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
When I'm Gone
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say that you're bored with life and that you're bored with me
'Cause you say that this love of ours ain't what it ought to be
Now you despise this little house that we've always called home
I know that you don't love me now, but you'll love me when I'm gone
Gone
You'll love me when I'm gone and then you'll realize just what I meant to you
You'll miss me when I'm gone and then you'll realize how good I've been to you
You-ooo-ooo-ooo
You'll want me when I'm gone and then you'll realize you've loved me all along
Oh, it's true you may not love me now, but you'll love me when I'm gone
Gone
We've grown too familiar with each other, so you say
You say there's no excitement now. Too bad you feel that way
Well, I wonder how exciting that your life will be alone
Oh, I know you may not want me now, but you'll miss me when I'm gone
Gone
You'll love me when I'm gone and then you'll realize just what I meant to you
You-oo-oo-oo
You'll miss me when I'm gone and then you'll realize how good I've been to you
You-ooo-ooo-ooo
You'll want me when I'm gone and then you'll realize you've loved me all along
Oh, I know you may not want me now, but you'll miss me when I'm gone
Gone
The lyrics of Dolly Parton's song "When I'm Gone" conveys a message of regret and realization of one's true feelings after losing a loved one. In the song, the singer's partner expresses boredom with their current life and relationship, and despises the small house they live in. The singer is aware that their partner may not love them at the moment, but they will realize the depth of their love only after they are gone.
The singer questions the excitement their partner is seeking and wonders how exciting their life will be alone. It seems like their partner has taken their relationship and love for granted, but they will eventually realize how good the singer was to them only after they are gone. The repetition of the phrase "You'll love me when I'm gone" emphasizes the inevitability of this realization and regret.
The song highlights the importance of valuing and cherishing our relationships and loved ones while they are still with us. It reminds us not to take them for granted and to appreciate the small things in life. Ultimately, the song is a poignant reminder that our perspective on the things we hold dear can change drastically depending on whether we have them or not.
Line by Line Meaning
You say that you're bored with life and that you're bored with me
You claim that both your life and relationship with me lack excitement and passion.
'Cause you say that this love of ours ain't what it ought to be
You believe that our love is not measuring up to what you deem as proper, leaving you unhappy.
Now you despise this little house that we've always called home
You have grown to loath the humble abode that has been the roof over our heads and source of stability for years.
I know that you don't love me now, but you'll love me when I'm gone
I am aware that your current feelings towards me are not of love, but my departure will make you realize what you have lost.
You'll love me when I'm gone and then you'll realize just what I meant to you
When I leave, your love for me will surge, and you will begin to appreciate the importance of my presence in your life.
You'll miss me when I'm gone and then you'll realize how good I've been to you
My absence will create a void that will make you realize the extent of my love and affection towards you.
You'll want me when I'm gone and then you'll realize you've loved me all along
After I leave, you'll yearn for my return and discover that you had already been madly in love with me all along.
We've grown too familiar with each other, so you say
According to you, our relationship has become too predictable and bland due to being together for too long.
You say there's no excitement now. Too bad you feel that way
You express disappointment in the current state of our relationship, where you perceive it as lacking excitement and stimulation.
Well, I wonder how exciting that your life will be alone
I question how eventful and lively your life will be when you decide to be alone and break off our relationship.
Oh, I know you may not want me now, but you'll miss me when I'm gone
Although you might not desire me right now, you will experience withdrawal symptoms and feel the absence of my companionship after I leave.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Blackburn
Four minutes of musical Joy (when we can really use it!)
“When you lay your head on that big feather-bed
you can rest assured -- I'll be gone.”
You're only as good as your most recent work, and Dolly's latest is giving us goosebumps. The lyrics are brilliant and the melody has change ups (multiple bridges) that song writers yet unborn will study a hundred years from today.
Really, what can't Dolly Parton do? – an actress, a multi-instrumentalist and a singer whose voice never grows old, who writes songs Hank Williams would have admired. [My wife and I have been saying 'forever' that Dolly Parton is the “best singer-songwriter since Hank” --who wrote lyrics like “None of us are gettin' out of here alive.”]
