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
Mountain Angel
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pretty as an angel from the day that she was born
Skin as fair as Lily's hair, as golden as the corn
They knew that she was special from the moment she first cried
She was a mountain angel certified
She was her momma's baby, she was her daddy's pride
Good at home, at church and school, at everything she tried
The perfect mountain angel 'til he arrived
And ohh, she fell so deeply
Ooh, she couldn't stop
She gave herself to him, milled it completely
He lifted her so high he let her drop
She gave up everything for him that mattered in her life
All the others that had loved her and she vowed to be his wife
She dreamed of bearing children in an ivy-covered house
The mountain angel's sunshine turned to clouds
The wicked handsome stranger left the way he came
Broke her heart and broke her mind
She never was the same
They say he was the devil
That had come to steal her soul
She never loved another it was told
They say she had a baby
Some say that it had died
They it's just as well
As it had been the devil's child
They say good conquers evil
But here, evil won the prize
So the mountain angel took to the wild
And ooh, she couldn't take it
Years passed and she had long since lost her mind
She waited for him as her beauty faded
Her parents died from grief before their time
She tried to gather pieces of her life, they wouldn't fit
Beside the tiny grave deep in the woods is where she'd sit
Talking to the child, herself, to him, who knew for sure
Possessed they say by satan's insane lure
High a'top the mountain, for years they say she's seen
Looking down upon the town where she had once been queen
She'd sneak around the playground, watch the little children play
They'd see the crazy lady then run away
They say she roamed these hills for years, wearing not a stitch
The lovely mountain angel now thought to be a witch
She made those wailing mournful sounds
That you could hear for miles
Long after she laid down upon her baby's grave and died
And ooh, her ghost is callin'
She's waiting for the ones that she adored
Through spring and summer, fall when snow is fallin'
Her spirit roams these hills forever more
The mountain angel's voices ever more
Oohh, oooo
Oohh, oooo
Oohh, oooo
Mountain Angel by Dolly Parton tells a story of a young girl who was born beautiful, with skin as fair as Lily's hair and golden as the corn. Everyone knew she was special from the day she was born. She was the perfect mountain angel, good at home, church, and school, and was loved by everyone. However, her peaceful life changed when she fell deeply in love with a wicked and handsome stranger who left her broken-hearted and shattered her dreams of bearing children in an ivy-covered house. Following the heartbreak, she gave up everything for him but was left with nothing. They say he was the devil that came to steal her soul.
The song goes on to tell the story of how the mountain angel was never the same and how she lost her mind waiting for him. She is said to have had a baby that some say had died, and it was just as well as it had been the devil's child. She was possessed by Satan's insane lure and became a crazy lady who ran around the town's playground scaring little children away. She roamed the hills for years, suffered from madness and was left with nothing but the memory of her love. Even long after she died, her ghost still haunts the hills, waiting for the ones she adored.
The song is a tragic tale of a girl's love story gone wrong, and Dolly Parton tells it beautifully. The song's storytelling, along with Parton's powerful voice, makes this a hauntingly beautiful song.
Line by Line Meaning
Pretty as an angel from the day that she was born
She was a beautiful and innocent child.
Skin as fair as Lily's hair, as golden as the corn
Her skin was soft and fair, with a golden glow.
They knew that she was special from the moment she first cried
Everyone who saw her knew she was unique and had great potential.
She was a mountain angel certified
She was seen as a true angel, a blessing to the mountain.
She was her momma's baby, she was her daddy's pride
Her parents loved her dearly and were proud of her.
Good at home, at church and school, at everything she tried
She excelled in all areas of her life.
Everybody's darlin' led a charmed and peaceful life
She was loved and cherished by everyone and lived a happy life.
The perfect mountain angel 'til he arrived
She was perfect until she met him.
And ohh, she fell so deeply
She fell in love with him completely.
Ooh, she couldn't stop
She couldn't control her feelings for him.
She gave herself to him, milled it completely
She gave herself entirely to him.
He lifted her so high he let her drop
He raised her up only to let her down and hurt her.
