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
Seven Bridges Road
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Southward as you go
There is moonlight and moss in the trees
Down the seven bridges road
I have loved you like a baby
Like some lonesome child
I have loved you in a tame way
And I have loved you wild
Has to turn from here and go
Runnin' like a child from these warm stars
Down the seven bridges road
There are stars in the southern sky
And if ever you decide you should go
There is a taste of time sweet as honey
Down the seven bridges road
There are stars in the southern sky
Southward as you go
There is moonlight and moss in the trees
Down the seven bridges road
Down the seven bridges road
In Dolly Parton's song Seven Bridges Road, the lyrics speak of a journey through seven bridges on a road that is full of natural beauty, such as stars in the southern sky, moonlight, and moss on the trees. The singer expresses their deep love for another person through the metaphorical language of a journey. They have loved this person in a tame way as well as a wild way, hinting at the complexities and different phases of their relationship.
The singer expresses a desire to run away from their current situation, feeling the pull of the stars on their spirit, beckoning them to run down the seven bridges road. They speak of the road as a place of solace, where they can escape from the confines of their current reality. The chorus of the song encourages the listener to appreciate the present moment and to take advantage of things while they last. They speak of the sweetness of time, and how it can be savored like honey.
Overall, the lyrics of Dolly Parton's song Seven Bridges Road are a poetic expression of the complexities of love and the need for escape. The seven bridges road is a symbol of journeying through life, and through this song, the listener is encouraged to savor the beauty and sweetness of life while it lasts.
Line by Line Meaning
There are stars in the southern sky
The southern sky is filled with beautiful stars.
Southward as you go
As you travel south, you will see more stars.
There is moonlight and moss in the trees
The trees are covered in moss and the moon's light shines down on them.
Down the seven bridges road
On a road called Seven Bridges, which leads to a beautiful place.
I have loved you like a baby
I have loved you with the innocence and purity of a baby's love.
Like some lonesome child
Like a child who is feeling lonely and vulnerable.
I have loved you in a tame way
I have loved you in a way that is controlled and restrained.
And I have loved you wild
And I have loved you in a way that is passionate and intense.
Sometimes there is a part of me
Sometimes I feel like a different person with conflicting emotions and desires.
Has to turn from here and go
Has to leave and find a different path.
Runnin' like a child from these warm stars
Running away from the comfort and familiarity of these beautiful stars.
And if ever you decide you should go
If you ever decide to leave.
There is a taste of time sweet as honey
There is a nostalgic sweetness to the memories that we have shared.
Down the seven bridges road
On that beautiful road called Seven Bridges.
Down the seven bridges road
Once again, emphasizing the beauty and significance of that specific road.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Stephen T. Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chad Riggs
I’m a metal guy first and foremost but I can always appreciate true musicianship in all its forms, and this is masterful! Dolly is one of those rare artists that transcend genres and she’s a good ol’ southern Appalachian girl to boot! Much love from this Ashe County, NC native
SteveIsGr8r
Here due to recommendation from Ken Tamplin. He was right, this is awesome!
Cheryl DeShon
Same!
Robert Strandberg
Same here
Stella Otto
Hahaha same
Stephen Hensley
ME TOO !
Christopher Allen
me too
Lori Scott
Thank you, Ken Tamplin! Love Dolly and this song🤩 So glad you linked it in one of your vids! Go Dolly! We still love you, girl!
Jerry Kings
Hello Lori 👋...how are you doing ?
john Thompson
Dolly Parton is America's national treasure.