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
True Blue
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be true to you
I will be true blue my darling
Ever be true blue
'Cause love when it is true
Is neither selfish, vain or proud
Love when it is true
And it passeth understanding
And endureth for all time
The greatest of God's treasures
True love, so hard to find
It knows no boundaries
It is gentle and it's sweet
Giving and forgiving
Trusting and complete
Blue skies and white clouds
And yellow sunlight
And you, my darling you
Are the true love of my life
I'll be true to you my darling
I'll be true to you
I will be true blue my darling
Ever be true blue
And I promise I will always
And forever love you
And I vow I will never be less
Than true blue
True blue, true blue
And I will never
Be less than true blue
True blue, true blue
And I will never
Be less than true blue
In Dolly Parton's song 'True Blue', the singer promises to be loyal, devoted and true to the person she loves. The song talks about the nature of true love, which is pure, selfless and enduring, and how it is hard to find. The lyrics suggest that true love is not just about words, but is shown through actions, forgiveness, trust and a willingness to be there for one another no matter what.
According to the lyrics, true love knows no boundaries, and it is gentle and sweet, like the blue skies and white clouds, and the yellow sunlight. Overall, the song highlights the importance of staying true to one's feelings and commitment in a relationship, and how true love can endure the test of time. It suggests that true love is a rare and precious thing, and something worth holding on to.
Overall, 'True Blue' showcases Dolly Parton's ability to communicate complex emotions with simple, straightforward lyrics that are easy to understand and connect with. The song is a testament to her talent as a songwriter and her ability to create music that resonates deeply with people from all walks of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be true to you my darling
I promise to always be faithful and loyal to you, my beloved.
I'll be true to you
My commitment to you is unwavering and steadfast.
I will be true blue my darling
I will always remain faithful, trustworthy and truly devoted to you.
Ever be true blue
My love for you will always be genuine, trustworthy and loyal.
'Cause love when it is true
When love is genuine and sincere,
Is neither selfish, vain or proud
it is not self-centered, arrogant, or filled with conceit.
Love when it is true
True love is when it is sincere and genuine.
Can speak in silence or out loud
It can be conveyed in words or through someone's actions and deeds.
And it passeth understanding
True love is beyond human comprehension, it's mystical.
And endureth for all time
It is an eternal bond that transcends time and continues forever.
The greatest of God's treasures
True love is the most precious treasure given to us by God.
True love, so hard to find
Finding true love is difficult, but it's worth the effort.
It knows no boundaries
True love has no limits, and it transcends all boundaries.
It is gentle and it's sweet
Real love is kind and pure.
Giving and forgiving
True love is compassionate and understanding, always willing to give and forgive.
Trusting and complete
True love is built on trust and a deep connection that brings two people together in every way.
Blue skies and white clouds
The bright and beautiful colors of nature.
And yellow sunlight
The warmth and radiance of the sun.
And you, my darling you
You are the one who brings these colors into my life.
Are the true love of my life
You are my soulmate, and I will always love you.
And I promise I will always
I vow to forever
And forever love you
Love you for eternity.
And I vow I will never be less
I vow never to be dishonest, disloyal, or unfaithful.
Than true blue
My love for you will always be genuine, loyal, and trustworthy.
True blue, true blue
My love for you will forever be sincere, pure, and genuine,
And I will never
I promise never to be less than
Be less than true blue
True blue is the standard by which my love for you will always measure up.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DOLLY PARTON, JAMES NEWTON HOWARD
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.