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
Red Shoes
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
I was absolutely wild
'Bout some red shoes that my aunt Lucy wore
She would let me stomp around
In those high heels up and down
'Round the house and round the wrap around porch
And from that moment on
They make me feel at home and brand new
They build my confidence
As if they've been heaven sent
I feel alone, I'm puttin' on my red shoes
I begged mama, "Pretty please
From the Wishbook order me
A pair of red shoes for my feet"
So mama did
Through the years I've thought about
Aunt Lucy's love and think of how
Such little things in life can make or break a kid
I believe that every child
Needs to feel a sense of pride
And someone to love and guide and see them through
So many miles I've traveled
Many times they've come unraveled
On the road both smooth or gravel
But I've made it through, ooh
Hell and half of Georgia
Or walkin' through New Orleans
Walked the streets of Memphis boldly
Strolled 'round a block or two
And if God sees fit to hold me
Anyone that's ever known me
Knows I'd walk the gold streets only
In a pair of red shoes
And if I ever get to heaven
If I ever get to heaven
If I ever get to heaven
And Lord I hope I do
I will walk the streets of glory
I will walk the streets of glory
I will tell my Lucy story
And walk with her in red shoes
The lyrics of Dolly Parton's song "Red Shoes" delve into the sentimental memories and emotional significance attached to a pair of red shoes that held a special place in the singer's heart since childhood. The singer reminisces about her Aunt Lucy, who wore a pair of red shoes that captivated her as a child. She vividly recalls the joy of stomping around the house in those shoes, feeling a sense of freedom and empowerment that stayed with her throughout her life.
The red shoes symbolize more than just a fashion accessory; they represent comfort, confidence, and a connection to loved ones. The singer describes how wearing her own pair of red shoes makes her feel both at ease and rejuvenated, almost as if they possess a magical, uplifting quality that boosts her self-assurance. The act of putting on these shoes becomes a ritual of strength and resilience, a way to cope with challenges and embrace new beginnings.
The song explores the theme of resilience and the impact of small gestures of love and support in shaping one's life. The singer reflects on the importance of nurturing a child's sense of pride and belonging, emphasizing the role of guidance and affection in their development. Through the lens of her own experiences with Aunt Lucy and the red shoes, she underscores the significance of seemingly minor moments in shaping a person's character and outlook on life.
As the lyrics progress, the red shoes evolve into a symbol of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity. The singer narrates her journey through various trials and tribulations, from traversing rough terrains to enduring hardships along the way. The red shoes become a metaphor for resilience and inner strength, a source of comfort and reassurance that accompanies her through life's unpredictable twists and turns. In the poignant closing lines, the singer envisions a reunion with Aunt Lucy in heaven, where they will walk together in their red shoes, symbolizing a bond that transcends time and space.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Dolly Parton, Linda Perry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mexican Primadonna
I remember as a child
I was absolutely wild
'Bout some red shoes that my aunt Lucy wore
She would let me stomp around
In those high heels up and down
Round the house and round the wrap around porch
And from that moment on
I've had a pair of my own
They make me feel at home and brand new
They build my confidence
As if they've been heaven sent
I feel alone, I'm puttin' on my red shoes
I begged mama, "Pretty please,
From the wishbook order me,
A pair of red shoes for my feet", so mama did
Through the years I've thought about
Aunt Lucy's love and think of how
Such little things in life can make or break a kid
I believe that every child
Needs to feel a sense of pride
And someone to love and guide and see them through
So many miles I've traveled
Many times they've come unraveled
On the road both smooth or gravel
But I've made it through, ooh
Hell and half of Georgia
Or walkin' through New Orleans
Walked the streets of Memphis bowlin'
Stroll around a block or two
And if God sees fit to hold me
Anyone that's ever known me
Know I'd walk the ghost streets only
In a pair of red shoes
And if I ever get to heaven
If I ever get to heaven
If I ever get to heaven
And Lord I hope I do
I will walk the streets of glory
I will walk the streets of glory
I will tell my Lucy story
And walk with her in red shoes
TR R
She doesn't slow down. She just gets better and better and better.
CJ Turner
She's The Betty White Of Music
Never Stops
Never Gives Up
And also Like Tina Turner
She's Just So Perfect
Morgana Shirer
Just heard her sing this on the Grammys... love love love it💜❤❤❤💖💖💖
CJ Turner
This Song Is A MasterPiece
And Beautiful Dolly Parton Is A Goddess
Heck She's Even A Angel In Disguise
Pasta Pasty Pastu
I'm also here because of Grammys
Morgana Shirer
@soleil me too😢
soleil
this song made me cry
SHAQUANA SMALL
Just beautiful! I was crying at how beautifully Dolly sung!
Mexican Primadonna
I remember as a child
I was absolutely wild
'Bout some red shoes that my aunt Lucy wore
She would let me stomp around
In those high heels up and down
Round the house and round the wrap around porch
And from that moment on
I've had a pair of my own
They make me feel at home and brand new
They build my confidence
As if they've been heaven sent
I feel alone, I'm puttin' on my red shoes
I begged mama, "Pretty please,
From the wishbook order me,
A pair of red shoes for my feet", so mama did
Through the years I've thought about
Aunt Lucy's love and think of how
Such little things in life can make or break a kid
I believe that every child
Needs to feel a sense of pride
And someone to love and guide and see them through
So many miles I've traveled
Many times they've come unraveled
On the road both smooth or gravel
But I've made it through, ooh
Hell and half of Georgia
Or walkin' through New Orleans
Walked the streets of Memphis bowlin'
Stroll around a block or two
And if God sees fit to hold me
Anyone that's ever known me
Know I'd walk the ghost streets only
In a pair of red shoes
And if I ever get to heaven
If I ever get to heaven
If I ever get to heaven
And Lord I hope I do
I will walk the streets of glory
I will walk the streets of glory
I will tell my Lucy story
And walk with her in red shoes
del monte
Beautiful.