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
My Country Tis'
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweet land of liberty
Of thee I sing
Land where my fathers died
From every mountain side
Let freedom ring
My native country, thee
Land of the noble free
Thy name I love
I love thy rocks and rills
Thy woods and templed hills
My heart with rapture fills
Like that above
Let music swell the breeze
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom's song
Let mortal tongues awake
Let all that breathe partake
Let rocks their silence break
The sound prolong
Our Father God to, Thee
Author of liberty
To Thee I sing
My country 'tis of Thee
Sweet land of liberty
For all eternity
Let freedom ring
Let freedom ring
My country 'tis, my country 'tis of Thee
"My Country Tis' of Thee" is a patriotic song written by Samuel Francis Smith in 1831. The lyrics of the song were inspired by the melody of "God Save the Queen," the British national anthem. The song became popular during the Civil War and it remains a popular American patriotic song. Dolly Parton's version of the song is a beautiful and soulful rendition that pays homage to her country and its people.
The lyrics of the song begin by celebrating America as a land of freedom and liberty, paying tribute to the country's history and its founding fathers. The song acknowledges the sacrifices that were made by those who came before and reminds us of the pride, strength, and courage of the American people. The song speaks to the beauty of America's land, with its mountains, hills, and rolling hills. The song also calls for unity and the sharing of American values with the world, with a plea for people to join together and sing the praises of freedom and liberty.
The final verse of the song is an invocation to God, asking Him to bless America and to keep it free. The song ends with a stirring call for "freedom to ring" throughout the land for "all eternity." Dolly Parton's powerful and emotive voice, combined with the song's powerful message of hope and freedom, creates an atmosphere of national pride and unity that is truly inspiring.
Line by Line Meaning
My country tis of thee
My beloved nation is represented by the patriotic song
Sweet land of liberty
A nation that cherishes freedom and independence
Of thee I sing
I'm praising and honoring my nation
Land where my fathers died
The land where my ancestors have passed away
Land of the pilgrim's pride
A country that celebrates its heritage and traditions
From every mountain side
In every corner of this country
Let freedom ring
May liberty resound throughout the nation
My native country, thee
My homegrown nation, I adore thee
Land of the noble free
A nation where individuals are valiantly liberated
Thy name I love
I am fond of the identity of my country
I love thy rocks and rills
I appreciate the natural beauty and serenity of the country
Thy woods and templed hills
I admire the forestlands and hilly landscapes in the country
My heart with rapture fills
I'm filled with joy and delight when thinking of my nation
Like that above
It's like a heavenly feeling
Let music swell the breeze
Let melodies fill the wind
And ring from all the trees
Let the sound echo throughout the nation
Sweet freedom's song
A harmonious melody that represents freedom
Let mortal tongues awake
Let the voices of humanity be awakened
Let all that breathe partake
May everyone be given the opportunity to experience it
Let rocks their silence break
Even the inanimate rocks should proclaim it
The sound prolong
Let the lovely sound persist
Our Father God to, Thee
The Almighty God, our Father, we turn to Thee
Author of liberty
The originator of freedom
For all eternity
Forever more
Let freedom ring
May liberty endure eternally
Let freedom ring
May liberty persist forever
My country 'tis, my country 'tis of Thee
My homeland, it belongs to me, it is America.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CindyNelson-yb6pd
You have a beautiful voice, Dolly Parton God bless you n your musical career in Jesus name
@Whitley119
I sing this every day
@jstfre8337
Thank you Dolly Parton!
Patriot, Sister! I’m proud to be your countryman❤️Thank you,
For God & Country🇺🇸
You’re a National Treasure!
@jimcarinio-fs5wq
My parents favorite song!!IMUA Hawaii Ponoi!❤
@jimcarinio-fs5wq
God bless the USA!!IMUA
@CanadaOhCanada
I’m not even American and I’m proud
@slade2372
I remember singing this in grade school. Is there anything Dolly can't sing? I especially love the Bluegrass twist to it.
@brianscotpatterson2101
The correct answer is there is NOTHING Dolly can't put into the universe that is not pure from her heart and life experience.
@CindyNelson-yb6pd
Our Father's God to Thee Author of liberty of Thee I sing Long may our land be bright. With freedoms holy light. Protect us by Thy might Great God our King." That's what we used to sing in Elementary school. What happened to those words? They are the original words, I believe. From 3rd verse.
@allyfiedler9800
Jesus Christ the banjo goes fucking hard in this song and I can appreciate it immensely.