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
Together Always
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we vowed that we would stay together always
Life at times has been unpleasant down the trails where fate had led us
But we pray that God will let us be together always
Together together together always you and me
Forever and ever together always you and me
[ piano ]
By the children added to enrich our lives
God's been good to you and I and in heaven there's eternal life
Beyond this world where you and I will be together always
Together together...
Together together...
The song "Together Always" by Dolly Parton is a beautiful ode to everlasting love and the perseverance needed to maintain a long-term relationship. The lyrics convey a sense of dedication and commitment that has stood the test of time, with the couple having been together for a considerable duration. The opening line of the song, "You and I have been together for a long long time," prepares the listener for a nostalgic journey through the ups and downs of a long-term committed relationship. Despite the hardships that the couple has faced over the years, they have vowed to stay together always. They pray that God will continue to bless their union and keep them together forever.
The second verse of the song speaks about the addition of children to their lives and how their love has multiplied and evolved over the years. It talks about how God has been good to them and the belief that there is eternal life in heaven where they will be together always, beyond the troubles of this world. The repetition of "together always" throughout the song emphasizes the couple's unwavering love for each other that will last a lifetime.
Overall, "Together Always" by Dolly Parton is a heartwarming song that celebrates the beauty of a long-term committed relationship built on love, dedication, and faith. It is a reminder that despite the challenges that life throws our way, true love endures and always finds a way to endure.
Line by Line Meaning
You and I have been together for a long long time
We have been in each other's companionship for an extended period of time.
And we vowed that we would stay together always
We made a commitment to remain together forever.
Life at times has been unpleasant down the trails where fate had led us
We have faced challenging moments during our journey through life.
But we pray that God will let us be together always
We hope that God will allow us to be together forever.
Together together together always you and me
We will always be united with each other.
Forever and ever together always you and me
We intend to remain together forever, now and in the future.
[ piano ]
An instrumental interlude.
Throught the years our love will multiply and be divided
Our affection will grow as we move forward in life.
By the children added to enrich our lives
Our offspring have brought happiness into our existence.
God's been good to you and I and in heaven there's eternal life
We have been fortunate in our lives, and the afterlife offers everlasting joy.
Beyond this world where you and I will be together always
In the hereafter, we will continue to be united.
Together together...
We will always be together.
Together together...
We will always be together.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Burns
this song went to #14 on the country charts in 1972!!!
William Brisky
I love the piano in this song.!