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
Poor Folks Town
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The work is hard and the hours are long
The money ain't much but we get along
We're rich in things can give
That can't be bought with a dollar bill
So, come on down
Rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
We got no money but we're rich in love
That's one thing that we've got a-plenty of
So come on down have a look around
At rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
We got no carpets on the floor
We've got wall to wall love
Who could ask for more
We got no big fine things to show
Just a place to watch our children grow
We got no big fine fancy car to drive
And no fancy clothes to keep in style
What we've got we're payin' on
But it's mostly love that we're livin' on
So, come on down
Have a look around
Rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
We got no money but we're rich in love
That's one thing that we've got a-plenty of
So come on down have a look around
At rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
We've got a little simple church nearby
And the promise of a mansion in the sky
A heart of gold a million dollar smile
And a one way ticket to paradise
So, come on down
Have a look around
Rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
We got no money but we're rich in love
That's one thing that we've got a-plenty of
So come on down have a look around
At rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
So, come on down
Have a look around
Rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
We got no money but we're rich in love
That's one thing that we've got a-plenty of
So come on down have a look around
At rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
In Dolly Parton's song "Poor Folks Town," the singer speaks about a town full of people who don't have much in the way of material possessions, but who are rich in love and have a tight-knit community. She sings about the hardworking people who live there, who may not have much money, but who get by with the things that truly matter. The chorus invites listeners to "come on down" and "have a look around" at the "rich folks livin' in a poor folks town."
The song speaks to the idea that wealth is not just measured in terms of money, but rather in relationships and a sense of community. The lyrics say that the people in the town have no fancy cars or clothes, but they have a lot of love to give and receive. They have a little church nearby and they're looking forward to a "mansion in the sky," referring to the promise of eternal life in heaven. The message of the song is that even those who may not have much materially can still lead happy, fulfilling lives.
Overall, "Poor Folks Town" is a tribute to the resilience and strength of people who are often overlooked or undervalued in society. It highlights the fact that love and community are important factors in creating a sense of wealth and well-being, regardless of one's financial status.
Line by Line Meaning
The work is hard and the hours are long
We have to work diligently for hours to get by.
The money ain't much but we get along
Although we don't make much money, we are content and able to survive.
We're rich in things can give
We possess valuable intangible things like love, kindness, and community that cannot be purchased with money.
That can't be bought with a dollar bill
True riches cannot be bought with money.
So, come on down
We invite you to see our way of life.
Have a look around
Observe and witness our humble lifestyle.
Rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
Although we don't have much money, we are rich in non-material things.
We got no money but we're rich in love
We may not have much money, but our supportive and caring community provides us with love and happiness.
That's one thing that we've got a-plenty of
We have an abundance of love and care for one another.
We got no carpets on the floor
Our houses may not have luxurious carpets, but they are still comfortable and welcoming.
We've got wall to wall love
Our homes are filled with love and affection.
Who could ask for more
We are already content with what we have.
We got no big fine things to show
We don't have any flashy, expensive possessions to display.
Just a place to watch our children grow
Our main priority is raising our children with care and love in a safe environment.
We got no big fine fancy car to drive
We don't have flashy or luxurious cars to drive around in.
And no fancy clothes to keep in style
Our clothing may not be fashionable or expensive, but it serves its purpose.
What we've got we're payin' on
We may have debt or financial obligations, but we are still happy and content with our lives.
But it's mostly love that we're livin' on
The main source of our satisfaction and joy in life is the love we share with one another.
We've got a little simple church nearby
Our community is close-knit and centered around a modest church nearby.
And the promise of a mansion in the sky
We believe in religious principles and have faith in the promise of eternal life after death.
A heart of gold a million dollar smile
We have kind and caring personalities, which are priceless and more valuable than any amount of money.
And a one way ticket to paradise
Our faith is so strong that we believe in the existence of an ideal afterlife.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Dousianmuan
....................lyrics...........,.........
The work is hard and the hours are long
The money ain't much but we get along
We're rich in things that life can give
That can't be bought with a dollar bill
So, come on down
Have a look around
Rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
We got no money but we're rich in love
That's one thing that we've got a-plenty of
So come on down have a look around
At rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
We got no carpets on the floor
We've got wall to wall love
Who could ask for more
We got no big fine things to show
Just a place to watch our children grow
We got no big fine car to drive
And no fancy clothes to keep in style
What we've got we're payin' on
But it's mostly love that we're livin' on
So, come on down
Have a look around
Rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
We got no money but we're rich in love
That's one thing that we've got a-plenty of
So come on down have a look around
At rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
We've got a little simple church nearby
And the promise of a mansion in the sky
A heart of gold a million dollar smile
And a one way ticket to paradise
So, come on down
Have a look around
Rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
We got no money but we're rich in love
That's one thing that we've got a-plenty of
So come on down have a look around
At rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
So, come on down
Have a look around
Rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
We got no money but we're rich in love
That's one thing that we've got a-plenty of
So come on down have a look around
At rich folks livin' in a poor folks town
Little Eagle
I love listening to Dolly! Dolly Parton is the best, and life gets no better than listen to Dolly Parton!!!
Bill Randolph
remember so well when this album and the movie '9 to 5' came out. Awesome!
Stanley Sizemore
Love you Dolly
Carol cousins
always love you Dolly
Irene Grösche
Klasse .👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺
Wilfred Heggart
this is kaern and peter malcolms song
Angie Moses
1 fan