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
Sure Thing
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's Saturday night and it's a perfect night for dancin'
I've had my makeup off and on all day
But it's gotta be right for a night of sweet romancing
And I've combed my hair at least a thousand ways
Mirror Mirror don't you tell a soul
Of how I smiled and talked all day to you
But tonight's the night and I'm a dancing fool
(It's a sure thing) when the sun goes down this evenin'
(It's a sure thing) to be out on the dancing floor
(It's a sure thing) I'll be the last one leavin'
(It's a sure thing) gonna dance till I can't no more
I could of had a date but I thought I'd take my chances
I'm gonna dance with a different guy to every song
Then I'm a gonna wait till the right one strikes my fancy
The he's gonna be the one to dance me home
(It's a sure thing) when the sun goes down this evenin'
(It's a sure thing) to be out on the dancing floor
(It's a sure thing) I'll be the last one leavin'
(It's a sure thing) gonna dance till I can't no more
(It's a sure thing) when the sun goes down this evenin'
(It's a sure thing) to be out on the dancing floor
(It's a sure thing) I'll be the last one leavin'
(It's a sure thing) gonna dance till I can't no more
Dolly Parton's song "Sure Thing" is an upbeat tune about the joy of dancing on a Saturday night. The song opens with Parton describing her preparations for the night - she's spent all day primping and practicing her dance moves in anticipation of the evening. She talks to her mirror about her excitement, but also keeps her preparations a secret, not wanting anyone to know how eager she is for the night to begin.
As the song continues, Parton talks about her decision to go out alone, eschewing the possibility of a date in favor of dancing with different partners throughout the night. She's waiting for the right guy to come along and sweep her off her feet, and in the meantime, she's going to dance her heart out until the sun comes up.
Line by Line Meaning
It's Saturday night and it's a perfect night for dancin'
Tonight is the ideal night for dancing
I've had my makeup off and on all day
I've been getting ready all day for this
But it's gotta be right for a night of sweet romancing
I need to look and feel my best for romance
And I've combed my hair at least a thousand ways
I've tried every hairstyle for tonight
Mirror Mirror don't you tell a soul
I've confided all my secrets in the mirror
Of how I smiled and talked all day to you
I've been practicing my social skills with the mirror
And how I practiced every step I know of
I've rehearsed my dance moves
But tonight's the night and I'm a dancing fool
I'm ready to let loose and dance all night
(It's a sure thing) when the sun goes down this evenin'
I know for sure that tonight will be great
(It's a sure thing) to be out on the dancing floor
I'm confident that I'll dance all night
(It's a sure thing) I'll be the last one leavin'
I'm determined to stay until the very end
(It's a sure thing) gonna dance till I can't no more
I won't stop dancing until I physically can't anymore
I could of had a date but I thought I'd take my chances
I decided to be open to meeting new people
I'm gonna dance with a different guy to every song
I plan to dance with many different partners
Then I'm a gonna wait till the right one strikes my fancy
I'll wait for the perfect match to dance me home
(It's a sure thing) when the sun goes down this evenin'
I'm sure tonight will be amazing
(It's a sure thing) to be out on the dancing floor
I'm sure I'll be dancing all night
(It's a sure thing) I'll be the last one leavin'
I'm committed to staying until the end
(It's a sure thing) gonna dance till I can't no more
I know I won't stop dancing until I can't anymore
(It's a sure thing) when the sun goes down this evenin'
I'm absolutely positive about tonight
(It's a sure thing) to be out on the dancing floor
I know dancing is what I'm meant to do tonight
(It's a sure thing) I'll be the last one leavin'
I'm determined to dance until the very end
(It's a sure thing) gonna dance till I can't no more
I won't stop dancing until I physically can't anymore
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.