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
River Of Happiness
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll sit on its banks while the warm breezes blow
Somewhere there's a garden where only love grows
Somewhere a river of happiness flows
Dry your eyes, don't cry no more
We'll find a place where there's laughter and joy
So take my hand and don't let go
Somewhere a river of happiness flows
We'll sit on its banks while the warm breezes blow
Somewhere there's a garden where only love grows
Somewhere a river of happiness flows
We'll walk in the sunshine
We'll laugh and we'll sing
And dance to the tune that our happiness brings
Come go with me to this place I speak of
Together we'll find it, this place is called love
Somewhere a river of happiness flows
We'll sit on its banks while the warm breezes blow
Somewhere there's a garden where only love grows
Somewhere a river of happiness flows
Somewhere a river of happiness flows
The lyrics of Dolly Parton's "River of Happiness" speak of a place of joy and love -- somewhere that she envisions as a "river of happiness." She invites the listener to join her in this idyllic location, where they will find laughter and joy, and walk in the sunshine. Through the refrain, Parton repeats the idea of a river of happiness, accompanied by visions of a garden where only love grows. She urges the listener to take her hand and come with her to this place of peace and contentment.
On a deeper level, "River of Happiness" can be seen as a metaphor for the human search for contentment and peace. The idea of a river evokes the natural flow of life, which can be both beautiful and dangerous. However, in this river of happiness, the water flows gently and warmly, accompanied by the softness of the breeze. The garden where only love grows embodies a sense of safety and warmth. The lyrics suggest that one needs to be open to the journey towards happiness, but also that this state of being is attainable and possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere a river of happiness flows
There is a place where true joy exists, and it is not limited to any specific location or person.
We'll sit on its banks while the warm breezes blow
We will take the time to enjoy the good things in life and appreciate the journey that brings us happiness.
Somewhere there's a garden where only love grows
Love is an essential component of happiness and can be found in places where it is nurtured and cultivated.
Dry your eyes, don't cry no more
Do not despair, the search for happiness is not futile and there is hope for a better tomorrow.
We'll find a place where there's laughter and joy
Together we will seek out places that promote positive emotions and experiences, and where we can find peace and happiness.
So take my hand and don't let go
It is easier to navigate life's challenges with the help and support of loved ones, so let us embark on this journey together.
Come with me and together we'll go
Let us explore the world and the many opportunities it offers, in search of lasting happiness.
We'll walk in the sunshine
We will embrace the good times and learn to appreciate them fully, while they last.
We'll laugh and we'll sing
We will let ourselves experience and express positive emotions freely, without fear of judgment or ridicule.
And dance to the tune that our happiness brings
Our happiness is something to be celebrated and shared with others, and we will express it in our own unique way.
Come go with me to this place I speak of
Let us embark on a journey to find the place where true happiness can be found, a place where love and positivity thrive.
Together we'll find it, this place is called love
Love is the foundation upon which true happiness is built, and it is something that is best experienced and shared with others.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dolly Parton
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.