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
Tomorrow Is Forever
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take my hand and run with me
Out of the past of yesterday
And walk with me into the future of tomorrow
Yesterday must be forgot
No looking back no matter what
There's nothing there but mem'ries that bring sorrow
Yesterday is gone, gone, but tomorrow is forever
No more crying tears leave tracks
And mem'ries find their way back
Tomorrow's waiting let's journey there together
Yesterday is gone, gone, but tomorrow is forever
I care not for yesterday I love you as you are today
Yesterday just helped to pass the time while waiting
We must forget the passing time
My love for you is the real kind
The kind that won't hurt you, oh never
Yesterday is gone, gone, but tomorrow is forever
Yesterday is gone, gone, but tomorrow is forever
Dolly Parton’s song, “Tomorrow Is Forever,” is a moving ballad about letting go of the past and embracing the present and future. The singer is encouraging someone she loves to walk with her into the future and forget about the sorrowful memories of the past. In the first verse, she asks her lover to take her hand and leave behind the painful memories of yesterday. By doing so, they can both walk towards tomorrow with hope and excitement.
The song’s chorus reinforces the idea of moving forward and forgetting the past. Yesterday’s memories are “gone, gone,” and the future is “forever.” The singer realizes that tears may come and go, but that should not stop them from journeying towards tomorrow together. She passionately declares her love for her partner and explains that her love is the real kind, the kind that won’t hurt her.
In the final verse, Parton tells her partner that she no longer cares for the past, but loves them for who they are today. Yesterday was simply a passing moment while they waited for the future. She urges them to forget about the passing of time, as the love she has for them is unchanging and eternal.
Overall, “Tomorrow Is Forever” is a song that encourages the listener to move forward in life, embrace the future, and leave the past behind. It is a beautiful testament to the power of true love and the importance of living in the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Take my hand and run with me
Let's hold hands and start a new journey together
Out of the past of yesterday
Let's leave behind the past memories and move on
And walk with me into the future of tomorrow
Let's walk together towards a brighter future
Yesterday must be forgot
We need to forget about the past and focus on the present and future
No looking back no matter what
We should avoid dwelling on the past and just look forward
There's nothing there but mem'ries that bring sorrow
The past is full of memories that can only bring us sadness
Yesterday is gone, gone, but tomorrow is forever
The past is over, but there's always hope for a better tomorrow
No more crying tears leave tracks
We should stop crying because it only leaves a trail of sadness behind
And mem'ries find their way back
Memories have a way of coming back to haunt us
Tomorrow's waiting let's journey there together
The future is full of possibilities so let's embark on that journey hand in hand
I care not for yesterday I love you as you are today
What matters most to me is the present and my love for you as you are now
Yesterday just helped to pass the time while waiting
The past only served as a way to pass the time until the present
We must forget the passing time
Let's not dwell on the time that has passed and focus on the present moment
My love for you is the real kind
My love for you is genuine and true
The kind that won't hurt you, oh never
My love for you is the kind that will never bring you harm or heartache
Yesterday is gone, gone, but tomorrow is forever
The past is behind us, but the future is always full of new possibilities
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
alexandre handfield
Take my hand and run with me out of the past called yesterday.
Walk with me into the future of tomorrow.
Yesterday must be forgot, no looking back, no matter what,
There’s nothing there but mem’ries that bring sorrow;
Yesterday is gone, but tomorrow is forever.
Verse 2:
No more crying, tears leave tracks,
Mem’ries find their way back.
Tomorrow’s waiting, let’s journey there together,
Yesterday is gone, but tomorrow is forever.
Chorus:
I care not for yesterday.
I love you as you are today,
And yesterday just helped to pass the time while waiting.
We must forget, we will in time.
My love for you is the real kind,
The kind that won’t hurt you, no never.
Yesterday is gone, but tomorrow is forever
alexandre handfield
Take my hand and run with me out of the past called yesterday.
Walk with me into the future of tomorrow.
Yesterday must be forgot, no looking back, no matter what,
There’s nothing there but mem’ries that bring sorrow;
Yesterday is gone, but tomorrow is forever.
Verse 2:
No more crying, tears leave tracks,
Mem’ries find their way back.
Tomorrow’s waiting, let’s journey there together,
Yesterday is gone, but tomorrow is forever.
Chorus:
I care not for yesterday.
I love you as you are today,
And yesterday just helped to pass the time while waiting.
We must forget, we will in time.
My love for you is the real kind,
The kind that won’t hurt you, no never.
Yesterday is gone, but tomorrow is forever
Betty Ragoobar
Lovely Dolly I enjoy your music
This pushes my memories many years ago
Annif Dawkins
Thank you for the words ( lyrics) Lovely song.
Landile-Chuma Mhlebi
My Dad used to love this song...long drives through the country side of SA...His forever in my heart ❤️...May he rest in peace😢!!
Wayne Thompson
Talent never ages... Keep writing and performing new songs .... Dolly !!!!!!
Mokgadi Mathikhithela
She is amazing with her golden voice 💛
Theodore Martin
Makes one think of that love that got ya so deep, true and makes ya heart bleed for more... love ya Dolly!
tM
This song will forever be close to my heart. It reminds me of my mom, so much.
Linc Hood
i love this song..it just give me hope that tomorrow will be greater..much love to our lovely Dolly Parton