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
Sometimes an Old Memory Gets in My Eye
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grasping for love where there's no love at all
Slowly I'm sinking as time drags by and sometimes an old memory gets in my eye
I struggle for strength to face the dawn
And I'm freezing to death without you to keep me warm
I hold an arm full of nothing close to my side
And sometimes an old memory gets in my eye
Sometimes an old memory gets in my eye
Don't think you see tears for I never cry
But sometimes an old memory gets in my eye
Yes sometimes an old memory gets in my eye
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Sometimes an Old Memory Gets in My Eye" depict the emotional turmoil of a person trying to move on from a past love. The singer compares their desperate search for love to someone drowning and grasping for a straw, implying that they are seeking love where there is none. This constant struggle is causing them to slowly sink, representing the pain and heaviness they feel as time passes. However, the most poignant line is when they mention that sometimes an old memory gets in their eye. This suggests that even though they are trying to move on, certain memories of their past love still haunt them and bring tears to their eyes.
The second verse further highlights their pain as they describe struggling to find the strength to face the new day without their former partner. They feel a sense of emptiness and coldness without the warmth and comfort that their love provided. The image of holding an armful of nothing close to their side symbolizes the absence of love and companionship. Despite their attempts to hold back tears and appear strong, the memories of their past love sometimes overwhelm them, making it difficult to keep their eyes dry.
Overall, the lyrics capture the bittersweet emotions of trying to move on from a past love while still being haunted by the memories of that relationship. It showcases the raw vulnerability and struggles one experiences when trying to let go and healing from heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Like someone drowning I reach for a straw
I desperately cling to any shred of hope, even when it's futile.
Grasping for love where there's no love at all
I try to find love in places where it doesn't exist, futilely longing for affection.
Slowly I'm sinking as time drags by and sometimes an old memory gets in my eye
As time passes, I feel myself gradually succumbing to sadness, and occasionally, a distant memory overwhelms me.
I struggle for strength to face the dawn
Every day, I fight to find the courage to confront the new day and the challenges it may bring.
And I'm freezing to death without you to keep me warm
Without your presence and love, I feel emotionally cold and empty, unable to find solace.
I hold an arm full of nothing close to my side
I cling to an empty void, desperately longing for companionship and connection.
And sometimes an old memory gets in my eye
Occasionally, a past memory surfaces and overwhelms me emotionally, causing tears to well up.
Sometimes an old memory gets in my eye
On certain occasions, a past memory deeply affects me, causing me to be emotional.
And when it's ours it's hard to keep my eyes dry
When the memory relates to our shared experiences, it becomes challenging to hold back tears.
Don't think you see tears for I never cry
Despite the appearance, I want you to believe that I never shed tears.
But sometimes an old memory gets in my eye
However, there are moments when a past memory unexpectedly triggers my emotions.
Yes sometimes an old memory gets in my eye
Indeed, there are times when a nostalgic memory overwhelms me and brings tears to my eyes.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OWENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Laura G Photos and Film
Great song. Love Dolly !!
J.W. Gauntt
hi Laura , good to see you , glad you enjoyed it, i appreciate you listening
Granny Loca
When she was young she was so much better than her later commercial success, her best album was "just the way I am".
Ron Patrizzi
DOLLY MY DARLING THERE NOW ONE LIKE U