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 Little Things
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You never bring me pretty things when you come to see me
And you forgot my birthday oh I wish you could see
How I miss the little things that you don't do for me
You never say that I look nice or that you're proud of me
You overlook the little things that you should see
These little things are big enough to hurt but too small to make me want to leave
But I do miss the little things that you don't do for me
How can I taste candy that's still at the candy store
These little things mean a lot to me to you they may be silly
But I do miss the little things that you don't do for me
Yes I miss the little things that you don't do for me
The Little Things by Dolly Parton is a contemplative song about the small gestures that make a big difference in a relationship. The singer of the song feels neglected as her partner fails to appreciate the significance of small acts of kindness such as giving flowers, bringing presents, and acknowledging her accomplishments. She explains how she misses these little things that her partner never does for her, and although they are small, they hurt and are important to her.
The lyrics of the song convey the idea that relationships are built on mutual trust, love, and respect. Even the smallest gestures of love and attention can go a long way in making a significant impact on a partner. When these little things are neglected, the absence of them can have a major impact on how one feels. The singer of the song feels hurt and unloved, despite the fact that her partner likely does care for her in their own way.
The song is a relatable and honest portrayal of the importance of small moments in relationships, and how their absence can lead to feelings of emptiness and neglect. The Little Things encourages listeners to appreciate the small moments in their relationships and not take them for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
You never send me flowers or ever buy me candy
You don't show me small gestures of affection like giving me flowers or candy
You never bring me pretty things when you come to see me
You don't bring me gifts or show me small acts of kindness during our time together
And you forgot my birthday oh I wish you could see
You didn't remember my birthday and I feel disappointed that you didn't make an effort to recognize it
How I miss the little things that you don't do for me
I feel unappreciated and unhappy because you ignore the small details that can make me feel special
You never say that I look nice or that you're proud of me
You don't compliment me or give me words of encouragement and support
You overlook the little things that you should see
You aren't paying attention to the small details that can make a big difference in our relationship
These little things are big enough to hurt but too small to make me want to leave
Although your lack of attention to small gestures hurts me, it's not enough to make me want to end our relationship
But I do miss the little things that you don't do for me
I still feel unappreciated and unhappy about the small details that you ignore
Now how can I miss flowers that never reached my door
I can't miss something that I never received, but it's not about the physical gift, it's about the effort and thought behind it
How can I taste candy that's still at the candy store
I can't experience the joy of receiving candy that you never gave me
These little things mean a lot to me to you they may be silly
Small gestures mean a lot to me, even if they seem trivial to you
But I do miss the little things that you don't do for me
I still feel the absence of small gestures and it affects my happiness in our relationship
Yes I miss the little things that you don't do for me
I'm expressing again that I feel unappreciated and unhappy because of your lack of attention to small gestures in our relationship
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MILTON NELSON, UMITAROU ABE
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.