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
Something Special
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't always show it
But you're so important to me
So much that we've shared
You've always been there
I hope you always will be
Chorus:
Yes, you are something special to me
When I'm around you
The love that surrounds you
Brings comfort and warmth to my heart
A god-given treasure
You give me such pleasure
You are a true work of art
Chorus:
Yes, you are something special, yes indeed
Yes, you are something special to me
Bridge:
You're the wind 'neath my wings
Like the song that they sing
But there's so many things that you are
An angel in my life
You are the sunlight
And you hung the moon and the stars
Yes, you're special
Turnaround
Chorus:
Yes, you are something special, ooh-wee
Yes, you are something special, yes indeed
Yes, you are something special to me
Mm-mm
Fade:
You are something special
Mm-mm, you're something special
You are something special
In Dolly Parton's beautiful song, "Something Special," she sings about the importance of a special person in her life. While she may not always express just how valuable this person is to her, she hopes that they will always be there for her. Throughout the chorus, Parton repeats that this person is "something special" and acknowledges their importance. In the second verse, she goes on to describe how this person makes her feel, bringing comfort and warmth to her heart, and describes them as a god-given treasure, a true work of art.
In the bridge, Parton compares this special person to the wind beneath her wings and acknowledges all the different roles they play in her life, such as being an angel, sunlight, and even hanging the moon and stars. She ends the song with a simple but powerful message, confirming that this person truly is special to her.
Overall, "Something Special" is a beautiful tribute to the people in our lives who are truly special. It reminds us to cherish those people and never take them for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
You may not know it
You may not be aware of this
I don't always show it
I don't always express it
But you're so important to me
But you're very significant to me
So much that we've shared
We've shared a great deal
You've always been there
You have always been present
I hope you always will be
I hope you will continue to be there
Chorus: 'cause you are something special, ooh-wee Yes, you are something special to me
Chorus: You are a valuable person to me
When I'm around you
When I'm in your presence
The love that surrounds you
The affection that surrounds you
Brings comfort and warmth to my heart
Makes me feel content and cozy
A god-given treasure
A blessing from God
You give me such pleasure
You give me joy and delight
You are a true work of art
You are a masterpiece
Chorus: Yes, you are something special, yes indeed Yes, you are something special to me
Chorus: You are indeed a valuable and important person to me
Bridge: You're the wind 'neath my wings Like the song that they sing But there's so many things that you are An angel in my life You are the sunlight And you hung the moon and the stars Yes, you're special
Bridge: You are my supporting force, a source of inspiration, and you are divine. You illuminate my life, and you are responsible for the beauty of the night sky.
Turnaround
Transition
Chorus: Yes, you are something special, ooh-wee Yes, you are something special, yes indeed Yes, you are something special to me Mm-mm
Chorus: You are very much significant to me
Fade: You are something special Mm-mm, you're something special You are something special
Fade: You are a valuable person to me
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.