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 Hands Are Tied
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I must share my life with the one who wears my ring
And there are tiny places I look into each night
I love you but my hands are tied
I know how much they need you and dear I understand
I know you'll never leave 'em cause you're not that kind of man
But I can't control my feelings though heaven knows I tried
And I love you but my hands are tied
I love you more than life but you never will be mine
I know how much you want me I can see it in your eyes
And I love you but my hands are tied
[ steel ]
My hands are tied...
Yes I love you but my hands are tied
The lyrics to "My Hands Are Tied" by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner convey a sense of internal conflict and longing for a forbidden love. The singer expresses their strong desire to be with someone, likely addressing another person who is not their spouse. However, they acknowledge that they are bound by their commitment to their current partner, symbolized by the ring they wear.
The first paragraph reveals the depth of the singer's desire to be with the person they are addressing, emphasizing that being with them is their utmost wish. However, they regretfully admit that their life is already shared with someone else, causing them to feel conflicted. The line about looking into "tiny places" each night suggests that they frequently daydream about being with this individual despite the constraints they face.
The second paragraph shows the singer's sympathetic understanding of the person they desire. They recognize that this person is loyal and committed to their own family and would never abandon them. Despite comprehending this, the singer is unable to suppress their feelings, even though they have tried. This emphasizes the intensity of their emotions and the internal struggle they face in reconciling their desires with their commitment.
In the third paragraph, the singer explicitly states that their hands are tied, signifying their lack of control over the situation. The ties that bind may refer to both their commitment to their spouse as well as societal expectations and moral obligations. The singer acknowledges their deep love for the person they desire, comparing it to their love for life itself. However, they recognize that this love can never be fulfilled or pursued due to the restrictions they face.
The song concludes with a reiteration of the singer's love for the person they desire, despite the impossibility of their union. The repetition of the phrase "my hands are tied" throughout the song reinforces the helplessness and frustration felt by the singer. They long for this person yet accept that their circumstances prevent them from ever fully having them.
Overall, "My Hands Are Tied" captures the emotional struggle of forbidden love and the internal conflict faced by the singer. It explores themes of desire, commitment, and the inability to control one's feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
To be with you is what I want more than anything
I desire to be with you above all else
But I must share my life with the one who wears my ring
However, I am committed to my spouse who wears my wedding ring
And there are tiny places I look into each night
Every night, I find solace in small spaces as I reflect on my situation
I love you but my hands are tied
I do love you, but I am unable to act on my feelings
I know how much they need you and dear I understand
I am aware of how much my family relies on you, and I empathize
I know you'll never leave 'em cause you're not that kind of man
I am certain that you will never abandon them because you are a faithful and committed person
But I can't control my feelings though heaven knows I tried
Nevertheless, I am unable to suppress my emotions despite my attempts
And I love you but my hands are tied
I do love you, but external circumstances prevent us from being together
My hands are tied and I can't break the ties that bind
I am bound by obligations and cannot free myself from them
I love you more than life but you never will be mine
My love for you is immense, but we can never be together
I know how much you want me I can see it in your eyes
I understand your desire for me as it is evident in your eyes
And I love you but my hands are tied
I do love you, but external circumstances prevent us from being together
My hands are tied...
I am restricted and unable to take action
Yes I love you but my hands are tied
Even though I love you, I am unable to act on it
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.