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
Please Don't Stop Loving Me
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For I couldn't live with you gone
Please, please, don't stop loving me
For I couldn't make it alone
You bring me the sunshine
When none is in sight
And when I'm in darknessYou bring me the light
You opened my eyes
When I couldn't see
So please, oh, please
Don't stop loving me
You're my inspiration
My purpose in life
When things go all wrong
You make them alright
I would be useless
If you ever leave
So please, oh, please
Don't stop loving me
Please, please, don't stop loving me
For I couldn't live with you gone
Please, please, don't stop loving me
For I couldn't make it alone
Please, please, don't stop loving me
Dolly Parton's song "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" tells the story of a person who is completely dependent on their partner's love and affection. The singer pleads with their lover not to stop loving them, as they cannot imagine living without them. The lyrics are a testament to the power of love and how it can bring joy and light to someone's life.
The first two lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, as the singer begs their partner not to stop loving them. They believe that their life would be impossible to live without their lover, emphasizing just how important their love is to them. The singer goes on to describe how their partner brings them "sunshine" when they are in a dark place, showing how their love is a source of light and positivity.
The lyrics also highlight the importance of having someone who can provide support during difficult times. The singer views their partner as their inspiration and purpose in life, and believes that their love is what makes everything okay, even when things go wrong. The song's themes of reliance and dependence on a partner's love make it a powerful statement on the strength of romantic relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Please, please, don't stop loving me
My life depends on your love, so please do not ever stop loving me. I beg of you.
For I couldn't live with you gone
Your love is the reason for my existence. If you ever leave me, I would not be able to live without you.
You bring me the sunshine
When none is in sight
You are my source of happiness, even on my darkest days. Your love and presence brightens up my world.
And when I'm in darkness
You bring me the light
Whenever I feel lost or hopeless, you are always there to guide me and bring me back to the light.
You opened my eyes
When I couldn't see
You helped me see things clearly and gave me a new perspective when I was confused or lost. Your love helped me grow and understand things better.
So please, oh, please
Don't stop loving me
I am deeply in love with you and I hope that you never stop loving me. Please stay with me forever.
You're my inspiration
My purpose in life
You are the one who motivates me and makes me want to be a better person. Your love gives me a sense of direction and purpose in life.
When things go all wrong
You make them alright
No matter what happens, you always find a way to make things better. Your love and support are the reasons why I am able to overcome any obstacle.
I would be useless
If you ever leave
Without your love, I would be nothing. You are the reason why I am who I am today, and your absence would leave a huge void in my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON, PORTER WAGONER
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.