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 Better Part Of Life
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For the first time in I don't know when
We were so close once upon a time
There were five of us kids at home
Two girls, three boys and Dad and Mom
But that was in the better part
Of life we've left behind
Where we would swim so long ago
All them possum grapes and muskedines
And do you all recall the time
We all got drunk on homemade wine
That was in the better part
Of life we left behind
Life was simple for us then
If only it could be again
How I wish we could go back in time
But time moves on and nothin' lasts
Except the memories from the past
Memories from the better part
Of life we've left behind
Remember how we talked as kids
Of what we'd be when we got big
And all the dreams that we held in our minds
I wanted to be a singin' star
And you all said that I'd go far
But that was in the better part
Of life we left behind
Remember all the fun we had
Back when they say times were bad
And life was good to us and things were fine
We had fun and we had love
And a mom and dad to care for us
But that was is the better part
Of life we've left behind
Life was simple for us then
If only it could be again
How I wish we could go back in time
But the life moves on and nothin' lasts
Except the memories from the past
Memories from the better part
Of life we left behind
Sweet memories from the better part
Of life we left behind
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "The Better Part of Life" reminisce about the past, specifically the childhood days when the singer and her siblings were all living at home with their parents. The song paints a nostalgic picture of a simpler time, filled with happiness, love, and carefree moments. It begins by expressing the joy of being together once again after a long time apart, emphasizing the closeness that they once shared. The mention of the five siblings, two girls and three boys, along with their dad and mom, highlights the family bond that they once had.
The song then takes us through a series of vivid memories, such as swimming in an old swimming hole, enjoying the taste of wild grapes and muskedines, and even getting drunk on homemade wine. These memories are portrayed as the "better part of life," something that they have left behind. The lyrics convey a longing to return to those simpler times, a desire to go back and relive the carefree and joyful moments that they once shared.
The singer reflects on the dreams they had as children and the support they received from each other. The desire to become a singing star is mentioned, with the mutual encouragement from her siblings. However, these dreams and aspirations are also seen as part of the past, part of the "better part of life" that they have moved on from.
In the end, the song acknowledges that life moves on and nothing remains the same. Time passes, and memories are all that are left. The lyrics express a heartfelt longing to go back in time, to relive those precious moments of happiness and love. The song captures the bittersweet sentiment of nostalgia, acknowledging that while life may have changed, the memories from the past will always hold a special place in their hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
We're all together once again
We are reunited after a long time apart
For the first time in I don't know when
It has been so long since we were last together
We were so close once upon a time
We had a strong bond in the past
There were five of us kids at home
Our family consisted of five children
Two girls, three boys and Dad and Mom
We had two sisters, three brothers, and our parents
But that was in the better part
Those were the happier times
Of life we've left behind
We have moved on from that phase of life
Remember that old swimming hole
Recall the fond memories of a specific swimming spot
Where we would swim so long ago
We used to spend a lot of time swimming there
All them possum grapes and muskedines
We enjoyed picking and eating wild fruits
And do you all recall the time
Can you remember when
We all got drunk on homemade wine
We had an experience of getting intoxicated with our own wine
That was in the better part
That happened during the happier times
Of life we left behind
We have moved on from that phase of life
Life was simple for us then
Our lives were uncomplicated back then
If only it could be again
If we could go back to that simplicity
How I wish we could go back in time
I have a strong desire to revisit the past
But time moves on and nothin' lasts
However, time progresses and nothing remains the same
Except the memories from the past
Except for the recollections we hold
Memories from the better part
Memories from the happier times
Of life we've left behind
That we have moved on from
Remember how we talked as kids
Recall the conversations we had as children
Of what we'd be when we got big
Discussions about our future aspirations
And all the dreams that we held in our minds
The aspirations and ambitions we had
I wanted to be a singin' star
I had a dream of becoming a successful singer
And you all said that I'd go far
You all believed I had the potential to succeed
But that was in the better part
That hope and encouragement came during happier times
Of life we left behind
We have moved on from that phase of life
Remember all the fun we had
Recall the joyful experiences we shared
Back when they say times were bad
During a period when people claim things were difficult
And life was good to us and things were fine
We were content and everything seemed to be going well
We had fun and we had love
We experienced joy and received love
And a mom and dad to care for us
Our parents provided love and support
But that was is the better part
Those were the happier times
Of life we've left behind
We have moved on from that phase of life
Life was simple for us then
Our lives were uncomplicated back then
If only it could be again
If we could go back to that simplicity
How I wish we could go back in time
I have a strong desire to revisit the past
But the life moves on and nothin' lasts
However, life keeps moving forward and nothing stays the same
Except the memories from the past
Except for the recollections we hold
Memories from the better part
Memories from the happier times
Of life we left behind
That we have moved on from
Sweet memories from the better part
Fond recollections from the happier times
Of life we left behind
That we have moved on from
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.