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
Slow Dancing With The Moon
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Moving her lips to her favorite song, cherishing every rhyme
Swaying her hips to the rhythm, humming along with the tune
Lost in her own little dream world, slow dancin' with the moon
Watching her, I cannot help but go back in my mind
And suddenly I find, I am 15 again
Oh, the stars got in my eyes long time ago
And I've lived my life like a love sick clown in a bittersweet cartoon
Just a dreamy-eyed kid slow dancin' with the moon
Watching the girl I'm reminded, she's quite a lot like me
Trapped in the suburbs of wonderland, lost in her own fantasy
Somehow my heart never grew up, no one ever burst my balloon
So here I am swirling in star dust, slow dancin' with the moon
Still believe someday my wildest dreams will all come true
And I'll find someone who'll make me 15 again
But until then I'm slow dancin' with the moon
Oh, the stars got in my eyes, long time ago
And I've lived my life like a love sick clown in a bittersweet cartoon
Just a dreamy-eyed kid, slow dancin' with the moon
Still a starry-eyed kid, slow dancin' with the moon
In Dolly Parton's song "Slow Dancing With The Moon," the lyrics describe a young girl dancing alone under the stars, lost in her own world. The singer, watching her, finds herself transported back to her own youth, reminiscing about her own dreams and fantasies that she still holds onto. The song speaks to the eternal optimism and youthful spirit that lives on within us all, despite the weight of the years and the disappointments of life.
The use of metaphors in the song is particularly powerful. The girl is likened to a cherry blossom blooming before her time, revealing the fragility and fleeting nature of youth. The idea of dancing with the moon is also a clever metaphor for chasing after something that is unattainable or out of reach, yet still captivating enough to keep us striving for it. The contrast between the dreamy, romantic imagery and the more melancholy tone of the lyrics highlights the bittersweet nature of growing older and the quest for happiness that continues long after our teenage years.
Overall, "Slow Dancing With The Moon" is a poignant reflection on the joys and struggles of life, and a reminder that we can always hold onto our hopes and dreams, no matter how much time has passed.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet little cherry blossom, blooming before her time
The girl is young and innocent, enjoying life and growing up too fast.
Moving her lips to her favorite song, cherishing every rhyme
She is in love with music and enjoys it deeply, finding meaning in the lyrics.
Swaying her hips to the rhythm, humming along with the tune
She is living in the moment, enjoying the music and letting it move her body.
Lost in her own little dream world, slow dancin' with the moon
She is lost in her own thoughts and daydreams, feeling connected to the beauty of the world around her.
Watching her, I cannot help but go back in my mind
Dolly is observing someone else's innocence and beauty and it takes her back to her own youth.
And suddenly I find, I am 15 again
She is transported back to her own youth and remembers what it felt like to be young and carefree.
Oh, the stars got in my eyes long time ago
Dolly has always been a dreamer and has always believed in achieving her wildest dreams, even if they seem impossible.
And I've lived my life like a love sick clown in a bittersweet cartoon
She has lived her life with ups and downs, but always with a sense of hope and the belief that everything will work out in the end.
Watching the girl I'm reminded, she's quite a lot like me
The girl's innocence and joy reminds Dolly of her own youth and personality.
Trapped in the suburbs of wonderland, lost in her own fantasy
She is living in a world of her own, where everything is possible and there are endless opportunities.
Somehow my heart never grew up, no one ever burst my balloon
Dolly's youthful spirit has stayed with her throughout her life and she has never let anyone ruin her dreams and hopes.
So here I am swirling in star dust, slow dancin' with the moon
She is still living her life as a dreamer, enjoying the little things in life and feeling connected to nature and the universe.
Still believe someday my wildest dreams will all come true
Dolly still has hope for the future and believes that she will achieve all her dreams at some point in her life.
And I'll find someone who'll make me 15 again
She hopes to find someone who will make her feel youthful and carefree again, like she did when she was a teenager.
Still a starry-eyed kid, slow dancin' with the moon
Dolly remains a dreamer at heart, enjoying life's little moments and feeling connected to the beauty of the world around her.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: MAC DAVIS
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.