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
Silver And Gold
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His clothes were torn and tattered
With sandals on his feet
And I stopped to help him
And lend him a hand
He said, I love you so much
But you must understand
But things of this world
They won't last you long
And time has a way of turning us old
And time can't be bought back with silver and gold
And he said to me, let's rest for awhile
For I have some good news to share with you, child
He said, you can't change this old world
The people need to know
That a dear savior died here
A long, long time ago
Silver and gold might buy you a home
But things of this world
They won't last you long
And time has a way of turning us old
And time can't be bought back with silver and gold
His eyes shown like diamonds
And his smile was heaven sent
His hair was long and flowing
And his back was slightly bent
And I knew he knew it
For that day I changed
As I watched him walk on
I forgot to get his name
He said, silver and gold can't buy you a home
When this life has ended
And your time is gone
But you can live in a world where
You'll never grow old
And things can't be bought there with silver and gold
And time can't be bought back with silver and gold
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's "Silver and Gold" tell the story of a chance encounter with an old man who imparts some valuable wisdom to the singer. The old man was dressed in ragged clothes and worn sandals when the singer offered to help him. The man tells the singer that he loves them but wants them to understand that while silver and gold can buy a home, they won't last long, and time has a way of making people old. The old man invites the singer to rest and then shares the good news that a savior died long ago to save the world. He tells the singer that silver and gold can't buy a home when life is over, and her time is gone. The song teaches that living in a world where one never grows old and where things can't be bought with silver and gold is the best kind of world that one can imagine.
The lyrics of "Silver and Gold" teach an important lesson about the vanity of material wealth and offer a glimpse of hope for a world beyond this one. The lyrics reveal that the singer had an epiphany after the chance encounter with the old man. The song is a reminder that life is fleeting and that nothing material can last forever. Whether it's possessions, youth or time, all will eventually wane. Only the message of a savior that came to save the world and grant eternal life can stand the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I met an old man walkin' down the street
The singer encountered an elderly man while they were walking.
His clothes were torn and tattered
The man's clothing was old and in poor condition.
With sandals on his feet
The man was wearing sandals as footwear.
And I stopped to help him
The artist chose to offer assistance to the man.
And lend him a hand
The artist extended a helping hand to the man.
He said, I love you so much
The man expressed affection towards the singer.
But you must understand
The man had a point to convey that the singer needed to comprehend.
Silver and gold might buy you a home
Money may be able to purchase a living space.
But things of this world
Items in this material world.
They won't last you long
These items will not endure for an extended period of time.
And time has a way of turning us old
The passage of time inevitably leads to aging.
And time can't be bought back with silver and gold
Money cannot reverse time.
And he said to me, let's rest for awhile
The man suggested they take a break.
For I have some good news to share with you, child
The man had positive information he wanted to impart to the singer.
He said, you can't change this old world
The man stated that the world cannot be altered.
The people need to know
Individuals require the information about something.
That a dear savior died here
The man was referring to the death of Jesus.
A long, long time ago
This event occurred in the distant past.
His eyes shown like diamonds
The man's eyes glistened brightly.
And his smile was heaven sent
The man seemed to have an angelic grin.
His hair was long and flowing
The man's hair was lengthy and moving with the wind.
And his back was slightly bent
The man had a minor curvature of his spine.
And I knew he knew it
The singer understood that the man was aware of something important.
For that day I changed
The artist experienced a shift in their perspective that day.
As I watched him walk on
The singer observed the man continue traveling.
I forgot to get his name
The singer neglected to gather the man's name.
But you can live in a world where
The man stated that it is possible to reside in a place where certain attributes are present.
You'll never grow old
One will not age in this place.
And things can't be bought there with silver and gold
Money is not valuable in this place.
And time can't be bought back with silver and gold
The unavailability of money's power to reverse time is reiterated.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CARL PERKINS, GREG PERKINS, STAN PERKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tylerkaytipton
Well, I met an old man walkin' down the street
His clothes were torn and tattered
With sandals on his feet
And I stopped to help him
And lend him a hand
He said, I love you so much
But you must understand
Silver and gold might buy you a home
But things of this world
They won't last you long
And time has a way of turning us old
And time can't be bought back with silver and gold
And he said to me, let's rest for awhile
For I have some good news to share with you, child
He said, you can't change this old world
The people need to know
That a dear savior died here
A long, long time ago
Silver and gold might buy you a home
But things of this world
They won't last you long
And time has a way of turning us old
And time can't be bought back with silver and gold
His eyes shown like diamonds
And his smile was heaven sent
His hair was long and flowing
And his back was slightly bent
And I knew he knew it
For that day I changed
As I watched him walk on
I forgot to get his name
He said, silver and gold can't buy you a home
When this life has ended
And your time is gone
But you can live in a world where
You'll never grow old
And things can't be bought there with silver and gold
And time can't be bought back with silver and gold
@napoleondotse8981
If you’re here in 2023, let’s gather here❤❤❤
@selmakatshenye4908
Here I am
@GetrudCoetzee
I love this song 💖💖💖💖
@marthentangkelolok4028
Sy berada dimasa yg dtg 😄😄
@rebeccafrancinesalsberry5339
2024 truths
@ginaperez1931
I want my children to hear this...especially when I'm gone.
@Mistar_Vybist_Intronix
Dolly has one of the most unique voice in this world
Much love from Nairobi Kenya 🇰🇪
@musinguzijoseph4135
Kindness, love, understanding, and joy can't be bought by Silver and Gold, thank you Dolly.
@nealbetton3304
I am in agreement with U & Dolly
@alexismeyer4515
@Neal Betton me to