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

Yes I See God
Dolly Parton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yes I see God where the mountains reach the sky
And I see God when the eagle starts to fly
I see God in a little baby's smile I see God and he makes my life worthwhile
Yes I see God when the bridegroom meets his bride
I see God in a father's loving eyes
I see God when a mother starts to cry I see God in a love that never dies
(I see God) where the people meet to pray (I see God) in the things they do and say

(I see God) when the little children play

I see God and I know he's near all way
I see God yes I see God

Overall Meaning

Dolly Parton's song "Yes I See God" is deeply rooted in spirituality and the idea of the presence of a divine being in all aspects of life. Through her lyrics, Parton emphasizes that God can be seen not only in the grandeur of natural settings such as mountains or in soaring birds, but also in the simple joys of life such as a baby's smile or the love between a bride and groom. She also notes that God can be found in the emotions of individuals such as a father's love or a mother's tears, and even in the actions of people coming together to pray or in the innocent play of children.

In this song, Parton is essentially expressing her belief that God is present in all aspects of life, whether big or small, and that acknowledging this presence enriches her life and gives it purpose. Through her lyrics, she encourages her listeners to recognize the divinity in their own lives and to find comfort and solace in this realization.

As a performer, Dolly Parton is known for her ability to connect with her audience through her music and lyrics, and "Yes I See God" is no exception. By tapping into the universal theme of spirituality, she creates a song that resonates with people from all walks of life and belief systems.

Line by Line Meaning

Yes I see God where the mountains reach the sky
I recognize the presence of God in the majestic beauty of mountain ranges soaring high above the earth.

And I see God when the eagle starts to fly
I am aware of God's existence as I witness an eagle soaring gracefully through the sky.

I see God in a little baby's smile
I perceive the divine essence of God emanating from the innocent, joyful smile of a small child.

I see God and he makes my life worthwhile
God's presence adds meaning and purpose to my life, bringing me fulfillment and contentment.

Yes I see God when the bridegroom meets his bride
I acknowledge the divine influence in the sacred union of two individuals becoming one, as a groom and bride wed in matrimony.

I see God in a father's loving eyes
I perceive the love and compassion of God reflected in a father's tender and affectionate gaze towards his child.

I see God when a mother starts to cry
I recognize God's compassion and comfort when a mother sheds tears of sorrow and grief.

I see God in a love that never dies
I am reminded of God's enduring love and devotion as I witness the unbreakable bond between two people who love each other unconditionally.

(I see God) where the people meet to pray
I observe the divine presence of God whenever a group of people come together in prayer and collective worship.

(I see God) in the things they do and say
I witness the undeniable presence of God in the words and actions of individuals who strive to live a life of kindness, compassion, and empathy towards others.

(I see God) when the little children play
I perceive the divine presence of God as I watch the carefree play and innocent joy of young children.

I see God and I know he's near all way
I am certain of God's presence in my life at all times and in all situations.

I see God yes I see God
I am constantly aware of God's existence in the world around me, in both the extraordinary and the ordinary moments of life.

Contributed by Emma H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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