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
Travelin' Prayer
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey Lord, take a look on around tonight
And find out where my baby's gonna be
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
For he is far away from me
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
Make sure that he's gonna be alright
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
And make sure all his dreams are sweet
Send down that ya got him on the road
But you'll make it softer for his feet
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
Make sure that he's gonna be alright
'Til he's home and here with me
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
For he is sleeping under the sky
Hey Lord, make sure the ground he's sleepin' on
Is always warm and dry
Ooo, don't give him too much pain
And keep him away from planes
Cause my baby hates to fly
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
For it gets rough along the way
And if it all sounds strange
Just because I don't know how to pray
Ooo, won't you give him peace of mind
And if you ever find the time
Tell him I miss him everyday
Hey Lord, take a look on around tonight
And find out where he's gonna be
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
For he is far away from me
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
Make sure that he's gonna be alright
'Til he's home and here with me
Here with me
The song "Travelin" is about a woman (presumably Dolly Parton) who is separated from her lover and is praying to God (referred to as "Lord") to watch over him while he is away from her. She asks God to ensure that he is safe and comfortable on his journey, that he has good dreams, and that he is not in too much pain. She also asks God to keep him away from planes (as her lover hates to fly) and to give him peace of mind. The woman seems to be filled with longing and loneliness, missing her lover dearly and hoping for his safe return.
There are a few different possible interpretations of this song. It could be seen as a simple prayer for a loved one's well-being during travel, especially given its repeated refrain of "Make sure that he's gonna be alright". However, given the emotional depth and vulnerability of the lyrics, it is likely that there is more to the story. The tone of the song suggests that the separation is a painful one, and that the woman is struggling to cope with being apart from her lover. The line "Just because I don't know how to pray" implies a sense of desperation or hopelessness on the part of the woman. She is turning to God as a last resort, hoping that He can provide her with some solace and protection in her lover's absence.
Overall, "Travelin" is a poignant and heartfelt song that captures the pain of separation and the power of prayer. Dolly Parton's emotive vocals lend an extra layer of emotion to the lyrics, making it a standout track in her discography.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Lord, take a look on around tonight
Asking God to pay attention to the singer's lover's whereabouts.
And find out where my baby's gonna be
Requesting God to discover where the lover will be located.
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
Asking God to protect and guide the lover's journey.
For he is far away from me
The singer wants God to extend his loving care to her distant lover.
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
Repeating the call for divine protection of the lover.
Make sure that he's gonna be alright
Asking God to confirm that the lover's journey will be safe.
Things gonna be alright with me
The singer anticipates things will work out well because of God's intervention.
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
Repeating previous request for God's intervention.
And make sure all his dreams are sweet
The singer wants God to ensure the lover has pleasant dreams.
Send down that ya got him on the road
Requesting divine inspiration and guidance for the lover's travels.
But you'll make it softer for his feet
Asking God to help ease any discomfort the lover may experience while traveling.
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
Asking God to watch over the lover again.
Make sure that he's gonna be alright
Repeating request for divine assurance of the lover's safety.
'Til he's home and here with me
The singer wants her lover to return home to her.
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
Another request for God's care and protection for the lover.
For he is sleeping under the sky
The singer's lover is sleeping outside and is exposed to the elements.
Hey Lord, make sure the ground he's sleepin' on
Asking God to ensure the lover has a comfortable place to sleep.
Is always warm and dry
The singer wants God to prevent the ground from getting wet or cold for her lover.
Ooo, don't give him too much pain
The singer wants God to alleviate any physical discomfort the lover may be experiencing.
And keep him away from planes
The singer's lover dislikes flying and she wants God to help him avoid it.
Cause my baby hates to fly
Reinforcing the idea that her lover dislikes flying.
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
Repeating request for God's protection.
For it gets rough along the way
Traveling can be difficult and the singer wants God to help her lover cope with any hardships.
And if it all sounds strange
The singer acknowledges that her request may seem strange to others.
Just because I don't know how to pray
Explaining her reliance on God for help because she is not familiar with prayer.
Ooo, won't you give him peace of mind
The singer desires God to grant her lover a peaceful state of mind.
And if you ever find the time
If God has the time and inclination to listen to her request.
Tell him I miss him everyday
Asking God to be the messenger to convey her message of love to the lover.
Hey Lord, take a look on around tonight
Repeating the opening line for emphasis on God's attention.
And find out where he's gonna be
Asking God to locate her lover once again.
Hey Lord, would ya look out for him tonight
Repeating multiple times the plea for God's protection.
Make sure that he's gonna be alright
Final request for God to ensure lover's safety.
'Til he's home and here with me Here with me
Reiterating the desire for lover's return to be reunited with the singer.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLY JOEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
amazed66
What's even more amazing is how a New Yorker Pop/Rocker singer like Billy Joel can write such an authentic sounding Bluegrass song when aged only in his early 20s, nearly 40 years ago.
Bitchin Spectre
uhuuu, Billy Joel is a man of the world.
...first time I've ever intentionally listened to Parton, but this slaps...
amazed66
@Yvonne Schwartz Some people might give you and argument on that.
The instruments on the song include honky-tonk style piano, banjo, fiddle and mouth harp and the banjo player on the recoding was the late Eric Weissberg of Dueling Banjos from the film Deliverance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6UtlRL3b3c
Jason Artemis
Yes it does lol
Yvonne Schwartz
His version really does not sound like bluegrass.
Dai Lewis
the queen of country, without doubt. She would be a world star what ever generation she was born into. Amazing singer.
Dee Condon
Love Billy’s version too but Dolly totally kills it here. Great players!!
Tori M
My music school high school choir conductor did an arrangement of this version of this song and we all had a blast performing it with a bluegrass quartet.
Sally Grimes
What a special woman. So talented a singer and songwriter. For years she's brought joy and delight to so many of us. Thanks Dolly
abitar65
Love this song so much!