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
Why Why Why
Dolly Parton Lyrics
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In your cowboy boots and your painted on jeans
All decked out like a cowgirl's dream
Why'd you come in here looking like that
Here comes my baby
Draggin' my heart behind
He's drivin' me crazy
Who says love is blind
Big ideas and a little behind
Out with a different woman every night
But I remember when he was mine
Why'd you come in here lookin' like that
In your high heel boots and your painted on jeans
All decked out like a cowgirl's dream
Waltzing right in here lookin' like that
Why'd you come in here lookin' like that
When you could stop traffic in a gunny sack
Why you're almost givin' me a heart attack
When you waltz right in here lookin' like that
I just can't stand it
To see him on the town
He's out slow dancing
With every girl around
I'm a softhearted woman he's a hardheaded man
And he's gonna make me feel just as bad as he can
He's got himself a mean streak a half a mile wide
Now he's dancing on this heart of mine
Ooh, Why'd you come in here lookin' like that
In your high heel boots and your painted on jeans
All decked out like a cowgirl's dream
Why'd you come in here lookin' like that
Why'd you come in here lookin' like that
In your cowboy boots and your painted on jeans
All decked out like a cowgirl's dream
Why'd you come in here lookin' like that
Why'd you come in here lookin' like that
When you could stop traffic in a gunny sack
Why you're almost givin' me a heart attack
When you waltz right in here lookin' like that
Why'd you come in here lookin' like that
Why'd you come in here lookin' like that
The lyrics of Dolly Parton's "Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That" tell the story of a woman who is struggling with jealousy and heartache upon seeing her ex-lover with various other women. The song starts with the singer questioning why her ex-lover came into the venue looking like a cowboy's dream in his boots and jeans. The singer is caught off guard by his presence and can't seem to shake the memories of when they were together. She sees him with different women and can't bear to witness it.
The chorus is where the singer questions why her ex-lover chose to come into the place looking the way he did, almost like he is trying to hurt her. She describes how he could stop traffic in anything, and it almost gives her a heart attack just seeing him. The second verse describes how her ex-lover is a free spirit who can't seem to be tied down, and while the singer may be hurting, he is not.
The song's lyrics make use of figurative language to describe the ex-lover's looks, choice of clothing, and general demeanor. The singer paints a vivid picture of the man in her mind, which helps to create strong sensory imagery for the listener of the song. Ultimately, the song is a lamentation of a woman as she watches her ex-lover with different women, unable to stop the pain of heartbreak and jealousy from taking over her.
Line by Line Meaning
Why'd you come in here lookin' like that
Expresses confusion and disbelief at the appearance of someone unexpected.
In your cowboy boots and your painted on jeans
Refers to the attention-grabbing outfit worn by the person who entered.
All decked out like a cowgirl's dream
Implies that the outfit is meant to look like a stereotypical cowgirl's costume.
Here comes my baby
Indicates that the person who entered is known to the artist.
Draggin' my heart behind
Suggests that the artist still has feelings for the person who entered despite their actions.
He's drivin' me crazy
Emphasizes the emotional turmoil caused by the person who entered.
Who says love is blind
Questions the idea that love involves overlooking flaws and ignoring red flags.
He's got a wanderin' eye and a travelin' mind
Describes the person who entered as unfaithful and always searching for something new.
Big ideas and a little behind
Pokes fun at the person who entered, suggesting they have unrealistic goals and poor judgment.
Out with a different woman every night
Further emphasizes the unfaithfulness of the person who entered.
But I remember when he was mine
Reveals that the singer used to have a romantic relationship with the person who entered.
When you could stop traffic in a gunny sack
Suggests that the person who entered is very attractive, regardless of what they're wearing.
Why you're almost givin' me a heart attack
Emphasizes the physical and emotional impact of the unexpected appearance.
I'm a softhearted woman he's a hardheaded man
Contrasts the singer's emotional sensitivity with the person who entered's stubbornness and lack of emotional intelligence.
And he's gonna make me feel just as bad as he can
Implies that the person who entered knows how to hurt the singer emotionally and intends to do so.
He's got himself a mean streak a half a mile wide
Describes the person who entered as cruel and malicious.
Now he's dancing on this heart of mine
Metaphorically suggests that the person who entered is causing emotional pain to the artist.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Randy Thomas, Robert Carlisle
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.