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
Mary Did You Know
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God
Oh Mary, did you know? (did you know?) oh
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the lamb
Mary, if you knew how wonderful for you
That He choose you to bring
To us The King of Kings
Ha, God bless you, Mary
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy
Is heaven's Perfect Lamb?
The sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I am
Mary, did you know (Mary, did you know), did you know
He's Lord of all creation?
Did you know, did you know
He's a Ruler of all nations?
He walks where angels trod
He is the Son of God
Oh Mary, did you know, did you know?
Your baby boy would one day walk on water
Did you know?
In the song "Mary Did You Know?" by Dolly Parton, the lyrics address the mother of Jesus, Mary, and ask her if she was aware of the incredible nature and destiny of her son, Jesus. The first lines ask Mary if she knew that her baby boy, Jesus, would one day walk on water and save the souls of men and women. The song goes on to mention how Jesus would perform miracles such as restoring sight to the blind and calming the storm with his hand, and how he would ultimately rule over creation as the "Great I Am." The song is filled with references to the many amazing things that Jesus would go on to do in his lifetime, and how Mary must have been in awe of the child she had delivered.
Line by Line Meaning
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary, were you aware that your son, who you gave birth to, would perform miracles such as walking on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your son would save people from their sins, including both male and female children?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you
Were you aware that your son would bring newness into your life? The same baby that you have given birth to will soon become your deliverer.
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would calm the storm with his hand?
Were you aware that your son will have the power to heal, he will make a blind man see, and even calm a storm with just his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God
Did you know that your son has walked where only angels have gone before? And when you kiss him, you are kissing the face of God Himself.
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the lamb
Your son will perform miracles that will change people's lives, the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will come back to life, the lame will walk, and the mute will speak, giving glory to the lamb of God.
Mary, if you knew how wonderful for you
That He choose you to bring
To us The King of Kings
Ha, God bless you, Mary
Mary, If you knew how blessed and privileged you are to be chosen as a vessel to bring the King of Kings into the world, God will pour his blessings on you, Mary.
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your son, the baby you gave birth to, will one day be the Lord of everything He created, and he will rule over all the nations in the world?
Did you know that your baby boy
Is heaven's Perfect Lamb?
The sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I am
Were you aware that your son is the spotless lamb of heaven, and the child that you are holding right now is the Almighty God Himself?
Mary, did you know (Mary, did you know), did you know
He's Lord of all creation?
Did you know, did you know
He's a Ruler of all nations?
He walks where angels trod
He is the Son of God
Oh Mary, did you know, did you know?
Mary, did you know that your son, the baby who you delivered, will rule over all creation and all nations? Did you also know that he walked where angels have stepped and that your son is the Son of God? Oh, Mary if you only knew how magnificent and extraordinary your little baby boy would become.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, TuneCore Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Buddy Greene, Mark Lowry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@angelamohler9185
When she starts, her voice almost sounds like she has tears in her eyes and is holding back. Thank you again Dolly for your beautiful voice and can not wait to get this album.
@AprilPerkinson
I agree.. I think she misses Kenny
@conniebottomley8352
God Bless Dolly you've been his vessel n instrument of his direction n will "might add a yielded vessel sometimes when u didnt know it or couldn't see it!!! praise God n Thank him for u ms' parton n all my virtuous n saved by his blood sisters in christ? saved believing unto righteousness by faith" n with the mouth confession is made unto salvation!!"?? not by any of our works?good deeds or giving all that we have!! lest any man should boast? excuse me ms Parton or woman" 😇😃 but more we draw closer to him n become more like him because of our love for him when understand n comprehend what he's done ,felt , truly endured for us??? suffered beaten ,shamed. embarrassed,, slandered, n gave his life for us all ! n I speak for myself don't derserve anything but death n feel so ashamed n worthless? but believe who he say's I am? n his word!!! it's so easy , simple, its rough sometimes for a heart of flesh n human carnal flesh? but know he's truly God " don't fear to much n whatever my journey is n he's ordained or predestined for me whatever it may be? I feel comfortable just knowing he's God?? praise God Almighty! my soul n all that is within me!!! praise his holy name!!.......... sorry for so much muttering? lol
@amyrubright1052
Her voice does sound like she’s crying !!!
@amyrubright1052
What does a dead spider have to do with a beautiful and wonderful singer like Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton !!!!
@angiea2048
@Amy Rubright how
@jerrioconnor5615
Goosebumps!!!!! What a amazing song sung by Dolly and the wonderful choir. Just love it!!
@ImperfectMark
Dolly makes every song better. She's making 2020 better than it could be.
@minderaser2000
For Sure!!!
@wessalveson6374
Mark Raymond she really does!