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
More Than I Can Say
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your love is like a gentle breeze
That's always blowin' over me
I know you're all I'll ever need
In each and every way
You're both ends of the rainbow
I love you with a love untold
More than I can say
You are the song of every bird
You are the poet's every word
Every artist's picture
Every writer's play
You are the glow in every night
You are the warmth in each sunrise
Makes no difference how I try
It's more than I can say
And when I've needed you
You've always been there for me
Been my friend and stood by me
And held me as you loved the world away
And when I've wanted you
You have satisfied my needs
Fullfilled all my fantasies
I love you more and more each day
More than I can say
Oh and sometimes I watch you gently sleep
Listen as you softly breathe
Touch you skin and kiss you sweet
And love you all the way
I reach for you
You come to me
Love me into ecstacy
I will love you endlessly
More than I can say
And when I've needed you
You've always been there for me
Been my friend and stood by me
And held me as you loved the world away
And when I've wanted you
You have satisfied my needs
Fullfilled all my fantasies
I love you more and more each day
More than I can say
I love you more and more each day
More than I can say
More than I can say
More than I can say
More than I can say
In Dolly Parton's song "More Than I Can Say," she speaks about the overwhelming love she experiences in her relationship. She compares her partner's love to a gentle breeze that constantly surrounds and uplifts her. She also notes that her partner is everything she needs and more, filling every gap in her life. Dolly uses beautiful imagery to express her love and affection, describing her partner as the song of every bird, the poet's every word, and the artist's every picture.
Furthermore, Dolly talks about the intensity of her passion for her partner, explaining that "More Than I Can Say" expresses the depth of her love better than any other words ever could. She admires her lover's ability to fulfill her fantasies and satisfy her every desire. Even in the quiet moments when her partner is sleeping, Dolly is consumed by her deep love for them.
Overall, "More Than I Can Say" is a heartfelt tribute to a life-defining relationship. It's clear that Dolly Parton is head-over-heels in love, and this song perfectly captures the depth of her feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Your love is like a gentle breeze
Your love is comforting, gentle and constant
That's always blowin' over me
Your love is all-encompassing and surrounds me
I know you're all I'll ever need
You complete me and fulfill all of my needs
In each and every way
Your love is multifaceted and covers all aspects of my life
You're both ends of the rainbow
You are the full spectrum of my happiness
My colors and my pot of gold
You bring color and value to my life
I love you with a love untold
The depth of my love for you cannot be expressed in words
More than I can say
My love for you is immeasurable
You are the song of every bird
You bring music to my life and make it beautiful
You are the poet's every word
You inspire my creativity and imagination
Every artist's picture
You are the muse of my artistic inspiration
Every writer's play
You are the source of my literary inspiration
You are the glow in every night
You bring light and comfort to the darkness
You are the warmth in each sunrise
You bring warmth and energy to the start of each day
Makes no difference how I try
No matter how hard I try
It's more than I can say
I cannot fully express my love for you
And when I've needed you
During times of need
You've always been there for me
You are a reliable source of support and comfort
Been my friend and stood by me
You are a faithful friend and supporter
And held me as you loved the world away
You show me unconditional love and make the world disappear
And when I've wanted you
During times of desire
You have satisfied my needs
You fulfill my desires and make me happy
Fullfilled all my fantasies
You make my dreams come true
I love you more and more each day
My love for you grows with each passing day
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Romy K.
on Gypsy Joe And Me
As a matter of fact she's contemplating suicide standing on the bridge, that's how they'll be together again.