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
Sweet Music Man
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To hold your hand like I used to, I'm through with you
You're a heck of a singer and powerful man but you surround yourself
With people who demand so little of you
You touched my soul with your beautiful song
You even had me singin' along right with you, you said
"I need you", then you changed the words and added harmony
Oh, but nobody sings a love song quite like you do
Oh, and nobody else can make me sing along
Nobody else can make me feel things are right
When I know they're wrong, nobody sings a love song quite like you
Sing your song sweet music man, travel the world
With a six piece band that does for you what you tell 'em to
And you try to stay young but the songs are sung
To so many people who've all begun came back on you
Sing your song sad music man, makin' your living
Doing one night stands, they're through with you
They don't need you, you're still a heck of a singer but a broken man
But you'll keep on lookin' for one last fan to sing to
Oh, and nobody sings a love song quite like you do
Oh, and nobody else can make me sing along and nobody else
Can make me feel things are right when they're wrong with a song
Nobody sings a love song quite like you
Sing your song sweet music man, I believe in you
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Sweet Music Man" are a tale of a woman who fell in love with a musician who wrote a beautiful love song just for her. However, the relationship did not work out, and she is now telling the man that she is through with him. He is a talented musician, but he surrounds himself with people who demand very little of him, and he has now moved on to someone new, singing the same song he wrote for her to his new lover.
The woman acknowledges that the man is a powerful singer and that his songs have touched her soul. However, the song is also a warning to the musician that he needs to be careful not to get caught up in the fame and fortune that comes with being a successful musician. She warns him that the people he surrounds himself with will eventually turn on him, and that he will end up alone, singing to his last fan.
The lyrics also express the woman's admiration for the man's talent, implying that nobody sings a love song quite like him. Even though their relationship is over, she still believes in him and his music, and she hopes that he will continue to travel the world, singing his song and sharing his talents with others.
Overall, the lyrics to "Sweet Music Man" are a poignant reminder that sometimes, even the most talented and successful people can become caught up in their own success, losing sight of what really matters in life. It is a gentle warning to the musician to stay true to himself and to remember the people who helped him along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Sing a song sweet music man 'cause I won't be there
Sing your song, musician, without me there to listen or support you.
To hold your hand like I used to, I'm through with you
Our relationship is over, and I won't provide the emotional support I once did.
You're a heck of a singer and powerful man but you surround yourself
With people who demand so little of you
You have the talent and influence, but you stay with people who don't challenge or motivate you to improve.
You touched my soul with your beautiful song
Your song had a deeply emotional impact on me.
You even had me singin' along right with you, you said
I was moved to join in and sing with you.
"I need you", then you changed the words and added harmony
You started off expressing your need for me, but then you modified the lyrics and added more musical complexity.
Then you sang the song you had written for me to someone new
You shared a song I thought was special and personal with someone else.
Oh, but nobody sings a love song quite like you do
You have a special talent for expressing love through music.
Sing your song sweet music man, travel the world
With a six piece band that does for you what you tell 'em to
You're successful enough to have a band and tour the world, but they're all following your direction.
And you try to stay young but the songs are sung
To so many people who've all begun came back on you
You try to stay relevant, but your songs no longer have the same impact on people who have heard them before.
Sing your song sad music man, makin' your living
Doing one night stands, they're through with you
You make a living performing at temporary gigs, but people have grown tired of you and stopped coming.
They don't need you, you're still a heck of a singer but a broken man
But you'll keep on lookin' for one last fan to sing to
You're still talented, but your spirit is broken, and you're searching for a last loyal fan to perform for.
Sing your song sweet music man, I believe in you
You still have my support, and I believe in your potential.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kenny Rogers
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.