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
Lovesick blues
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a feeling cause I'm blue
Oh Lord, since my daddy said, "Goodbye"
I don't know what I'm gonna do
All I do is sit and cry
Oh Lord, that last long day he said, "Goodbye"
Oh Lord, I thought I would die
Oh Lord, I loved to hear when he calls me sweet baby
What a beautiful dream
I hate to think it all over, I lost my heart it seems
I've grown so used to that man somehow
And I'm nobody's sugar baby now
'Cause I'm lonesome, I've got the lovesick blues
Now I'm in love, I'm in love
With a wonderful guy
That's what's the matter with me
Well, I'm in love, I'm in love
With a wonderful guy
But he don't care about me
Well, I tried and I tried
To keep him satisfied
But he just won't stay
But now that he is leavin'
This is all I got to say
I got the feeling called the blue
Oh Lord, since my daddy said, "Goodbye"
I don't know what I'm gonna do
I lost my heart it seems
I've grown so used to that man somehow
And I'm nobody's sugar baby now
'Cause I'm lonesome, I've got the lovesick blues
(Oh, come on, let these boys play one)
(Good Lord, that's Floyd Kramer, he's older than we are)
I've grown so used to that man somehow (ah, show 'em Patsy)
And I'm nobody's sugar baby now
'Cause I'm lonesome, I've got the lovesick blues
The song "Lovesick Blues" performed by Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, and Loretta Lynn, is about the pain of heartbreak and the aftermath of a failed relationship. The song starts with the singer feeling deeply hurt and longing for her former lover. She can't seem to shake the feeling of sadness that has taken over her life since he left, and she spends most of her time crying and wishing he would come back. The chorus speaks to the depth of her love and how it has caused her heartache – she's lost her heart and can't seem to find it again.
The second half of the song introduces a new romantic interest, but unfortunately, he doesn't return her love. Although she tries to keep him satisfied, he leaves her feeling just as heartbroken as before. As the song closes, the singer emphasizes just how much she has come to rely on her former lover and the difficulty she now faces in being alone. Overall, the song is a powerful expression of the pain and heartbreak that come with losing a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Patsy, what'd you looking so down about?
Why are you so sad, Patsy?
Got a feeling cause I'm blue
I'm feeling sad and down.
Oh Lord, since my daddy said, "Goodbye"
Ever since my father left, I've been feeling heartbroken.
I don't know what I'm gonna do
I'm lost and unsure of what to do next.
All I do is sit and cry
I can't stop crying and feeling emotional.
Oh Lord, that last long day he said, "Goodbye"
I can't forget the day my lover left me.
Oh Lord, I thought I would die
At that moment, I felt like I couldn't go on living.
He'll do ya', he'll do me, he's got that kind of lovin'
He has a special kind of love that he shows to everyone he's with.
Oh Lord, I loved to hear when he calls me sweet baby
I loved being called sweet baby by him.
What a beautiful dream
I had a beautiful fantasy that I loved living in.
I hate to think it all over, I lost my heart it seems
I can't bear the thought of reliving it all again. I feel like I've lost a part of myself.
I've grown so used to that man somehow
I've become accustomed to having him around.
And I'm nobody's sugar baby now
I was once his sweet darling, but now I'm no longer with him.
'Cause I'm lonesome, I've got the lovesick blues
I'm feeling lonely and have a case of the lovesick blues.
Now I'm in love, I'm in love
I've fallen in love again.
With a wonderful guy
He's a great guy that I adore.
That's what's the matter with me
My love for him is the reason why I'm so emotional.
But he don't care about me
Unfortunately, he doesn't feel the same way about me.
Well, I tried and I tried
I did everything I could.
To keep him satisfied
I tried to make him happy and content.
But he just won't stay
Despite my best efforts, he's not willing to stay with me.
But now that he is leavin'
Now that he's going, there's something I need to say.
This is all I got to say
Here's what I need to say.
I got the feeling called the blue
I'm feeling sad.
I lost my heart it seems
It feels like I've lost a part of me to him.
Ah, show 'em Patsy
Come on, Patsy, show them what you've got!
And I'm nobody's sugar baby now
I'm single and not in a relationship with anyone.
'Cause I'm lonesome, I've got the lovesick blues
I'm filled with loneliness and the lovesick blues.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Cliff Friend, Irving Mills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@daltonsanders4099
Never heard so much talent, class, and beauty in one song! Ladies and gentlemen...the Big 4 County Legends! Love all them! ❤️
@notesl5576
Dalton Sanders but they're only 3 singing
@MrWayneWhite
Agree with you
@nataleeegleston1334
Patsy clines recording is there too!!!!
@luisajoys.laguardia4710
Im a 17 year old gal who loves a classic country music ♡
@IH8COMERCIALRNB
Patsy Cline, and background singers.
@theblissfullone
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing. 🌷
@honestwithmywordshughes3783
That's Floyd Kramer, he's older than we are !!!!!! She is the Best !!!!! With the other best !!!!!! Love Love Love them !!!!!!!!!
@alika207
I have this album! I love it and love the Trio albums too!
@rayshortt3989
patsy towers above them all.
she has the greatest voice for expression and depth .. I am 33 years old and listen to her constantly.. I love dolly too. I wonder if patsy hadn't died so young what she might have achieved.. love you Patsy. xx