She gave up everything for him that mattered in her life
She sacrificed everything that was important to her for him.
All the others that had loved her and she vowed to be his wife
She abandoned those who loved her and promised to marry him.
She dreamed of bearing children in an ivy-covered house
She imagined a happy future with him, with children and a beautiful home.
The mountain angel's sunshine turned to clouds
Her happiness turned to sadness and despair.
The wicked handsome stranger left the way he came
He left her as suddenly as he appeared, leaving her heartbroken.
Broke her heart and broke her mind
His departure shattered her emotionally and mentally.
They say he was the devil
Some people believed he was evil incarnate.
That had come to steal her soul
Some believed he came to destroy her spirit and take away her goodness.
She never loved another it was told
She never allowed herself to love again after him.
They say she had a baby
There were rumors that she had a child with him.
Some say that it had died
Some people believed that the child had died.
They it's just as well
Some believed it was better that the child had not survived.
As it had been the devil's child
There were rumors that the child was not human, but a spawn of the devil.
They say good conquers evil
Many believe that good will triumph over evil.
But here, evil won the prize
In this case, evil seemed to have emerged victorious.
So the mountain angel took to the wild
She lost her mind and took refuge in the wilds of the mountain.
And ooh, she couldn't take it
She couldn't handle the pain and sadness of her life.
Years passed and she had long since lost her mind
Many years went by, during which she descended into madness.
She waited for him as her beauty faded
She waited for him even as she aged and lost her beauty.
Her parents died from grief before their time
Her parents could not bear the pain of her life and died prematurely from grief.
She tried to gather pieces of her life, they wouldn't fit
She tried to put her life back together, but it was impossible.
Beside the tiny grave deep in the woods is where she'd sit
She spent much time by the grave of her child in the woods.
Talking to the child, herself, to him, who knew for sure
She spoke to the child, to herself, and to him (perhaps the devil).
Possessed they say by satan's insane lure
Some believed she was possessed by the devil's insane attraction.
High a'top the mountain, for years they say she's seen
Many people claimed to have seen her at the top of the mountain for many years.
Looking down upon the town where she had once been queen
She looked down on the town where she had once been a beloved figure.
She'd sneak around the playground, watch the little children play
She would lurk around the playground and observe the children from a distance.
They'd see the crazy lady then run away
The children were afraid of her and avoided her.
They say she roamed these hills for years, wearing not a stitch
Many claimed that she wandered the hills naked for many years.
The lovely mountain angel now thought to be a witch
People no longer thought of her as an angel, but as a witch.
She made those wailing mournful sounds
She cried out in pain and despair.
That you could hear for miles
Her cries could be heard for miles around.
Long after she laid down upon her baby's grave and died
She died by her child's grave, long after everyone else had given up on her.
And ooh, her ghost is callin'
Now, some believe that her ghost still haunts the mountain.
She's waiting for the ones that she adored
Others believe that she is waiting for those she loved in life.
Through spring and summer, fall when snow is fallin'
Her spirit roams the mountain in all seasons.
