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
The Beginning
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we thought it was enough
We saw no farther than each other's arms
And though the roof leaked o'er our heads
Just a blanket for our bed
But then we had our love to keep us warm
But the winter winds blew cold
And our words were filled
With anger and regret
Our bills were more than we could pay
And we both longed for the taste
Of the freedom that we knew before we wed
But there was something greater still
Than all our fights and monthly bills
It was the knowledge of a
Child well on it's way
And though we both longed to be free
We talked it over and we agreed
That we'd wait 'til baby came to separate
Then at last the day arrived
And the tears filled both our eyes
As we held our newborn baby in our arms
And all the love we thought was gone
Lived again three times as strong
It's not the end
It's the beginning of our home
It's not the end
It's the beginning of our home
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "The Beginning" tell a story of a relationship that goes through ups and downs, but ultimately finds strength and renewal in the birth of their child. At the beginning, there was love and the couple believed it was enough to sustain them. They were content in each other's arms, despite the challenges they faced, such as financial difficulties and a leaky roof. Their love provided warmth and comfort during those tough times.
However, as time went on, their love started to fade, and they began to experience anger and regret. The burden of bills became overwhelming, and both of them longed for the freedom they had before they got married. But amidst all the struggles, a greater realization dawned upon them. They discovered that they were expecting a child, and this knowledge was more powerful than their fights or financial troubles. They made a conscious decision to put their desires for freedom on hold until the baby arrived, choosing to prioritize their growing family.
When the day finally arrived and they held their newborn baby in their arms, both of them were filled with tears and a renewed sense of love. The arrival of their child sparked a rekindling of their love, which is described as being three times as strong as before. The birth of their baby represents a new beginning for their home and their relationship. It signifies a fresh start, a chance to build a stronger, more stable foundation for their family.
Overall, "The Beginning" is a heartfelt song that emphasizes the power of love and the transformative nature of parenthood. It portrays how challenges and hardships in a relationship can be overcome and replaced with newfound strength and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
At the beginning there was love
Our relationship started with a strong feeling of love and affection
And we thought it was enough
We believed that our love for each other would be sufficient to sustain our relationship
We saw no farther than each other's arms
We were only focused on each other and did not consider the challenges ahead
And though the roof leaked o'er our heads
Even though we faced financial difficulties and had a poor living condition
Just a blanket for our bed
We had very basic living arrangements and had to make do with limited resources
But then we had our love to keep us warm
Despite the challenges, our love provided comfort and emotional support
But the winter winds blew cold
Difficult times came, representing the hardships and struggles we faced in our relationship
Our new love was growing old
The initial excitement and passion in our relationship started to fade
And our words were filled with anger and regret
We often spoke to each other with anger and expressed regret for our actions
Our bills were more than we could pay
We had financial burdens that exceeded our means
And we both longed for the taste
We desired the feeling
Of the freedom that we knew before we wed
We yearned for the freedom and carefreeness we experienced before getting married
But there was something greater still
However, there was something more important and significant
Than all our fights and monthly bills
That outweighed our arguments and financial struggles
It was the knowledge of a
That something significant was
Child well on it's way
The realization that we were expecting a baby
And though we both longed to be free
Even though we desired to regain our freedom
We talked it over and we agreed
We had a conversation and came to a mutual agreement
That we'd wait 'til baby came to separate
We decided to postpone any separation until after the baby was born
Then at last the day arrived
Finally, the day we were waiting for arrived
And the tears filled both our eyes
We were overwhelmed with emotions and cried together
As we held our newborn baby in our arms
The joy and love we felt when embracing our newborn child
And all the love we thought was gone
The love that we believed was lost
Lived again three times as strong
Resurfaced with even greater intensity
It's not the end
This is not the conclusion or final chapter
It's the beginning of our home
Rather, it marks the start of a new journey as a family
It's not the end
This is not the conclusion or final chapter
It's the beginning of our home
Rather, it marks the start of a new journey as a family
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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.