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 Their Share
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Copyright 1968
I give an inch and you take a mile and you tell me to jump and I just ask how
High
I've been over backwards to show you I care
And someone must always give more than their share
I say I'm sorry when the fault is not mine
I love you so much and it doesn't seem fair
That someone must always give more than their share
I know you well enough to know you would never admit you were wrong
And you know me well enough to know I give in cause my love is so strong
If I give an inch and you take a mile if you tell me to jump well I just ask
How high
I've been over backwards to show you I care
Cause someone must always give more than their share
Yes someone must always give more than their share
Dolly Parton's song "More Than Their Share" appears on her album "Just Because I'm a Woman" released in 1968. The song is about a relationship where one person seems to always give more than the other, and they keep quiet about it because of their love for the other person. The lyrics showcase how one person is always willing to go the extra mile, give more apologies and take the blame even when it’s not their fault. The idea of “someone must always give more than their share” is a recurring concept throughout the song, highlighting the unbalance of power and the frustration that comes with it.
The first verse of the song introduces the listener to the dynamic of the relationship. One partner seems to make all the decisions and the other is just trying to keep the peace. The second verse highlights how one person is always apologizing and taking the blame, while the other never admits to being wrong. The final verse brings it all together with the realization that one person is always giving more, yet the other will never admit to it.
Parton captures the essence of a relationship where one person is giving their all, and the other takes it for granted. The lyrics reveal the pain, frustration, and sadness of the situation. It's a song that many can relate to, and the message is timeless.
Line by Line Meaning
I give an inch and you take a mile and you tell me to jump and I just ask how high
I often feel like I'm being taken advantage of because I'm always willing to do what you ask of me, even when it's too much.
I've been over backwards to show you I care
I've gone out of my way to prove to you that I love you and that you're important to me.
And someone must always give more than their share
It seems like in this relationship, I'm the one who always has to give more than my fair share to make things work.
I say I'm sorry when the fault is not mine
I apologize even when I know I didn't do anything wrong, just to avoid conflict and make you happy.
And I take the blame for our fights all the time
I'm willing to accept the responsibility for our arguments, even if it's not my fault, just to keep the peace.
I love you so much and it doesn't seem fair
I care deeply for you, but sometimes it feels like you don't appreciate me or treat me the way I deserve.
That someone must always give more than their share
It's frustrating and unfair that in this relationship, one person always seems to be giving more than their fair share.
I know you well enough to know you would never admit you were wrong
I understand your personality and know that you have a hard time admitting when you're at fault in a situation.
And you know me well enough to know I give in cause my love is so strong
You understand that I have a tendency to give in to your requests because my love for you is so strong.
Cause someone must always give more than their share
Again, it just feels like one person always has to do more in this relationship to make things work, and that's not fair.
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.