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
Pleasant as May
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Copyright 1973
The mid summer sun shines but dim the fields try in vain to look gay
But when I was happy with him December was pleasant as May
There once was a time he and I picked flowers to braid in my hair
And the songbirds would sing sweet song of love that was tender and fair
No difference the seasons may quit our love was as warm as the sun
Or green grass kissed the fields where we'd run
Now the mid summer sun shines...
Sweet flowers sweet birds and sweet song have now lost their sweetness to me
For ever my darling is gone and for ever my heartbroken I'll be
Now the mid summer sun shines...
The mid summer sun shines but dim mmm
Dolly Parton’s song Pleasant as May tells the heartbreaking story of a woman who reminisces about the time when she was happy with her beloved. The mid-summer sun shines faintly on the fields that try in vain to appear cheerful. The woman reflects that when she was with her lover, even December was as pleasant as May. At one time, they picked flowers together to weave into her hair, and the songbirds serenaded them with sweet love songs. The seasons and weather changes did not affect their love, and their affection remained warm regardless of the snow or green grass. However, the woman's lover is no longer with her, and everything that was once joyful has lost its sweetness to her.
The song portrays the bittersweet feelings of reminiscing about happier times and the sadness of knowing they will never return. It also illustrates the characteristics of being able to see beauty even in the moments that might appear mundane or lifeless, as well as the shared joy and connection between two people in love. Despite the loss, the woman’s love for her partner remains constant and true.
Overall, Pleasant as May is a testament to the power of love and how it can make even bleak days seem better. It reminds us that memories of love can bring us joy, but they can also ache with sorrow when that love is gone.
Line by Line Meaning
The mid summer sun shines but dim the fields try in vain to look gay
The sun is shining but appears dull, just like the fields that try to look cheerful but fail to do so.
But when I was happy with him December was pleasant as May
When I was in love with him, all seasons were the same and every month felt like spring.
There once was a time he and I picked flowers to braid in my hair
We spent happy moments together, picking flowers and creating memories that stay with me.
And the songbirds would sing sweet song of love that was tender and fair
The birds sang a beautiful melody about our love, which was pure and gentle.
No difference the seasons may quit our love was as warm as the sun
The changing seasons had no effect on our love, which remained as strong as the sun’s warmth.
And it mattered not where did the snow
It didn't matter where the snow fell; our love was enough to keep us warm.
Or green grass kissed the fields where we'd run
We were in love and happy wherever we were, running through the fields covered in green grass.
Now the mid summer sun shines...
The same midsummer sun is still shining, but now it does not bring any joy to me.
Sweet flowers sweet birds and sweet song have now lost their sweetness to me
The beauty of flowers, birds, and songs has disappeared after losing my beloved.
For ever my darling is gone and for ever my heartbroken I'll be
My beloved is gone forever, and my heart is shattered, and it will never heal.
Now the mid summer sun shines but dim mmm
The midsummer sun is still shining, but it seems dull and dark to me, just like my life without my beloved.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
little miss Michele
Happy birthday sweet Dolly x
SueStar112
@jimbob5599 The word gay was once used as a term to describe something pretty/happy/pleasant, e.g "The fields try in vain to look gay". So the fields try in vain to look pretty/pleasant. :D
james merati
is dolly saying gay in this song?