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 Last Thing on My Mind
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Made of sand, made of sand
In the wink of an eye my soul is turnin'
In your hand, in your hand
Are you going away with no word of farewell
Will there be not a trace left behind
I could've loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind
As we walk along my thoughts are tumblin'
Round and round, round and round
Underneath our feet are someplace rumblin'
Underground, underground
Are you going away with no word of farewell
Will there be not a trace left behind
I could've loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind
You know that was the last thing on my mind
I've got reason a plenty for goin'
This I know, this I know
The weeds have been steadily growin'
Please don't go, please don't go
Are you going away with no word of farewell
Will there be not a trace left behind
I could've loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind
You know that was the last thing on my mind
Are you going away with no word of farewell
Will there be not a trace left behind
I could've loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind
You know that was the last thing on my mind
You know that was the last thing on my mind
In Dolly Parton's song "The Last Thing on My Mind," the lyrics describe a painful breakup where the singer is filled with regret for not loving their partner better. The lyrics "It's a lesson too late for the learning" and "I could've loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind" showcase the singer's feelings of guilt and remorse for their actions towards their partner. The lines "Are you going away with no word of farewell, will there be not a trace left behind" show how the singer is fearful of the aftermath of the breakup and the lack of closure it provides.
The verses also showcase the singer's conflicting thoughts and emotions as they walk with their partner, feeling the rumblings of the earth beneath them. This serves as a metaphor for the chaos and turmoil going on within the singer's heart and mind. Throughout the song, we hear the singer pleading with their partner not to leave, but also acknowledging that they have reasons for wanting to go.
Overall, "The Last Thing on My Mind" is a poignant and emotional song that conveys the heartache and turmoil of a painful breakup. The lyrics perfectly capture the complexities of love and relationships, showcasing that we often don't appreciate what we have until it's gone.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a lesson too late for the learnin'
I've learned my lesson too late.
Made of sand, made of sand
My world was fragile and unstable.
In the wink of an eye my soul is turnin'
My life is changing quickly.
In your hand, in your hand
You have control over my life.
Are you going away with no word of farewell
Are you leaving without saying goodbye?
Will there be not a trace left behind
Will you leave without leaving any evidence of our relationship?
I could've loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind
I could've shown you more love but I regret any unkindness towards you.
You know that was the last thing on my mind
I didn't intend to hurt you and I regret how things ended.
As we walk along my thoughts are tumblin'
As we walk together, I feel distracted and confused.
Round and round, round and round
My thoughts are circulating endlessly in my mind.
Underneath our feet are someplace rumblin'
There is an underlying tension between us.
Underground, underground
This tension is hidden and not easily noticeable.
I've got reason a plenty for goin'
I have many reasons to leave.
This I know, this I know
I am certain of my decision.
The weeds have been steadily growin'
Our relationship has been deteriorating without care.
Please don't go, please don't go
I still care about you and don't want you to leave.
You know that was the last thing on my mind
I didn't want our relationship to end and I regret my actions.
Are you going away with no word of farewell
Are you leaving me without a proper goodbye?
Will there be not a trace left behind
Will you disappear without a trace?
I could've loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind
I wish I had shown more love and kindness towards you.
You know that was the last thing on my mind
I am deeply sorry for how things ended and I wish things could have been different.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tom Paxton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Badger Mustelid
LYRICS
It's a lesson too late for the learning
Made of sand, made of sand
In the wink of an eye my soul is turnin’
In your hand, In your hand
[Chorus]
Are you going away
With no word of farewell?
Will there be not a trace left behind?
Oh, I could've loved you better
Didn't mean to be unkind
You know that was the last thing on my mind
[Verse 2]
As we walk along my thoughts are tumblin’
Round and round, round and round
Underneath our feet are someplace rumblin’
Underground, Underground
[Chorus]
Are you going away
With no word of farewell?
Will there be not a trace left behind?
Oh, I could've loved you better
Didn't mean to be unkind
You know that was the last thing on my mind
[Bridge]
I've got reason a plenty for goin'
This I know, this I know
The weeds have been steadily growin’
Please don't go, please don't go
[Chorus]
Are you going away
With no word of farewell?
Will there be not a trace left behind?
I could've loved you better
Didn't mean to be unkind
You know that was the last thing on my mind
Are you going away
With no word of farewell?
Will there be not a trace left behind?
Oh, I could've loved you better
Didn't mean to be unkind
You know that was the last thing on my mind
You know that was the last thing on my mind
Paw Myint Oo
It's a lesson too late for the learnin'
Made of sand, made of sand
In the wink of an eye my soul is turnin'
In your hand, in your hand.
[Cho:]
Are you going away with no word of farewell?
Will there be not a trace left behind?
Well, I could have loved you better,
Didn't mean to be unkind.
You know that was the last thing on my mind.
You've got reasons a-plenty for goin'.
This I know, this I know.
For the weeds have been steadily growin'.
Please don't go, please don't go.
[Cho:]
As we walk, all my thoughts are a-tumblin',
Round and round, round and round.
Underneath our feet the subways rumblin',
Underground, underground.
[Cho:]
As I lie in my bed in the mornin',
Without you, without you.
Every song in my breast dies a bornin',
Without you, without you.
[Cho:]
ChanelNo19
Yes, this was Porter and Dolly's first hit, related in 1967, reaching the conuntry singles top-ten in December of that year. A classic song by folk singer and songwriter Tom Paxton, and a perfect version by Porter and Dolly...by the way, this is my favorite of Porter and Dolly's album covers too!
Heather Allingham
Sometimes you find a thing that's perfect. This is one of those things. Simply splendid.
Badger Mustelid
LYRICS
It's a lesson too late for the learning
Made of sand, made of sand
In the wink of an eye my soul is turnin’
In your hand, In your hand
[Chorus]
Are you going away
With no word of farewell?
Will there be not a trace left behind?
Oh, I could've loved you better
Didn't mean to be unkind
You know that was the last thing on my mind
[Verse 2]
As we walk along my thoughts are tumblin’
Round and round, round and round
Underneath our feet are someplace rumblin’
Underground, Underground
[Chorus]
Are you going away
With no word of farewell?
Will there be not a trace left behind?
Oh, I could've loved you better
Didn't mean to be unkind
You know that was the last thing on my mind
[Bridge]
I've got reason a plenty for goin'
This I know, this I know
The weeds have been steadily growin’
Please don't go, please don't go
[Chorus]
Are you going away
With no word of farewell?
Will there be not a trace left behind?
I could've loved you better
Didn't mean to be unkind
You know that was the last thing on my mind
Are you going away
With no word of farewell?
Will there be not a trace left behind?
Oh, I could've loved you better
Didn't mean to be unkind
You know that was the last thing on my mind
You know that was the last thing on my mind
Notta Victim
Badger Mustelid -Tom Paxton
Wambui Gathoni
thankyou
Billy Blevins
I'm 62 years old ,And I love rock music,But The old country gives me goose bumps....love it!
Saffron Sparkles
i am 29 years old and i like the country music
david boone
C
Tom Jones
Old country is the BEST,,, lol I'm 61 as of TODAY! lol
Tyler Waldner
Billy Blevins is your son named Tyler Blevins