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
We
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We used to walk through fields of green
We used to sit by clear blue streams
We used to be so happy
Me and you
We used to do such silly things
We used to make love in the rain
Yes, we used to
Then you went away
Leaving me with the memories we made
Memories of those sweet yesterdays
Spent with you (spent with you)
Spent with you
And even though you're gone
I still think so often of you
And the things that we no longer do
Like we used to (we used to)
Oh we used to
We used to be so much in love
We used to kiss and hold and touch
We used to find so many things to do
We used to laugh and plan and dream
We used to own the world it seemed
We used to
Yes, we used to
Then you went away
Leaving me with the memories we made
Memories of those sweet yesterdays
Spent with you (spent with you)
Spent with you
Oh and even though you're gone
I still think so often of you
And the things that we no longer do
Like we used to
Oh we used to
La mmm
Ahh
The lyrics of this song reflect on a past relationship that was once filled with happiness and love. The first verse reflects on the beautiful moments they shared together, walking through fields of green and sitting next to clear blue streams. They were both so happy in each other's company and used to do silly things together. They also used to make love in the rain. They reminisce about the beautiful moments they shared together, and how they used to be so much in love with each other.
In the chorus, the singer reflects on how everything changed when the partner went away. The memories of those beautiful yesterdays spent together kept coming back to the singer. They no longer kiss, hold and touch like they used to, and even though the partner is no longer present, the singer thinks about them and what they used to do together.
The second verse adds more insight into their past relationship. They used to laugh, plan and dream together. In those times, it seemed like they owned the world. They were each other's everything, but everything changed when the partner left.
Overall, the song is about reminiscing on the happiness and love that they used to share. Although the relationship ended, the singer still thinks about the beautiful moments they shared together.
Line by Line Meaning
We used to walk through fields of green
We used to spend time together in nature's beauty.
We used to sit by clear blue streams
Sitting by clear blue streams was our perfect spot to enjoy each other's company.
We used to be so happy
Our love used to bring joyful and content moments.
Me and you
Just the two of us, we cherished our companionship.
We used to do such silly things
We used to love being goofy and having fun together.
We used to make love in the rain
We used to find spontaneous ways to express our passion for each other.
We used to
We had many moments from those beautiful, heartfelt times together.
Yes, we used to
A confirmation that we once had sweet memories together.
Then you went away
You left me, changing my world drastically.
Leaving me with the memories we made
All that's left with me are our shared memories.
Memories of those sweet yesterdays
Those days were beautiful and bring bittersweet emotions.
Spent with you (spent with you)
Time we spent together, that can't be taken away from me.
And even though you're gone
Even though you're not here, I still have strong feelings for you.
I still think so often of you
My thoughts often gravitate towards the times we had together.
And the things that we no longer do
Things we used to do together that are now gone.
Like we used to (we used to)
Just like how it used to be, but isn't anymore.
We used to be so much in love
We were once inseparable and so deeply in love.
We used to kiss and hold and touch
Physical affection was significant to our relationship.
We used to find so many things to do
We enjoyed exploring, discovering new activities together.
We used to laugh and plan and dream
We had beautiful moments of laughing, planning together, and creating a future.
We used to own the world it seemed
Our love was the center of everything, and it felt like we could conquer anything.
La mmm
A vocalization to end the song.
Ahh
A vocalization to end the song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BeneDelBi
Those three actions together, that mic drop, the lip bite, and head tilt as soon as Kenny hears the first note sung by Dolly that make this iconic performance ever more extraordinary! "Fly high" Kenny.
jroberts3212ify
BeneDelBi My absolute favorite part!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Guadalupe Martinez
amazing moment!!!!!
Elizabeth Roblyn
I see that as well. The sparkle on his face too Waw! Jus AMAZING
Pamela Clayfield
BeneDelBi you noticed that too? Such a defining moment!
Diane Kauffman
What a beautiful chemistry of friendship.
Catherine Njambi
2022 can't get enough of this song, especially the part that Dolly sings from the back the reaction on Kenny's (may his soul rest peacefully) face is priceless 💕
Catherine Njambi
David Scott am very fine thank you. What about you?
Catherine Njambi
David Scott am from Kenya 🇰🇪
Catherine Njambi
David Scott yes am from Kenya but living in Dubai