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
Peace Train
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be
Something good has begun
Oh, I've been smiling lately
Dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be
'Cause out on the edge of darkness
There rides a peace train
Peace train take this country
Come take me home again
Now I've been smiling lately
Thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be
Something good has begun
Peace train sounding louder
Ride on the peace train ooh-wah-ee ah ooh ah
Come on peace train peace train holy roller
Everyone jump on the peace train
Ooh-wah-ee ah ooh ah come on peace train
Get your bags together
Go bring all your good friends, too
'Cause it's getting nearer
Soon it will be with you
Now come and join the living
It's not so far from you
And it's getting nearer
Soon it will all be true
Peace train sounding louder
Ride on the peace train ooh-wah-ee ah ooh ah
Come on peace train peace train holy roller
Everyone jump on the peace train
Ooh-wah-ee ah ooh ah come on peace train
Now I've been crying lately
Thinking about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating
Why can't we live in bliss
'Cause out on the edge of darkness
There rides a peace train
Where peace train take this country
Come take me home again
Peace train sounding louder
Ride on the peace train ooh-wah-ee ah ooh ah
Come on peace train peace train holy roller
Everyone jump on the peace train
Ooh-wah-ee ah ooh ah come on peace train
Peace train is sounding louder
Ride on the peace train ooh-wah-ee ah ooh ah
Come on peace train peace train holy roller
Jump up on the peace train
Ride - ride on the peace train
The song "Peace Train" by Dolly Parton is an upbeat and optimistic call for peace and unification. The opening lyrics express a sense of happiness and hope for something good to come. The repetition of the phrase "I believe it could be" emphasizes the singer's confidence in a positive future. The reference to "the world as one" suggests a desire for global harmony and the breaking down of barriers between individuals and nations.
The second half of the first verse introduces the central imagery of the "peace train". The train is portrayed as a symbol of progress and a means of bringing people together. In the chorus, the "peace train" becomes louder and more insistent, with the repetition of the phrase "come on peace train" encouraging the listener to get on board. The use of the phrase "holy roller" suggests a sense of religious or spiritual fervor associated with the quest for peace.
The second verse acknowledges the current state of the world, with the singer lamenting the existence of hate and the absence of bliss. However, the focus remains on the possibility of a better future, with the "peace train" once again serving as a beacon of hope. The repetition of "ride on the peace train" in the final chorus leaves a sense of momentum and momentum and urgency, adding to the overall sense of positivity and determination in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I've been happy lately
I have been content and joyful recently
Thinking about the good things to come
Reflecting on positive possibilities for the future
And I believe it could be
Holding faith that these good things are plausible
Something good has begun
Feeling that something positive is already starting
Oh, I've been smiling lately
I have been filled with happiness recently
Dreaming about the world as one
Fantasizing about global unity
Cause out on the edge of darkness
Beyond the realm of light exists
There rides a peace train
A vehicle promoting worldwide peace is present
Peace train take this country
Let this mode of peace transportation take this nation
Come take me home again
Bring me back to a place where peace rules
Peace train sounding louder
The peace-promoting transportation is becoming more audible
Ride on the peace train ooh-wah-ee ah ooh ah
Join in using the transportation vehicle while enjoying the melody
Come on peace train peace train holy roller
Come along with religious-minded individuals in using the vehicle to promote peace
Everyone jump on the peace train
Let's all go on the peace-promoting vehicle
Get your bags together
Gather your belongings
Go bring all your good friends, too
Bring along your good acquaintances also
Cause it's getting nearer
It's approaching soon
Soon it will be with you
The time for peace is almost upon us
Now come and join the living
Be among the people who are full of life
It's not so far from you
It's within reach
And it's getting nearer
It's coming closer
Soon it will all be true
It will all be a reality in the near future
Now I've been crying lately
I have lately felt sad and shed tears
Thinking about the world as it is
Contemplating the world in its present state
Why must we go on hating
Why do we keep showing enmity towards each other
Why can't we live in bliss
Why can't we exist in a state of happiness
Where peace train take this country
Let the peace-promoting vehicle take this nation
Jump up on the peace train
Get on board the peace vehicle
Ride - ride on the peace train
Travel on the peace transportation in order to promote global unity
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Yusuf Islam
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lukebarnes02
Now I've been happy lately
Thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be
Something good has begun
Oh, I've been smiling lately
Dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be
Someday it's going to come
'Cause I'm on the edge of darkness
There ride the Peace Train
Oh, Peace Train take this country
Come take me home again
Now I've been smiling lately,
Thinkin' about the good things to come
And I believe it could be,
Something good has begun
Oh Peace Train sounding louder
Glide on the Peace Train
Come on now Peace Train
Yes, Peace Train holy roller
Everyone jump upon the Peace Train
Come on now, Peace Train
Get your bags together,
Go bring your good friends, too
'Cause it's getting nearer,
It soon will be with you
Now come and join the living,
It's not so far from you
And it's getting nearer,
Soon it will all be true
Oh Peace Train sounding louder
Glide on the Peace Train
Come on now Peace Train
Peace Train
Now I've been crying lately,
Thinkin' about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating,
Why can't we live in bliss
'Cause out on the edge of darkness,
There rides a Peace Train
Oh Peace Train take this country,
Come take me home again
Oh Peace Train sounding louder
Glide on the Peace Train
Come on now, Peace Train
Yes, Peace Train holy roller
Everyone jump upon the Peace Train
Come on, come on, come on
Yes, come on, peace train
Yes, it's the peace train
Come on now, peace train
Oh, peace train
Josh
Dolly Parton is all that is right with humanity, keep on rockin mama
CJ Turner
Amen friend
Dustin
Takes me back to my childhood with my mom and sister. My mom would play this song on Saturday mornings when she cleaned the house and we would dance and play. Makes me smile so much!
Sagar Dev Bhardwaj
Such a sweet pain
Nasharada Z
Thank you for sharing this lovely memory.
Casey Dolmer
Lauren hill
goddambitch12
thats a sweet memory thans for sharing
Igbo Terna John Michael
This is for me the best song of peace in the world. It gives me goosebumps
teeth6556
I love all the versions of this song, and I freaking love Dolly, but to me, the 10,000 Maniacs version is the best by far.
Igbo Terna John Michael
I already did but I love this version better