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
Turn Turn Turn
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to build up,a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late
Dolly Parton's song "Turn Turn Turn" is a cover version of the original song by Pete Seeger, which is based on the biblical book of Ecclesiastes. The song speaks about the circular nature of life and how everything has a season or purpose. The refrain "turn, turn, turn" emphasizes this cyclical theme.
The song starts by stating that there is a time and a purpose for everything under heaven. This includes the contrasting aspects of life such as birth and death, planting and reaping, killing and healing, and laughing and weeping. Life is shown to be full of opposing forces that play out in a natural cycle.
The next verse focuses on action and creation. There is a time to build up and a time to break down, a time to dance and a time to mourn, and a time to cast away stones and a time to gather them together. These actions represent the opposing aspects of life and how each action serves a purpose in its own time.
The final verse speaks about human emotion and relationships. There is a time of love and a time of hate, a time of war and a time of peace. The cyclical nature of these emotions is emphasized with the repetition of "a time to love, a time to hate". The song ends with a note of hope, stating that there is still a time of peace and it's not too late to achieve it.
Overall, "Turn Turn Turn" is a poetic reflection on the natural cycle of life and the importance of embracing and understanding the opposing forces that shape it.
Line by Line Meaning
To everything
Everything in life
Turn, turn, turn
Goes through a cycle of change
There is a season
Has its own time
And a time to every purpose under Heaven
And a purpose for everything under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to come to life, a time to pass away
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to plant seeds, a time to harvest
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to harm, a time to recover
A time to laugh, a time to weep
A time for joyous moments, a time for grief
To everything
Everything in life
Turn, turn, turn
Goes through a cycle of change
There is a season
Has its own time
And a time to every purpose under Heaven
And a purpose for everything under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to construct, a time to destroy
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to rejoice, a time to grieve
A time to cast away stones
A time to discard unnecessary things
A time to gather stones together
A time to collect the necessary things
To everything
Everything in life
Turn, turn, turn
Goes through a cycle of change
There is a season
Has its own time
And a time to every purpose under Heaven
And a purpose for everything under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of romance, a time of hostility
A time of war, a time of peace
A time of conflict, a time of harmony
A time you may embrace
A time to show affection
A time to refrain from embracings
A time to hold back
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to acquire, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to damage, a time to repair
A time to love, a time to hate
A time of fondness, a time of animosity
A time of peace, I swear it's not too late
A time for serenity, and it's not too late for it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Peter Seeger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnnieray2750
This is my favourite Bible based song. It's not preachy and has a universal message that affects all no matter what they do or do not believe. This is actually Dolly's second version of the song.
@bensonmonayo5312
Love this to my bone marrow,Dolly has been my all season musician
@irishceili100
Love it ❤✌🌠
@not-nice7797
Both versions are amazing
Love you mama
@margaritaaranas3977
Forever dolly fan💞💓💗💖
@elmaware8749
What s wonderful song. Sang by a beautiful lady Dolly🙏❤🙏
@QUABLEDISTOCFICKLEPO
Elma Ware
But she had no business singing this. She just doesn't have the voice for it. Also, The arrangement is really LOUSY. It's terrible.
@edgeriderrocks8997
Nice cover 💗
@robertryan2542
Brilliant. From Ireland 🇮🇪
@GracePhiri-qv6yc
I like this song