Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946 in Sevierville, Tennessee, U.S… Read Full Bio ↴Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946 in Sevierville, Tennessee, U.S.) is an American country singer, songwriter, composer, producer, entrepreneur, author and actress.

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

Whispering Hope
Dolly Parton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Soft as the voice of an angel, breathing a lesson unheard
Hope with a gentle persuasion whispers her comforting word
Wait till the darkness is over, wait till the tempest is gone
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow, after the shower is gone

Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice

Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice

Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dolly Parton's "Whispering Hope" centers around hope and its gentle nature. The song starts with the beautiful comparison of hope to the soft voice of an angel who speaks a lesson unheard by the majority. This could mean that hope is something that exists deep within us but may often go unnoticed or unheard. The next few lines suggest that hope persuades us gently and whispers comforting words to us. Hope is not forceful, but it encourages and uplifts us subtly.

The chorus reiterates the welcoming voice of hope and how it makes the heart rejoice even in times of sorrow. The lines "wait till the darkness is over, wait till the tempest is gone" suggest that hope can be a guide in moments of darkness and despair. The song encourages listeners to wait for the sunshine and to have hope for the future, even after the storm has passed. The term "whispering hope" could suggest hope as a gentle guide, refreshing the soul with a compassionate and empathetic voice.

Overall, the lyrics of "Whispering Hope" acknowledge the power of hope and its ability to provide comfort and strength during challenging times. It reminds us that even in the darkest of situations, hope is present and can help us get through them.

Line by Line Meaning

Soft as the voice of an angel, breathing a lesson unheard
Hope speaks in a gentle tone that is reminiscent of the voice of an angel, revealing lessons that were previously unheard or ignored.

Hope with a gentle persuasion whispers her comforting word
Hope encourages and comforts individuals with a gentle persuasion, providing a sense of reassurance and solace during difficult times.

Wait till the darkness is over, wait till the tempest is gone
Hope advises individuals to be patient and endure the darkness and stormy weather until they have passed, rather than giving up or becoming overwhelmed.

Hope for the sunshine tomorrow, after the shower is gone
Hope reminds individuals to remain optimistic and expectant of brighter days to come, even after a period of difficulty or hardship.

Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice
The sound of hopeful thoughts and positive affirmations is incredibly comforting and necessary during times of stress or sadness.

Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice
Hope has the profound ability to bring joy and happiness to the hearts of people who are experiencing sadness and distress, generating a sense of peace and contentment in their lives.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HANK LEVINE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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