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
Unlikely Angel
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the ash and dirt
I rose up from the pain and hurt
When I was at my very worst
I found you
Thought I could never love again
When a spark of light came beaming in
For me to spin around you
Unlikely angel
Standing there in front of me
As if you were my destiny
Like we were always meant to be together
Unlikely angel
It feels so right inside your love
Like God has sent you from above
To honor, cherish, and to love forever
The smile upon your angel face
The heaven in your eyes replace
The hell that I've been going through
Before you
How long have you been there for me
I once was blind but now I see
A future full of hope
How I adore you
Unlikely angel
Standing there in front of me
As if you were my destiny
Like we were always meant to be together
Unlikely angel
You never know where one might be
In sacred halls or crowded streets
But God sent one straight down to me from heaven
Unlikely angel ahh ahh
Unlikely angel
Ahh ahh, unlikely angel
Unlikely angel
Hmm ahh ahh,
Unlikely angel
In this song, Dolly Parton sings about finding love after experiencing pain and hurt. She likens herself to a Phoenix, rising from the ash and dirt, and states that she found love when she was at her worst. She then goes on to describe the person she found, an 'unlikely angel' who appeared before her like destiny. The smile on this angel's face and the heavenly look in their eyes replaced the hell that Dolly had been going through before meeting them.
Throughout the song, Dolly expresses her surprise and gratitude for finding this love, calling it an unlikely angel because she never thought she would love again. However, she feels that God has sent this person from above to honor, cherish, and love forever. Through this song, she expresses her love and admiration for this person and how they have changed her life.
Overall, the lyrics of the song convey a message of hope, love, and the belief that the universe works in mysterious ways. The unexpected arrival of this love in Dolly's life is portrayed as an act of divine intervention, reinforcing the idea that there is a greater force at work in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the Phoenix
Just like the mythical creature reborn from ashes, I too found a way to rise up from my pain and suffering.
From the ash and dirt
My journey was not easy, it was like crawling out of the dirt and dust.
I rose up from the pain and hurt
Despite the despair that surrounded me, I emerged with much-needed strength.
When I was at my very worst
I was in the depths of my sorrow, it was my lowest point.
I found you
But then, I found you - a glimmer of hope in the darkness.
Thought I could never love again
I was convinced that my heart had been broken beyond repair, that I could never again love.
When a spark of light came beaming in
But then, a tiny flicker of light penetrated my heart and soul.
A thread of hope
It was only a small beginning, but it was the first hint of a possible future.
For me to spin around you
A hopeful seed was planted, and from that moment on, everything revolved around you.
Unlikely angel
You may not have appeared like one at first glance, but there was no question that you were my saving grace.
Standing there in front of me
It was a surreal moment when you first took shape in my life, standing before me.
As if you were my destiny
It was hard to argue that you weren't the answer to all of my prayers, a true match made by fate.
Like we were always meant to be together
There was no doubt in my mind that we'd been destined for each other all along, that our story was written in the stars.
It feels so right inside your love
Being in your presence felt so natural, and I knew it was because I was loved wholeheartedly - a feeling I'd never really known before.
Like God has sent you from above
I couldn't explain it, but I knew that you were sent to me by a higher power, a gift from the universe.
To honor, cherish, and to love forever
I knew that from that moment on, my life's purpose was to give you all the love, respect, and attention you deserve.
The smile upon your angel face
Your smile was like a ray of sunshine on even the darkest of days.
The heaven in your eyes replace
Your gaze was calming and reassuring, like the calm after a storm.
The hell that I've been going through
I had been enduring a great deal of misery until you came along.
Before you
But all of that changed, thanks to your love.
How long have you been there for me
I couldn't believe how long you had been waiting patiently for me, how long you'd been offering your love without me even knowing it.
I once was blind but now I see
Thanks to you, I was able to see the world with new eyes, ones no longer blinded by pain or sadness.
A future full of hope
With you by my side, I could finally envision a future that didn't carry the weight of despair.
How I adore you
I could go on forever about how much my heart swells when I think of you, how grateful I am for all that you are and represent in my life.
You never know where one might be
It was a reminder that life is full of surprises, that you never know when an angel might appear.
In sacred halls or crowded streets
Angels can be found anywhere, in the most unexpected places.
But God sent one straight down to me from heaven
But I was certain that you were sent by God himself, a precious gift bestowed upon me from the heavens.
Ahh ahh, unlikely angel
There are no words to describe just how thankful I am for you and the light you've brought into my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ap K
Dolly is an angel herself! I love her personality, music and her beautiful lyrics.
melissa fridley
generations of music came from nine to fiver thanks Dolly for the memory and music. you have touched our hearts.
Debbie Cullen
Beautiful song,voice n film...One ov them that brings a lump to my throat...😍😍
Dennis Beers
I love this song. I could listen to it over and over.
MissMurder8200
This song will always remind me of my best friend Kenny Perez and dancing in my mom's living room during Christmas
Pat Melton
This song feels spiritual to me.
Siyabonga Oustin
I could watch this movie over and over again 💓
Taynee Lord
I love this song! Truly in love. I did a cover on my own channel
tammy leal
I love all dolly sings this is one of my favorite Christmas songs, very touching to the heart
Siyabonga Oustin
I could watch this movie over and over again 💓