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
Preacher Tom
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And your good deeds are a plenty
And I know that God is plenty proud of you
Cause you've directed your attention
Towards a bright and shining mansion
God promise to the ones that pay their dues
So preacher Tom, come on preach,
Let his precious will be done
Preacher Tom, come on
Teach of the one always in reach
Saying who so ever will let him come
Preach on preacher Tom, preach on
Your smile is like the sunshine bringing warmth and joy to others
And love controls your understanding heart
And the message that you spread is just like water to the thirsty
A beacon that keeps shining through the dark
So preacher Tom, come on preach,
Let the one of which you speak have his way
Let his precious will be done
Preacher Tom, come on
Teach of the one always in reach
Saying who so ever will let him come
Preach on preacher Tom, preach on
So preacher Tom, come on preach,
Let the one of which you speak have his way
Let his precious will be done
Preacher Tom, come on
Teach of the one always in reach
Saying who so ever will let him come
Preach on preacher Tom, preach on
Dolly Parton's song "Preacher Tom" is a tribute to a man of God who is much loved and admired by many people. In the song, we learn that Preacher Tom is a kind and generous man who has devoted his life to helping others. He has many friends who appreciate his good deeds, and he has directed his attention towards a bright and shining mansion promised by God to those who pay their dues.
The chorus beckons Preacher Tom to continue preaching, to let the one of which he speaks have his way, and to teach of the one always in reach who invites whosoever will come. The lyrics describe Preacher Tom's smile as bringing warmth and joy to others, his heart filled with understanding and love that controls it. His message is just like water to the thirsty, a beacon that keeps shining through the dark.
In essence, the song appears to be a tribute to a particular preacher who has made a positive impact on many people's lives through his ministry. It captures the essence of what it means to live a life devoted to serving God and others. It encourages listeners to keep following the good path they have chosen, to keep a smile on their faces, and keep preaching and spreading love and hope to the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Preacher Tom, your friends are many
Preacher Tom, you have many friends and people who care for you
And your good deeds are a plenty
You have done many good deeds that have not gone unnoticed
And I know that God is plenty proud of you
God is very proud of you for the way you have lived your life
Cause you've directed your attention
Because you have focused your attention
Towards a bright and shining mansion
Towards the promise of heaven, which is bright and beautiful
God promise to the ones that pay their dues
God has promised a reward to those who live a righteous life
So preacher Tom, come on preach,
Encouragement for Preacher Tom to continue preaching
Let the one of which you speak have his way
Allow God to work in people's lives
Let his precious will be done
Pray that God's will be done
Preacher Tom, come on
Encouragement for Preacher Tom to continue preaching
Teach of the one always in reach
Teach people about the love of Jesus, who is always available to them
Saying who so ever will let him come
Invite people to accept Jesus into their lives
Preach on preacher Tom, preach on
Encouragement for Preacher Tom to continue preaching
Your smile is like the sunshine bringing warmth and joy to others
Your smile brings happiness and warmth to the people around you
And love controls your understanding heart
Your compassionate heart is filled with love
And the message that you spread is just like water to the thirsty
The message that you share with others is like refreshing water to those who are spiritually thirsty
A beacon that keeps shining through the dark
Your message acts as a guiding light to people in difficult times
Contributed by Nicholas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.