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
There Never Was A Time
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the summer sun there was no way of sleepin'
And you'd play your old guitar, we'd fight mosquitoes and enjoy
Your backyard concerts for we had no television
We'd just begun our life as man and wife and hardships then
Could scarsely scare us into quittin'
Things were far from bein' fine, we often dined upon a dime
But there never was a time we didn't love
That Christmas brought our saddest day
When your pride gave way as you told the kids
There'd be no gifts 'cause we were broke
Though their little tears of grief were so hard to see, it didn't hurt me
Like the lump I knew was in your throat
It was then with arms entwined, we both broke down and cried
For it seemed like nothing good would ever come
The doctor bills we couldn't pay, they came and took our car away
But there never was a time we didn't love
Now there's an easy chair for my back, a satin pillow for your head
And the kids are wild about the brand new car
You and I can order steak with all the trimmings and not worry
If we spend a dollar more than we can spare
No wonder in our prayers we thank the man upstairs who led us through
The years of rearin' kids and payin' bills
And I think he guided us not because we were smart but just because
There never was a time we didn't love
No, there never was a time, never was a time
Never was a time we didn't love
The lyrics of Dolly Parton's "There Never Was A Time" convey a heartfelt reflection on a couple's enduring love through adversity and struggles. The song paints a poignant picture of the early days of their relationship, with the couple finding solace in simple moments like sitting in the backyard to avoid the hot house and enjoying impromptu concerts with the husband playing guitar. Despite facing financial hardships and living frugally, their love remained steadfast and resilient. The lyrics emphasize the idea that love can thrive even in the face of challenges.
The narrative takes a darker turn during Christmas, where the couple faces their toughest moment when they are unable to afford gifts for their children. This experience brings them closer together as they share their emotions and support each other through their difficulties. The lyrics evoke a sense of vulnerability and rawness as they navigate through tough times, emphasizing the strength of their bond and commitment to each other. The portrayal of their shared emotional breakdown underscores the depth of their love and unity in the face of adversity.
As time passes and their circumstances improve, the lyrics shift to a more optimistic tone, highlighting the couple's gratitude for their blessings. They have now achieved a level of comfort and security that they once could only dream of. This transformation symbolizes their journey of growth, resilience, and perseverance through life's challenges. Despite their struggles and sacrifices, their love has remained unwavering, serving as a guiding force that has seen them through their hardships.
In the end, the lyrics suggest that their enduring love and devotion have been instrumental in overcoming obstacles and navigating the ups and downs of life. The couple's story is a testament to the power of love as a source of strength, resilience, and hope. The song concludes on a hopeful note, underscoring the central theme that throughout all the trials and tribulations they faced, there never was a time when they didn't love each other, illustrating the enduring nature of their bond.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a time we'd sit in the backyard cause the house would get so hot
In the past, we used to sit in the backyard because the house was too hot to bear.
From the summer sun there was no way of sleepin'
The intense summer sun made it impossible for us to sleep.
And you'd play your old guitar, we'd fight mosquitoes and enjoy
You would play your guitar while we battled mosquitoes and found joy in these simple moments.
Your backyard concerts for we had no television
Your concerts in the backyard were our entertainment since we didn't have a television.
We'd just begun our life as man and wife and hardships then
We were just starting our life together as husband and wife, facing hardships from the beginning.
Could scarsely scare us into quittin'
The hardships could hardly make us give up.
Things were far from bein' fine, we often dined upon a dime
Our situation was far from ideal, and we often had frugal meals.
But there never was a time we didn't love
Despite the challenges, our love never wavered.
That Christmas brought our saddest day
Christmas became our saddest day.
When your pride gave way as you told the kids
Your pride broke as you had to tell the kids.
There'd be no gifts 'cause we were broke
There wouldn't be any gifts because we were financially struggling.
Though their little tears of grief were so hard to see, it didn't hurt me
Even though it was hard to see the kids cry, the real pain was in knowing your own struggle.
Like the lump I knew was in your throat
I could feel the lump in your throat.
It was then with arms entwined, we both broke down and cried
In that moment, we held each other close and cried together.
For it seemed like nothing good would ever come
It felt like we were stuck in a cycle of struggle with no end in sight.
The doctor bills we couldn't pay, they came and took our car away
The medical bills we couldn't afford led to our car being repossessed.
But there never was a time we didn't love
Despite the hardships, our love remained strong.
Now there's an easy chair for my back, a satin pillow for your head
Now we have comforts like a comfortable chair and pillow that we once couldn't afford.
And the kids are wild about the brand new car
Our children are thrilled about the new car we now have.
You and I can order steak with all the trimmings and not worry
We can now indulge in a steak dinner without worrying about finances.
If we spend a dollar more than we can spare
Even if we go a bit over budget, it's no longer a cause for concern.
No wonder in our prayers we thank the man upstairs who led us through
It's no surprise that we thank a higher power for guiding us through tough times.
The years of rearin' kids and payin' bills
The years of raising kids and managing household expenses.
And I think he guided us not because we were smart but just because
I believe we were led not because of our intelligence, but simply out of love and grace.
No, there never was a time, never was a time
Throughout it all, there was never a moment.
Never was a time we didn't love
That our love for each other faltered.
Lyrics © Warwick Productions Inc
Written by: MARGARET LEWIS, MYRA SMITH
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.