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
Save the Last Dance for Me
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every dance with the one who gives you the eye
Let him hold you tight
You can smile
Every smile for the one that hold your hand
In the pale moonlight
Just don't forget who's takin' you home
And in who's arms you're gonna be
Oh, I know
That the music's fine like sparklin' wine
Go and have your fun
Laugh and sing
But while we're apart, don't give your heart to anyone
Just don't forget who's takin' you home
And in who's arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me
Baby don't you know I love you so
Can't you feel it with your touch
I will never ever let you go
I love you, oh, so much
You can dance
Go and carry on till the night is gone
Till it's time to go
If she asks
If you're all alone, can she take you home
You got to tell her no
And don't forget who's takin' you home
And in who's arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me
Just don't forget who's takin' you home
And in who's arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me
Ooh darling, save the last dance for me
You can dance
Every dance with the one who gives you the eye
Let him hold you tight
You can smile
Every smile for the one that hold your hand
In the pale moonlight
Just don't forget who's takin' you home
And in who's arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me
Ooh darlin', save the last dance for me
Save the last dance for me
Dance, dance, dance, dance
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's "Save The Last Dance For Me" are a plea to a lover to enjoy themselves at a party and dance with whomever they please, but to remember who they are with and to save the final dance for the one they truly love. The song begins by encouraging the listener to dance with whoever they want and enjoy the night. However, the singer reminds their lover to not forget who is taking them home and in whose arms they will end up at the end of the night. As the song progresses, the singer pleads with their lover not to give their heart away to anyone else and to remember that they belong to each other. The song ends with the refrain "save the last dance for me" repeated multiple times.
The lyrics of "Save The Last Dance For Me" express the desire for a couple to be faithful and committed to each other, even in the midst of a fun and carefree party. The song is a reminder that even though there may be other people vying for one's attention, it is important to remember who one truly loves and wants to be with at the end of the night.
Line by Line Meaning
You can dance
You have the freedom to dance with anyone you like
Every dance with the one who gives you the eye
You can dance with anyone you find attractive
Let him hold you tight
It's okay to hold your dance partner tightly
You can smile
You can show your happiness by smiling
Every smile for the one that hold your hand In the pale moonlight
You can show affection by smiling at and holding hands with your dance partner
Just don't forget who's takin' you home And in who's arms you're gonna be
Don't forget who you came with and who you'll be leaving with
So darlin', save the last dance for me
Please save the last dance for me as a special moment together
Oh, I know That the music's fine like sparklin' wine Go and have your fun
I understand that the music is wonderful and you should enjoy yourself
Laugh and sing
Have a good time and be lively
But while we're apart, don't give your heart to anyone
Don't give your affection to anyone else while we are separated
Baby don't you know I love you so Can't you feel it with your touch I will never ever let you go I love you, oh, so much
I love you deeply and will never let you go out of my life
Go and carry on till the night is gone Till it's time to go
Have fun and party until the night ends or it's time to go home
If she asks If you're all alone, can she take you home You got to tell her no
If someone else asks to take you home, you must say no because you already have someone to go home with
Ooh darling, save the last dance for me
Please save the last dance for me as an intimate moment
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
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.