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
Put A Little Love In Your Heart
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put a little love in your heart
You see, it's getting late, oh, please don't hesitate
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place for you and me
You just wait and see
Another day goes by, and still the children cry
Put a little love in your heart
If you want the world to know, we won't let hatred grow
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place for you and me
You just wait and see. Wait and see
Take a good look around and if you're lookin' down
Put a little love in your heart
I hope when you decide kindness will be your guide
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place for you and me
You just wait and see
Put a little love in your heart
Put a little love in your heart
In Dolly Parton's song Put A Little Love In Your Heart, the singer urges listeners to be more compassionate and understanding towards others. The lyrics are a call to action for people to be more loving, kind, and empathetic towards their fellow man, especially in times of great need. The song acknowledges the injustices, pain, and suffering in the world, but also offers hope that things can get better if people make an effort to treat each other with more love and respect.
The opening lines, "Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand, Put a little love in your heart," encourage listeners to reach out to others who may be struggling, whether it be a friend, family member or stranger. The singer acknowledges that time is running out, and that people need to act now before it's too late. By choosing to put a little love in our hearts, we can make a real difference in the world.
In the second verse, the lyrics address the ongoing issue of children crying, and the need to put a stop to hatred and bigotry. The words serve as a reminder that it is our responsibility as a society to work towards creating a kinder, more inclusive world for everyone.
Overall, the song serves as a powerful reminder of our collective humanity and the importance of treating others with respect, dignity, and kindness.
Line by Line Meaning
Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand
If you want to help people, you should consider the needs of those around you and do what you can to assist them.
Put a little love in your heart
The message here is simple: spread love and kindness wherever you go.
You see, it's getting late, oh, please don't hesitate
Time is of the essence, and it's important not to waste it when it comes to acts of kindness and showing love to others.
And the world will be a better place
If we all work together to be kind and loving, the world can be a better place.
And the world will be a better place for you and me
Not only will the world as a whole benefit from love and kindness, but each individual person will also see the impact in their own lives.
You just wait and see
The positive effects of love and kindness may take time, but they will eventually become evident.
Another day goes by, and still the children cry
Despite the passing of time, there are still many children in need of love and attention, and we should do what we can to help them.
If you want the world to know, we won't let hatred grow
By promoting love and kindness, we can counteract the negative effects of hatred and intolerance in the world.
Take a good look around and if you're lookin' down
It's important to be aware of your surroundings and the people in them, especially those who may be in need of help or support.
I hope when you decide kindness will be your guide
Choosing to be kind and loving is a decision we all have to make, and it can have a significant impact on our own lives and the lives of those around us.
Put a little love in your heart
Once again, the message is clear: show love and kindness to others whenever possible.
And the world will be a better place
Spreading love and kindness has the power to make the world a better place for everyone.
And the world will be a better place for you and me
By promoting love and kindness, we can all benefit from a more positive and supportive world.
You just wait and see
It may take time, but the positive effects of love and kindness will become apparent with patience and persistence.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JACKIE DE SHANNON, JIMMY HOLIDAY, RANDY MYERS
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.