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
With Bells On
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be home with bells on
Trim the tree and wrap the presents turn the Christmas music on
This Christmas I'll be home with bells on
I've traveled around this country crossed the waters deep and wide
Made lots of friends and memories brought joy to other's lives
It's Christmas time again another year has come and gone
And I can't keep from wonderin' how the old folks are at home
I'll be home with bells on
I'll be home with bells on
Trim the tree and wrap the presents turn the Christmas music on
This Christmas I'll be home with bells on
When the snow is on the meadow and the sleigh bells jingle bright
And the kids are singing jingle bells around the Christmas lights
As daddy stokes the fire and mama puts the turkey on
There ain't nothing going to slow me down this Christmas I'll be home
I'll be home with bells on
I'll be home with bells on
Trim the tree and wrap the presents turn the Christmas music on
This Christmas I'll be home with bells on
I'll be home with bells on
I'll be home with bells on
Trim the tree and wrap the presents turn the Christmas music on
This Christmas I'll be home with bells on
Dolly Parton's song "With Bells On" conveys the message of the importance of being home for Christmas. The song tells the story of a person who has been traveling around the country and making memories but is feeling homesick during the holiday season. It begins with the lyrics "I'll be home with bells on," conveying the excitement and anticipation of returning home for the holidays. The lyrics "Trim the tree and wrap the presents, turn the Christmas music on" exhibit the preparations made by loved ones in anticipation of the person's return.
The chorus repeats multiple times throughout the song, underscoring the importance of the message. The joy and excitement of Christmas is palpable with lyrics describing the snow on the meadow, the sound of sleigh bells, and the children singing jingle bells. The imagery of a cozy home with a warm fire and a turkey in the oven conjures up the sense of comfort that being home for the holidays can bring.
Overall, the song highlights the significance of coming back to the place where the heart belongs, and being with loved ones during the festive season.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be home with bells on
I will return home joyfully and spiritedly
I'll be home with bells on
I will return home joyfully and spiritedly
Trim the tree and wrap the presents turn the Christmas music on
Prepare the tree and wrap gifts, and play festive music
This Christmas I'll be home with bells on
This Christmas, I'll be back home joyfully and spiritedly
I've traveled around this country crossed the waters deep and wide
I have traveled far and wide
Made lots of friends and memories brought joy to other's lives
I have made numerous friends, memories and spread joy in others' lives
It's Christmas time again another year has come and gone
It's Christmas time once again, another year has flown past
And I can't keep from wonderin' how the old folks are at home
I can't stop thinking about how the elders are faring at home
When the snow is on the meadow and the sleigh bells jingle bright
The meadow is covered in snow and the sleigh bells make merry noise
And the kids are singing jingle bells around the Christmas lights
Children are singing jingle bells carol around the Christmas lights
As daddy stokes the fire and mama puts the turkey on
Father is tending the fire, and mother is preparing the turkey
There ain't nothing going to slow me down this Christmas I'll be home
Nothing can hinder me from joyfully and spiritedly returning home this Christmas
I'll be home with bells on
I will return home joyfully and spiritedly
I'll be home with bells on
I will return home joyfully and spiritedly
Trim the tree and wrap the presents turn the Christmas music on
Prepare the tree and wrap gifts, and play festive music
This Christmas I'll be home with bells on
This Christmas, I'll be back home joyfully and spiritedly
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@whomeplay
Mama's Heart of Gold!
We were raised in the Smoky Mountains and we were like a carton of eggs there were twelve of us kids!
We were numbered in the have nots and didn't know it, but we were rich because we had each other!
Daddy would hand milk the cows before the sun was up and do it all again before it went down!
We had no electric lights, but Mama would read the Good Book to us by candle light, because Daddy couldn't read!
Mama was like Jesus, not that she could walk on water or calm the sea, but that she loved all the little children, you see!
Daddy never cried, but one day Daddy was crying, I asked what's wrong, he said Mama went to live with Jesus!
You see she didn't have a lot of things, but Mama left what she had, a heart of gold for each of us to share!
So think about Mama's heart of gold, and share it wherever you go! In Memory of Dolly Parton Mama!!
@CaptainJackSparrowSavvy
If anyone is reading this who lives in St. John’s Newfoundland, I just wanna make sure y’all agree it ain’t a traditional Newfie Christmas without listening to dolly and Kenny!
@jasmine7997
Newfie here!!!
@jasonpenney8015
And another, I’ll drink to that!
@joymcdonald8240
I played this over and over at Christmas. Finally my son hid the albumn. We never found it either. I am thinking he smashed it. It was during his teenage years and he was a very belligerent teenager. Great to hear it again
@Shadowcub69
Darnit Kenny, Christmas just wont be Christmas without you.
@riaaward
White Christmas and we're blue
@dr.suezettealoysiaandcarla1664
"Don't be afraid to give up the good and go for the great"
"Be friendly to everyone, but friends with few"
~Kenny Rogers
"Walking distance to the Riverwalk"
~Dr Suez💝Dr Carl, BFF
@kitnkabootles
never feels like Christmas without this album
@anshukalra8869
Ohhh!!! I am really missing u both together 😭❤️❤️your voice together was amazing 💕 love u Queen 👑 Dolly Parton and my hero 🤘 Kenny Rogers ❤️😍😘 best duet ever 😭❤️
@samuelkirkwood6702
2020 was such a bad year. The Gambler rides no more, R.I.P Kenny