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 River Unbroken
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I keep a'waiting for the train to come
Dreamin' of the river and the rising sun
I keep thinkin' 'bout the world to come
My life packed up in a suitcase
Old man staring from a doorway
My hope tarries in the distance
Oh-oh-oooh-oh where is the river unbroken
Oh-oh-oooh-oh when will the whistle blow
Waitin' for the train to come
I keep waitin' for the train to come
Keepin' my appointment with the one who lives
In the heart of everything that is
All night sleepin' in a station
My God, it's hard not to be impatient
I watch through the windows of forgiveness
I cry but my word's my only witness
Oh-oh-oooh-oh where is the river unbroken
Oh-oh-oooh-oh when will the whistle blow
Oh-oh-oooh-oh where is the river unbroken
Oh-oh-oooh-oh when will the whistle blow
Sometimes I feel I can't go on, I can't go on
I get so tired, all passion's gone
My heart, my head, my arms, my legs, I get so tired
Without the strength to crawl away
Then something breaks inside my soul, My strength is gone
That spirit's finally taking hold
My ears can hear, my eyes can see
Those clouds of joy still cover me, cover me, cover me
Oh-oh-oooh-oh where is the river unbroken
Oh-oh-oooh-oh when will the whistle blow
Oh-oh-oooh-oh where is the river unbroken
Oh-oh-oooh-oh when will the whistle blow
Oh-oh-oooh-oh where is, where is the river unbroken
Oh-oh-oooh-oh when will the whistle blow
Fade:
Waiting for the train to come
I keep waiting for the train to come...
In Dolly Parton's "The River Unbroken," the singer is waiting for a train while reflecting on their life and the world around them. The lyrics start with a dreamy quality as the singer thinks about the river and the rising sun. They are hopeful for the world to come, as their life is packed up in a suitcase, and they wait for the train to take them to their next destination. The old man staring from a doorway hints at the loneliness or displacement the singer might be feeling. However, the lyrics then become more anxious as they wonder when the train will come, and they keep their appointment with the one who lives in the heart of everything.
The second verse sheds light on the hollowness of the singer's life as they spend all night sleeping in a station. It's hard not to be impatient when people are waiting for something to happen. Through the metaphorical window of forgiveness, the singer watches and reflects on their life. They feel helpless, and their word is their only witness to their tears. However, the lyrics then take a hopeful turn, as the singer finds strength in their soul. Though they get tired at times, something breaks inside them, and the clouds of joy still cover them.
Overall, "The River Unbroken" is a metaphor for the journey of life. It talks about the ups and downs one goes through, from the restlessness of waiting to the hopelessness of feeling stuck. But in the end, there is a sense of resilience and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Waiting for the train to come
I am patiently waiting for the train to arrive.
I keep a'waiting for the train to come
I am waiting with anticipation for the train to arrive.
Dreamin' of the river and the rising sun
I am imagining a peaceful scene by the river as the sun rises.
I keep thinkin' 'bout the world to come
I am contemplating what the future holds for me and the world.
My life packed up in a suitcase
All my belongings are packed up in a suitcase.
Old man staring from a doorway
An elderly man is watching me from a nearby door.
My hope tarries in the distance
My hopeful outlook is far away.
Love comes on the wheels of my deliverance
I am hopeful that love will arrive with the train to save me.
Oh-oh-oooh-oh where is the river unbroken
I am wondering where I can find a peaceful river that has not been disturbed.
Oh-oh-oooh-oh when will the whistle blow
I am eagerly anticipating the sound of the train's whistle to signal its arrival.
Keepin' my appointment with the one who lives
I am committed to meeting and fulfilling the expectations of a higher power.
In the heart of everything that is
This higher power is at the center of all existence.
All night sleepin' in a station
I spent the entire night sleeping at the train station.
My God, it's hard not to be impatient
I find it difficult to remain patient and calm while waiting for the train.
I watch through the windows of forgiveness
Despite my impatience, I am trying to act forgivingly towards others and myself.
I cry but my word's my only witness
I am emotional and expressive about my situation, but there is no one around to witness it except for myself.
Sometimes I feel I can't go on, I can't go on
I sometimes feel overwhelmed and unable to continue.
I get so tired, all passion's gone
I feel exhausted and have lost my motivation and enthusiasm.
My heart, my head, my arms, my legs, I get so tired
My whole body is exhausted and fatigued.
Without the strength to crawl away
I feel powerless and unable to escape my situation.
Then something breaks inside my soul, My strength is gone
Suddenly, something shifts within me and I feel drained of energy.
That spirit's finally taking hold
Eventually, a new spirit begins to manifest within me.
My ears can hear, my eyes can see
I am now perceiving my surroundings with greater clarity and awareness.
Those clouds of joy still cover me, cover me, cover me
Despite my challenging situation, I am still finding moments of happiness and positivity.
Oh-oh-oooh-oh where is, where is the river unbroken
I am continuing to search for an undisturbed river that represents peace and hope.
Oh-oh-oooh-oh when will the whistle blow
I am still eagerly awaiting the sound of the train's whistle to signal its arrival.
Fade: Waiting for the train to come
The song ends with me still waiting for the train.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: DARRELL R. BROWN, DAVID HURST BATTEAU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Craig Brown
Wish she would make more music videos for all her songs, they deserve them.
There's no other like her.. The best ever country artist of all time has to be. look at this talent.
Deanna Chandler
No doubt about that!!!
Roxanne Shannon
I wish there were videos for all of Dolly's songs! I never get tired of her voice ,her lyrics, or just Dolly in general ♥️🙌
Huntinbear
I wish she would make more videos too. I'm not a fan of all those lyric videos and cartoon videos that artist and Dolly too has been doing !
Jonathan
This was the first music video I ever saw when I was 7 in 1987. Dolly is still my ultimate favorite singer today!
Wyldone6984
I'll beat that. This is literally the first song I remember from falling asleep to the Rainbow album on cassette. I was 3.
Purple Rainbow
Absolutely love Dolly's voice on this song
Craig Brown
They should play more Dolly on Rage and the radio, my goodness this has to be the best singer ever. Here I am able to play Dolly songs on You Tube for 2 days and still I don't have to repeat 1 song. Not many artists today can claim this.
Sveťa
One of her BEST songs!! She´s such an amazing singer in pop ❤️
Robin Thomas
I love this song
I can't stop singing it