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 Possession Gets Too Strong
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though you may give me love like I have never known
But if you try to control me then you won't never know me
And I'll be movin' on when possession gets too strong
So love me just for what I am don't try to change a thing
And I'll take you just like you are and I'll expect the same
So if you want to love me you must understand all of me
For I'll be movin' on when possession gets too strong
And I can't change the way I am and you must be satisfied
So if you think you can't be without place and chance on me
Then I'll be movin' on when possession gets too strong
[ ac.guitar ]
I have no control...
I'll be movin' on when possession gets too strong
In this song, Dolly Parton expresses her dissatisfaction towards a possessive partner. She values love and affection but doesn't want to be owned or controlled by her partner. She urges her partner to love her just the way she is and not try to change her because she cannot change the way she feels. However, she warns her partner that she will move on when the possession gets too strong. The possession mentioned in the song could refer to possessive behavior, jealousy, or obsession. Overall, the song sends a strong message about valuing individuality and personal freedom in a relationship.
One of the interesting facts about this song is that it was released as a B-side to Dolly Parton's other hit song "Jolene" in 1974. It received very little commercial success at the time but has since become a fan favorite. Another interesting fact is that Dolly Parton originally wrote the song for Porter Wagoner, her former duet partner, as a way to express their complicated professional and personal relationship. The song was later included on her album "My Tennessee Mountain Home" in 1973.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't live with you when you try to own me
I cannot be in a relationship with you when you attempt to control and dominate me.
Though you may give me love like I have never known
Even though you might provide me with a type of love that I have never experienced before...
But if you try to control me then you won't never know me
...if you attempt to manipulate me, you won't ever truly understand who I am.
And I'll be movin' on when possession gets too strong
I will leave the relationship when you become overly possessive and controlling.
So love me just for what I am don't try to change a thing
Love me for who I am and do not attempt to change any part of me.
And I'll take you just like you are and I'll expect the same
I will accept you as you are and hope for the same in return.
So if you want to love me you must understand all of me
If you want to love me, you must comprehend every aspect of my being.
And I have no control over what I feel inside
I am not in charge of my emotions.
And I can't change the way I am and you must be satisfied
I cannot alter my personality, and you must be content with who I am naturally.
So if you think you can't be without place and chance on me
Therefore, if you cannot be apart from me, take a risk on me...
Then I'll be movin' on when possession gets too strong
...but I will leave the relationship if your need for control becomes too strong.
[ ac.guitar ]
I have no control...
I'll be movin' on when possession gets too strong
I will end the relationship if it becomes too possessive or controlling.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOUIS OWENS, DOLLY PARTON
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.