an orphanage home, a sad little girl
Six years old and all alone in the world
She knows by now what they never say
That she once had a mama
But she gave her away
People come to visit but don't choose Marie
She cries at the door "nobody loves me"
And somewhere a boy doesn't care at all
That her tears at night stains
Her little rag doll
Love isn't free, no it ain't free
No matter what they say somebody
Has to pay for love no matter what they say
Look who's paying for love
The lyrics of Dolly Parton's song "Love Isn't Free" portray different narratives that highlight the various sacrifices and prices that are often associated with love. The first verse sets the scene at a movie theater, where a young couple on a date plans to stay out late, embracing the freedom of young love. The boy expresses his need for the girl, emphasizing that love comes with a cost, but it is worth it.
The second verse takes a different turn, shifting to a girl in a troubled situation. She awaits a letter from a boy who won't face the consequences of his actions, leaving her alone and shamed. She had to leave school due to the judgment and disappointment from her family, and her mother experiences great sadness each night. The lyrics shed light on the detrimental effects of societal expectations and the toll it takes on this young girl's life.
In the final verse, the focus shifts to an orphanage where a six-year-old girl named Marie resides. She yearns for love and connection but is constantly overlooked by those who come to visit. The indifference of a boy to her tears and struggles amplifies the message that love often comes at a price, and in this case, Marie pays the cost of feeling unloved and unwanted.
Overall, "Love Isn't Free" explores the various ways in which love can be accompanied by sacrifices, pain, and emotional costs. It delves into themes of societal expectations, shame, abandonment, and the harsh reality of not feeling loved or valued.
Line by Line Meaning
The neon lights of a movie marquee
The bright lights of the movie theater sign
Says the show today is Love Is Free
Indicating that today's featured film is about love being free
And inside a boy and a girl on a date
A young couple spending time together
Their folks are gone away
Their parents are not at home
They're going to stay out late
They plan to be out for a long time
A little later on in a lover's lane
At a secluded place for romantic encounters
They park in the dark with
They park their car in the darkness
Their hearts in flames
Feeling strong passion and desire
He says "oh baby go along with me
He asks her to come with him
I need you so and love is free"
Expressing his deep need for her and implying that love doesn't have a cost
In a simple little room in a Chattanooga home
Inside a modest room in a house in Chattanooga
For girls that need a friend
Intended for girls who are in need of companionship
And are all alone
Feeling lonely and isolated
She wait's for a letter that never comes
She eagerly anticipates a letter that never arrives
From a boy that won't admit what he's done
From a boy who refuses to acknowledge his actions
She had to leave school because
She was forced to drop out of school due to
She couldn't stand the shame
The unbearable embarrassment and disgrace
Her daddy said she ruined the family name
Her father blamed her for tarnishing the family's reputation
Her mama cries herself to sleep at night
Her mother weeps silently in bed at night
That's no way to start a young girl's life
This is not an ideal beginning for a young girl
Love isn't free, no it ain't free
Love has a cost, it is not without expense
No matter what they say somebody
Regardless of what others claim, someone
Has to pay for love
Must bear the price of love
In an orphanage home, a sad little girl
In a home for orphaned children, a lonely and sorrowful young girl
Six years old and all alone in the world
Being only six years old and lacking companionship
She knows by now what they never say
She has come to understand what is left unspoken
That she once had a mama
That she had a mother in the past
But she gave her away
But her mother gave her up
People come to visit but don't choose Marie
Visitors come, but none of them select Marie
She cries at the door "nobody loves me"
She sheds tears at the doorstep, feeling unloved
And somewhere a boy doesn't care at all
Meanwhile, there is a boy who feels complete indifference
That her tears at night stains
That her tears mark and soil
Her little rag doll
Her small, tattered doll
Look who's paying for love
Take note of who is bearing the cost for love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
wobbly orange
brings back memories of me and my mum... absolutly love this song Thank You
nanna yakubu shibo
I feel so emotional when ever I listen to ..love isn't free
yu3p2x1
So sad and sung so simply. Love it.
SHAUN CAMPBELL9
I had this album, I'd never thought that I would hear this online ! Thank You
kingsley Moeng
Love this song
Steven S
One of Dolly's best album cuts.
kingsley Moeng
Great music
Marie Derkaoui
i love this song x
Tammy Oertel
took me forever to find this song!!
awesomeangi
Me too! Actually, as unbelievable as this sounds, I used to sing this to my children every night as I rocked them to sleep 20+ years ago but had never heard the song until now. How can that be, you ask? The lyrics were given to me by my cousin when we were sharing our poetry one evening and she, to the best of her limited ability, sung a portion of it so I had a jumping off point to sing it myself. My version sounded quite a bit different than Dolly's. haha It took me forever to find the original version because there weren't any details about the artist and she couldn't remember where she had heard it. Also, the lyrics I was given weren't 100% correct. For example, the version I was given said 'love ain't free' which made searching the lyrics damn near impossible. Every time I would google 'in the neon light's of a movie marquee' I got all kinds of information about neon lights and such. haha