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 We're Gone Long Gone
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In our struggle just to get by
Many times the burden's been heavy
Still we carried on side by side
And when we're gone long gone
The only thing that will have mattered
Is the love that we shared
When we're gone, long gone
And when we're walking together in glory
Hand in hand through eternity
It's the love that will be remembered
Not wealth, not poverty
And when we're gone long gone
The only thing that will have mattered
Is the love that we shared
And the way that we cared
When we're gone, long gone
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "When We're Gone Long Gone" speak to the enduring power of love and companionship in the face of life's challenges. The opening lines acknowledge the hardships the singer and their partner have faced, highlighting the struggle they have gone through just to make ends meet. Despite the heaviness of their burdens, they have persevered together, supporting one another along the way.
The chorus emphasizes the central message of the song â that when they are no longer present in this world, what truly matters is the love they shared and the care they showed each other. Material possessions, wealth, and poverty become insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Instead, it is the depth of their bond and the love that will be remembered.
The song envisions a future in which the couple is "walking together in glory," suggesting a heavenly or afterlife setting. They hold hands, symbolizing unity, as they traverse eternity. In this realm, it is once again emphasized that the love they shared is what truly matters and will be the lasting legacy they leave behind.
Overall, "When We're Gone Long Gone" is a poignant reflection on the significance of love and companionship in the face of life's struggles. It encourages listeners to prioritize and cherish the bonds they have with loved ones, as these are the things that will truly endure when they are no longer here.
Line by Line Meaning
Trouble, we have known trouble
We have experienced difficulties and obstacles in our lives
In our struggle just to get by
In our effort to survive and make ends meet
Many times the burden's been heavy
There have been numerous occasions when the load has felt overwhelming
Still we carried on side by side
Nevertheless, we persevered together
And when we're gone long gone
In the future, when we are no longer here
The only thing that will have mattered
The only thing that will hold significance
Is the love that we shared
The affection and bond we had for one another
And the way that we cared
And the compassion we showed towards each other
When we're gone, long gone
Once we have passed away, far into the future
And when we're walking together in glory
When we are united forever in a state of honor and beauty
Hand in hand through eternity
Holding each other's hands for all of eternity
It's the love that will be remembered
It is the love we shared that will be commemorated
Not wealth, not poverty
Not the material possessions or lack thereof
And when we're gone long gone
And when we are no longer alive in the distant future
The only thing that will have mattered
The sole aspect that will have held importance
Is the love that we shared
Is the affection and connection we had between us
And the way that we cared
And the manner in which we looked after and supported one another
When we're gone, long gone
Once we have departed from this world, far into the future
Lyrics Š KIERAN KANE MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lusciousbee
I am going to play this at my mom's funeral next month. I never had the chance to share it with her, but I know she would have loved it RIP Mom
jerico1960
I'm very sorry for your loss.
lusciousbee
@jerico1960 thank you. We lost our dad less than a year ago, so this will be a rough holiday season for our family. Thank you for your compassion, and happy holidays to you <3
jerico1960
@lusciousbee You're welcome. I know what loss feels like around the holidays. I will pray for you and your family.
Pamela Jensen
The best song this trio did. So deep.
Albert Valenzuela
This is a song of such quiet and profound greatness. A genuinely heartfelt experience. A treasure.
A Krenwinkle
Hauntingly beautiful.
jekorb
What a spiritually beautiful piece of music----thank you!
timetraveler4000
This song goes out to Mimi and Pa who are now walking in eternityđ
Kerry Evans
what a trio mama Mia beautiful song. ....
Greetings from IRELAND đ salamat for this gem. ...