Yes, getting goosebumps again watching this one on re-play: With each viewing you spot things you didn't see before. Thanks, in part to note-perfect 'retro' look of the 80's graphics which has you asking: 'Is this REALLY new?'
The best kinds of ART are artless – you listen or look, and say: “Heck I could do that!” Oh no you can't. Case in point.
“She's a saint,” declares my eldest son; and this is my favorite quote from Saint Dolly this day: “There are two kinds of people in this world and you're not one of them.”
Thanks for sharing, Dolly Parton. Celebrated this day at Sinatra Family - Forum - "Siriusly Sinatra" - MY FAVORITE VERSION, YOURS TOO? https://sinatrafamily.com/forum/showthread.php/50225-My-Favorite-Version-%28yours-too-%29?p=1287488#post1287488
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Lyrics
Some chewing gum and candy
Some magazines and snacks
Some startin' over money
That I've been holdin' back
A change of clothes and notepad
To write a letter back to say, "So long"
A one-way ticket sayin', "Goodbye everything"
Threw my weddin' band out the window of the train
All I want's my freedom
Reclaim my maiden name, I'm movin' on
'Cause I'm gone
You can tell the truth or you can lie
You can say I left you or I died
Say I'm in the Himalayas on some spiritual quest
And could spend years lookin' for the light
Say I'm in the witness program with the F.B.I.
Say a U.F.O. abducted me from home
You can say what you choose, but I tell you the truth
You can say for sure I'm gone, 'cause I'm gone
You think that you're above me like I'm not good enough
You make me feel unwanted, unwelcome and unloved
You're selfish, vain and greedy
You're hateful, rude and rough and you're so wrong
But you'd rather live unhappy and tolerate the pain
Than separate and have me takin' half of everything
Well, I'm leavin' your possessions
Left on the goodbye train, left you alone
'Cause I'm gone
You can have the house, the car, the boat
My records, books and stereo
The dog and the cat, my ceramic shop out back
My doll collection and my clothes
You can keep all our friends and all the pictures in the den
And the fluffy pillows you sleep on
When you lay your head on that big feather bed
You can rest assured I'll be gone, I'll be gone
You can tell the truth or you can lie
You can say I left you or I died
Say I'm in the Himalayas on some spiritual quest
And could spend years lookin' for the light
Say I'm in the witness program with the F.B.I.
Say a U.F.O. abducted me from home
Well, you can say what you choose, but I tell you the truth
You can say for sure I'm gone
You can say what you like, but I'll tell you twice
You can say for sure, say for sure I'm gone, gone
Some chewing gum and candy
Magazines and snacks
Startin' over money
I've been holdin' back
A change of clothes and notepad
To write a letter back to say, "So long"
I got a one-way ticket sayin', "Goodbye everything"
I threw my weddin' band out of the window of the train
All I want's my freedom
Reclaim my maiden name, I'm movin' on
'Cause I'm gone
Oh, I'm gone
(I'm gone) Gone, gone
(I'm moving on) I'm gone, I'm so gone
(I'm gone) I'm gone
(Gone) Gone, I'm gone
Fairly Vague
And who doesn’t need a bit of Dolly right now?! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Pamela Cook
I love her
AnAngelWithHornzZ
Right!!!!
Christine C.
Dolly will always be the queen of country music. A complete Goddess... songwriter, actress, vocalist, musician, & very beautiful & talented woman.
Kimyana
I freaking love this Dolly Parton acid trip, I’m replaying it.
Bo Pitbull Live Music
There's never a bad Dolly Parton song just going to be the queen of country forever
Jeffery D Smith
Only Dolly could get away with this video in the country genre. This was released 17 years ago. Wow!
Kelton Jeter
Jeffery D Smith it was never released
Stephss
@Kelton Jeter The song was released in 2002.
Kelton Jeter
Steph Ss I know that I meant the video