Her spirit roams these hills forever more
Her presence is felt in the mountain for all time.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joram Chege
Pretty as an angel from the day that she was born
Skin as fair as Lily's hair, as golden as the corn
They knew that she was special from the moment she first cried
She was a mountain angel certified
She was her momma's baby, she was her daddy's pride
Good at home, at church and school, at everything she tried
Everybody's darlin' led a charmed and peaceful life
The perfect mountain angel 'til he arrived
And ohh, she fell so deeply
Ooh, she couldn't stop
She gave herself to him, milled it completely
He lifted her so high he let her drop
She gave up everything for him that mattered in her life
All the others that had loved her and she vowed to be his wife
She dreamed of bearing children in an ivy-covered house
The mountain angel's sunshine turned to clouds
The wicked handsome stranger left the way he came
Broke her heart and broke her mind
She never was the same
They say he was the devil
That had come to steal her soul
She never loved another it was told
They say she had a baby
Some say that it had died
They it's just as well
As it had been the devil's child
They say good conquers evil
But here, evil won the prize
So the mountain angel took to the wild
And ooh, she couldn't take it
Years passed and she had long since lost her mind
She waited for him as her beauty faded
Her parents died from grief before their time
She tried to gather pieces of her life, they wouldn't fit
Beside the tiny grave deep in the woods is where she'd sit
Talking to the child, herself, to him, who knew for sure
Possessed they say by satan's insane lure
High a'top the mountain, for years they say she's seen
Looking down upon the town where she had once been queen
She'd sneak around the playground, watch the little children play
They'd see the crazy lady then run away
They say she roamed these hills for years, wearing not a stitch
The lovely mountain angel now thought to be a witch
She made those wailing mournful sounds
That you could hear for miles
Long after she laid down upon her baby's grave and died
And ooh, her ghost is callin'
She's waiting for the ones that she adored
Through spring and summer, fall when snow is fallin'
Her spirit roams these hills forever more
The mountain angel's voices ever more
Oohh, oooo
Oohh, oooo
Oohh, oooo
Marta Aguilera
This deserves more views, likes, comments, everything! I love you dolly. Envio mi amor desde Argentina.
True Southern
YES. I've been waiting forever for this song to put on her youtube channel! It wasnt complete without it!
David Lalzara Fanai
I can't stop listening her songs.I really love to be with her sonorous voice which is inexpressible by human words..
May God bless her abundantly to beautify the world of new artists..
Joram Chege
Pretty as an angel from the day that she was born
Skin as fair as Lily's hair, as golden as the corn
They knew that she was special from the moment she first cried
She was a mountain angel certified
She was her momma's baby, she was her daddy's pride
Good at home, at church and school, at everything she tried
Everybody's darlin' led a charmed and peaceful life
The perfect mountain angel 'til he arrived
And ohh, she fell so deeply
Ooh, she couldn't stop
She gave herself to him, milled it completely
He lifted her so high he let her drop
She gave up everything for him that mattered in her life
All the others that had loved her and she vowed to be his wife
She dreamed of bearing children in an ivy-covered house
The mountain angel's sunshine turned to clouds
The wicked handsome stranger left the way he came
Broke her heart and broke her mind
She never was the same
They say he was the devil
That had come to steal her soul
She never loved another it was told
They say she had a baby
Some say that it had died
They it's just as well
As it had been the devil's child
They say good conquers evil
But here, evil won the prize
So the mountain angel took to the wild
And ooh, she couldn't take it
Years passed and she had long since lost her mind
She waited for him as her beauty faded
Her parents died from grief before their time
She tried to gather pieces of her life, they wouldn't fit
Beside the tiny grave deep in the woods is where she'd sit
Talking to the child, herself, to him, who knew for sure
Possessed they say by satan's insane lure
High a'top the mountain, for years they say she's seen
Looking down upon the town where she had once been queen
She'd sneak around the playground, watch the little children play
They'd see the crazy lady then run away
They say she roamed these hills for years, wearing not a stitch
The lovely mountain angel now thought to be a witch
She made those wailing mournful sounds
That you could hear for miles
Long after she laid down upon her baby's grave and died
And ooh, her ghost is callin'
She's waiting for the ones that she adored
Through spring and summer, fall when snow is fallin'
Her spirit roams these hills forever more
The mountain angel's voices ever more
Oohh, oooo
Oohh, oooo
Oohh, oooo
teriw56
Dolly is anointed, she sings to her lord and savior, we get to enjoy it too.
Brenda Barnes
I love Dolly Parton songs
C.M. Buzbee
My favorite. It resonates. Beautiful, lovely, and heart wrenching. Thank you, Dolly.
Micol Leghissa
She's always been the queen and she always will be.
Sally Faucheaux
Faux - most gentle Gospel songs ever by Dolly She makes you feel it true and deep
Sally Faucheaux
Dolly’s Gospel is so tender and loving runs true and deep in our hearts for many years We Love you Dolly