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
Lover's Return
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And say the old love's growin' yet
You've tried through all these weary years
You've tried to vainly to forget
Oh no, I cannot take your hand
God never gives is back our youth
The lovin' heart you slighted then
Come close and let me see your face
Your raven hair is tinged with snow
Oh, yes, it is the same dear face
I loved so many years ago
Oh no, I cannot take your hand
God never gives is back our youth
The lovin' heart you slighted then
Was yours, my friend in perfect truth
Farewell, I think I love you yet
As friend to friend, God bless you dear
And guide you through these weary years
To where the skies are always clears
Oh no, I cannot take your hand
God never gives is back our youth
The lovin' heart you slighted then
Was yours, my friend in perfect truth
Oh no, I cannot take your hand
God never gives is back our youth
The lovin' heart you slighted then
Was yours, my friend in perfect truth
The lyrics to "Lover's Return," sung by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, speak about the return of an old love. The singer feels conflicted upon the reunion with their old flame. The person who left them broke their heart, but after all these years, they have come back, and the lyrics seem to imply that their love for each other has rekindled.
The songwriter paints a picture of someone who has aged and aged well. The person who left has returned, but they are not young anymore. They try to rekindle the love they had long ago, but the singer acknowledges that time has changed them, and they cannot return to the past. Their youth and innocence are gone, and they cannot hold on to the love they once had.
The lyrics repeatedly mention how "God never gives us back our youth." It refers to the lyricist's belief that we cannot return to something that once was. What the person who left took from the singer was priceless, and they cannot give it back. The lyrics end with the singer parting ways, expressing forgiveness and wishing the person who left well.
Line by Line Meaning
And so you have come back to me
You have returned to me after a long time
And say the old love's growin' yet
You claim that our love still exists and is growing
You've tried through all these weary years
You have attempted to forget about me for years, but failed
You've tried to vainly to forget
Your efforts to forget me have been unsuccessful
Oh no, I cannot take your hand
I cannot forgive you just because you have returned
God never gives is back our youth
We cannot turn back time or regain our lost youth
The lovin' heart you slighted then
You hurt my loving heart in the past
Was yours, my friend in perfect truth
Despite the hurt, my love and friendship for you are true
Come close and let me see your face
Approach me so I can see your face after all these years
Your raven hair is tinged with snow
Your once-dark hair displays signs of gray
Oh, yes, it is the same dear face
I recognize your face despite the signs of aging
I loved so many years ago
The face I have always loved, even after all this time
Farewell, I think I love you yet
Even after this reunion, I am not sure if I love you or not
As friend to friend, God bless you dear
As friends, I hope God blesses you
And guide you through these weary years
May God guide you through the rest of your life
To where the skies are always clears
May you reach a peaceful place free of troubles
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dolly Parton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alexander zero
[Verse 1]
And so you have come back to me
And say the old loves growing yet
You've tried through all these weary years
You've tried too vainly to forget
[Chorus]
Oh no, I cannot take your hand
God never gives is back our youth
The loving heart you slighted then
Was yours, my friend, in perfect truth
[Verse 2]
Come close and let me see your face
Your raven hair is tinged with snow
Oh, yes, it is the same dear face
I loved so many years ago
[Chorus]
Oh no, I cannot take your hand
God never gives is back our youth
The loving heart you slighted then
Was yours, my friend, in perfect truth
[Verse 3]
Farewell, I think I love you yet
As friend to friend, God bless you dear
And guide you through these weary years
To where the skies are always clears
Oh no, I cannot take your hand
God never gives is back our youth
The loving heart you slighted then
Was yours, my friend, in perfect truth
Ole Nielson
So sad that Ronstadt can no longer sing! ALL of these women are wonderful vocalists in their own right. Their album 'Trio' has to be one of the best ever collaborationist albums ever! All are captured at the top of their game for us to enjoy!
Wayne A White
Three of the MOST IMPORTANT voices in popular music 🎶
Paul R
Lindas voice is just amazing, the greatest female vocalist ever
Jan Love Makatea
You bet no other
TJ Wash
One of my favorites from this album, which arguably can’t hold a candle to the first trio album.
Pudding
This kind of songs are rare these days.. how sad the generations is I’ve always listened to this with mom while she play guitar n I sing along with her holding parts 😭
Alexander zero
[Verse 1]
And so you have come back to me
And say the old loves growing yet
You've tried through all these weary years
You've tried too vainly to forget
[Chorus]
Oh no, I cannot take your hand
God never gives is back our youth
The loving heart you slighted then
Was yours, my friend, in perfect truth
[Verse 2]
Come close and let me see your face
Your raven hair is tinged with snow
Oh, yes, it is the same dear face
I loved so many years ago
[Chorus]
Oh no, I cannot take your hand
God never gives is back our youth
The loving heart you slighted then
Was yours, my friend, in perfect truth
[Verse 3]
Farewell, I think I love you yet
As friend to friend, God bless you dear
And guide you through these weary years
To where the skies are always clears
Oh no, I cannot take your hand
God never gives is back our youth
The loving heart you slighted then
Was yours, my friend, in perfect truth
D. R. Greg
Thank you so much for the lyrics!😘
RHONTHUNGO ANDREAS
Very meaningful lyric with gorgeous voice,timeless song.Thank you.
Norma Garcia
I love this !!