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
Who
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The song about the wild side of life
As I listen to the words that you are sayin'
It brings memories when I was a trusted wife
It wasn't God who made honky tonk angels
As you said in the words of your song
Too many times married men
And have caused many a good girl to go wrong
It's a shame that all the blame is on us women
It's not true that only you men feel the same
From the start
Most every heart that's ever broken
Was because there always was a man to blame
It wasn't God who made honky tonk angels
As you said in the words of your song
Too many times married men
Think they're still single
And have cause many a good girl to go wrong
The song “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" by Dolly Parton is a response to a popular song in the 1950s titled "The Wild Side of Life." Parton’s song challenges the message of “The Wild Side of Life,” which places the blame on women for going astray by going to honky-tonk bars and becoming involved with men. Parton sings from the perspective of a woman who understands the pain of heartbreak and questions the double standard of male infidelity compared to women’s behavior. She argues that the fault lies not solely with women, but also with men who feel they can continue their single lifestyle despite being married. Parton’s chorus emphatically reminds listeners that it was not God who made honky-tonk angels, it was societal and personal choices that lead to the breakdown of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
As I sit here tonight, the jukebox playin'
I am currently listening to music on the jukebox.
The tune about the wild side of life
The song I am listening to is about living a wild and reckless life.
As I listen to the words you are sayin'
I am paying attention to the lyrics of the song that is playing.
It brings memories when I was a trusting wife
The lyrics of the song remind me of when I used to be a faithful and trusting wife.
It wasn't God who made honky tonk angels
The blame for women being led astray in honky tonk bars should not be placed on God.
As you said in the words of your song
The lyrics of the current song playing suggest that God is responsible for the behavior of women in honky tonks.
Too many times married men
Men who are already married
Think they're still single
Sometimes behave like they are still single, even though they are not.
That has caused many a good girl to go wrong
This behavior often leads to good women making bad decisions and straying from their morals.
It's a shame that all the blame is on us women
The entire blame for a woman's unfaithfulness is often placed on the woman alone, which is unfair.
It's not true that only you men feel the same
Women are not the only ones who feel the temptation to be unfaithful, men also experience this.
From the start
From the beginning of relationships
Most every heart that's ever broken
Whenever a heart is broken
Was because there always was a man to blame
A man is often responsible for the pain and heartbreak experienced by women.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Joseph D. Miller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alicia Ballesteros-Mitchell
Looking in the mirror not likin' what I see
Wishin' I was surer about insecurities
Tell me I will never be the fairest of them all
Always feel like I'm not quite good enough
Who, who
Who's gonna love and hold me sacred
Who, who
Who's gonna wanna see me naked
Cherish and give to me
What I need the most
I swear when he looks at me
He's likin' what he sees
He says he wants to kiss me
It's too much to believe
I shy away 'cause I'm afraid
I just might mess it up
Self-conscious and a bit afraid of love
Who, who
Well who would've thought I'd be that special
Who knew
I would find my place at last
Who, who
Who's now standin' at the dresser
Dancin', prancin' at my image in that
Same lookin' glass
Who, who
Well I'm soarin' like an eagle
Who, who
Now that I have spread my wings
Who knew
I'd be feelin' proud and regal
Like a storybook princess, who knew
Who, who
Whoever knows what's gonna happen
Who, who
Has made my dreams come true
Who, who
I've been feelin' proud and regal
Like a storybook princess, who knew
Who, who
Whoever knows what's gonna happen
Who, who
Has made my dreams come true
Who, who
Well, it's someone else there clappin'
It's the very one I always knew, who knew
Ephraim Ochara
Always amazing to listen to your song, God bless you dolly.
Sheryl Kelly
Omg Dolly will always be the best. All these years and she still is knocking the hits down. What true talent. Love u Ms Dolly
Eric Dillon
Till she stays with Carl too long and "trusts the professionals" oO Lucifer ( listening )
Humphrey Kapau
Her voice, ever strong, unique and simply legendary...
ifechukwu O. Emmanuel
Golden voice, nobody could do it better than you Dolly. This is definitely a good way to start the day..
trickyricky591 holliday
the voice of an " ANGEL "... ..love " Dolly "
Cynthia Powers
how beautiful of a song,but then all her music is amazing
Ashley LeBlanc Music
I love her voice! ❤️😊🎶
rebeca prat
The entire album of this movie is so smart pretty and full of emotion congrat to everybody who took part in it
JuliasGallery, LLC
Wonderful song @DollyParton .. so many of us feeling like this.
I grew up in Kentucky and listened to you when i was a young girl. I live and appreciate you and your music.