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
You Are
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The celebrations and the scenes
Things that I hold dear and true
I mostly think of you
You, you, you, you're my
You, you, you, you're my
You, you, you, you're my
You, you are my Christmas, my reason for the season every year
Oh you, you are my present, my future and my past
A love that's sure to last
The gift that keeps on giving joy and cheer
Oh, you, you, you, you're my
You, you, you, you're my
You, you, you, you're my
You, you, you, you are my Christmas (oh oh)
I thank God above
For sending me your love
It's heavenly and I feel warm and safe
Just knowing that you care
That you'll always be there
To stand by me with promises you've made
You, you are my Christmas, my reason for the season every year
Oh, you, you are my present, my future and my past
A love that's sure to last
The gift that keeps on giving joy and cheer
Oh, you're my Christmas (my, my, my, my, my)
You are my Christmas (my, my, my, my, my)
Oh, oh, you're my Christmas (my, my, my, my, my)
All wrapped up in love and lights
My heart a'glow, my eyes as bright
As ornaments and lights upon the tree
Ribbons of emotions flow
Lovin' package with a bow
A note that says I'm yours eternally
Oh, you, you, you, you're my (my, my, my, my)
You, you, you, you're my (my, my, my, my)
You, you, you, you are my Christmas (my, my, my, my)
You are my Christmas, my reason for the season every year
You, you are my present, my future and my past
A love that's sure to last
The greatest gift of all, sacred and dear
You know you, you are my Christmas
My reason for the season every year
And you, you are my present, my future and my past
A love that's sure to last
The greatest gift of all, sacred and dear
Oh, you, you, you, you (your my)
You, you, you, you (your my)
You, you, you, you (your my)
You, you, you, you (your my)
You, you, you, you (Christmas)
You, you, you, you (Christmas)
You, you, you, you (your my)
You, you, you (Christmas)
You're the heart and soul of me
I don't need gifts or Christmas trees
You are all I'll ever need
(You are my Christmas) My Christmas
The sweetest gift I've ever known
Love the precious love you've shown
Blessed to know that you're my own
You are my Christmas
Dolly Parton’s “You Are” is a moving ballad that captures the essence of the Christmas holiday and how it relates to the love she has for her partner. In the song, she is describing her true love as her Christmas, the present that lasts beyond just the season. She describes how she owes everything to her love, as it lights up her life and is the reason she is happy every year. The song conveys a message of gratitude, appreciation and joy for having her love in her life, especially at the Christmastime. The song is ultimately a love letter in the form of a Christmas song, telling her partner that they are the reason for her Christmas, and her heart is theirs forever.
Line by Line Meaning
When I think about what Christmas means
Reflecting on all that Christmas entails
The celebrations and the scenes
The festive atmospheres surrounding the holiday
Things that I hold dear and true
Values and people I cherish and love
I mostly think of you
Above all, I think of you
You, you, you, you're my
Underscoring the importance of the person being addressed
You, you, you, you are my Christmas (mmhmm)
You are everything about Christmas for me
You, you are my Christmas, my reason for the season every year
You epitomize the spirit of the holiday
Oh you, you are my present, my future and my past
My love for you spans across all time
A love that's sure to last
My affection for you is enduring
The gift that keeps on giving joy and cheer
Your presence in my life brings immense happiness
I thank God above
Expressing gratitude for divine intervention
For sending me your love
For the gift of the love of the person being addressed
It's heavenly and I feel warm and safe
Your love brings me comfort and security
Just knowing that you care
The knowledge that you care is enough for me
That you'll always be there
The assurance of your presence in my life
To stand by me with promises you've made
To keep the promises you've made to me
All wrapped up in love and lights
Enveloped in love and holiday decorations
My heart a'glow, my eyes as bright
Enthralled and excited about the holiday season
As ornaments and lights upon the tree
Similar to the decorations on a Christmas tree
Ribbons of emotions flow
A surge of intense emotions
Lovin' package with a bow
Symbolizes a gift of love
A note that says I'm yours eternally
A declaration of eternal commitment
The greatest gift of all, sacred and dear
The most important gift which is sacred and valuable
You're the heart and soul of me
You are the essence of my being
I don't need gifts or Christmas trees
Your presence is the most important gift
You are all I'll ever need
Your love is sufficient for me
(You are my Christmas) My Christmas
The person addressed is everything to the singer
The sweetest gift I've ever known
The love of the person addressed is the best gift ever
Love the precious love you've shown
Gratitude for the affection received from the person addressed
Blessed to know that you're my own
Grateful for the person addressed to be part of their life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
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.