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
Working Girl
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some men find her sexy, some men disagree
But if she's not, it's not because she doesn't want to be
She wears a push-up bra from Freddericks, five inch high heel shoes
Maybelline and Rubinstein, and Avon's best perfume
She's a working girl
She's a mother and wife and she's proud to be
A working girl
Some find her to aggressive, she don't know how to stop
Cause she's the kind that don't look down until it's from the top
She's elegant and stylish, French perfume and a fur
Designer clothes by Halston and Diane Von Furstenburg
And she's a working girl
She's a working girl, she is single and free
She's a mother and wife and she's proud to be
A working girl
She has taken her place among the tallest of trees
But she weeps like a willow when she's brought to her knees
Cause she's a working girl
You'll find her dressed according to standard uniform
Cause she must dress in comfort for the job she must perform
She has so many faces, she wears so many names
She goes so many places and she does so many things
Cause she's a working girl
She's a working girl, she is single and free
She's a mother and wife and she's proud to be
A working girl
She's a working girl, she is single and free
She's a mother and wife and she's proud to be
A working girl
She's a working girl, she is single and free
She's a mother and wife and she's proud to be
A working girl
Dolly Parton's song "Working Girl," released in 1982, speaks of a woman who is confident, independent, and proud of her hard work. The song's lyrics outline the working girl's daily routine, the many faces she wears, and the different places she goes. The song emphasizes that the working girl is a mother and wife, proving that one can have a successful career and still maintain personal and family responsibilities.
Parton paints a portrait of a woman who takes great care in her appearance, outfitting herself in designer clothes, trendy perfume brands, and expensive makeup. She is aware that some people may see her as aggressive, but she remains focused and determined to succeed. The song emphasizes her strength, resilience, and dignity.
The working girl's strong work ethic and her determination to succeed depict what has been known as 'the American Dream' of success and financial stability. Although she works hard and enjoys luxuries that come with her job, she is not one to shy away from sharing her success with others, including her family. With its empowering message for women, the song has become a classic anthem for working women around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Some men find her sexy, some men disagree
Different people have varying opinions about her physical attractiveness.
But if she's not, it's not because she doesn't want to be
If she is not considered attractive by some people, it's not because she is not trying.
She wears a push-up bra from Freddericks, five inch high heel shoes
She enhances her figure with undergarments and wears high heels to boost her height.
Maybelline and Rubinstein, and Avon's best perfume
She uses makeup and perfume to enhance her overall appearance and smell good.
She's a working girl
She is a woman who works for a living.
She's a working girl, she is single and free
She is not married and has the freedom to pursue her career without any restrictions.
She's a mother and wife and she's proud to be
She is also a mother and a wife, and she takes pride in balancing her work and personal life.
Some find her to aggressive, she don't know how to stop
Some people perceive her as too assertive and they expect her to tone down her behavior.
Cause she's the kind that don't look down until it's from the top
She is ambitious and determined to succeed, and she won't settle for anything less than the top position.
She's elegant and stylish, French perfume and a fur
She has refined taste in fashion and luxury items such as French perfume and fur coats.
Designer clothes by Halston and Diane Von Furstenburg
She wears designer outfits by famous names such as Halston and Diane Von Furstenburg.
She has taken her place among the tallest of trees
She has achieved a high level of success in her career, standing out among her colleagues like a tall tree.
But she weeps like a willow when she's brought to her knees
However, she is also vulnerable to failure and feels emotional pain when she experiences setbacks.
You'll find her dressed according to standard uniform
She wears a standard work uniform that allows her to feel comfortable while performing her duties.
Cause she must dress in comfort for the job she must perform
She chooses clothing that allows her to move easily and complete her work tasks efficiently.
She has so many faces, she wears so many names
She has multiple roles and responsibilities, and she adapts to different situations by taking on different identities.
She goes so many places and she does so many things
She travels to different locations and takes on various tasks as part of her job.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, HILLBILLITH MUSIC
Written by: MATRACA MARIA BERG, RANDY SCRUGGS
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.