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

Youre The Only One I Ever Needed
Dolly Parton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Every time you talk about your love
We always end up in the deepest despair
Because you're so afraid you
Won't ever have enough
Even though I say it's gonna be there

You may not be good at taking chances
But don't be afraid to win or lose

You don't know who you want to romance with
And you wouldn't be feeling blue
If you knew what you put me through

You're the only one that I ever needed
You're the only one that I ever cared for
You're the only one that I ever needed
You're the only one that I ever cared for

Everywhere I look, I see you
And I do all I can to keep it that way
But even now when you're trying to believe me
A miracle of tears gets in the way

You may not be good at taking chances
But don't be afraid to win or lose
You don't know who you want to romance with
But you wouldn't be feeling blue
If you knew what you put me through

You're the only one that I ever needed
You're the only one that I ever cared for
You're the only one that I ever needed
You're the only one that I ever cared for
You're the only one that I ever needed
You're the only one that I ever cared for
You're the only one that I ever needed
You're the only one that I ever cared for
You're the only one that I ever needed
You're the only one that I ever cared for

You're the only one that I ever needed
You're the only one that I ever cared for

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dolly Parton's song "You're The Only One I Ever Needed" convey a deep sense of longing and dedication towards a loved one who seems to struggle with their own fears and uncertainties. The singer expresses the pain they feel when the subject of their love talks about their own insecurities and doubts, leading to a sense of despair. Despite the reassurances given by the singer that their love will always be there, the fear of not being enough persists.

The song touches upon the idea of taking chances and not being afraid of the outcomes, emphasizing the importance of risking vulnerability for the sake of love. The subject of the singer's affections is portrayed as someone who struggles with making decisions regarding their romantic pursuits, leading to a sense of melancholy and confusion. The singer suggests that if the loved one understood the emotional turmoil they have caused, they wouldn't feel as lost and troubled.

The repeated refrain of "You're the only one that I ever needed, You're the only one that I ever cared for" underscores the depth of the singer's feelings and the centrality of this person in their life. The imagery of constantly seeing the loved one everywhere and trying to maintain that connection highlights the intensity of their emotions and efforts to keep the flame of love burning, even in the face of challenges. The mention of tears as a barrier to belief highlights the emotional obstacles that must be overcome in the pursuit of love and understanding.

Overall, the lyrics of the song capture a complex mix of love, pain, and longing, painting a vivid picture of a relationship characterized by deep emotional investment and the struggle to bridge the gap between two hearts. The repeated declarations of need and care serve as a poignant reminder of the profound impact this person has had on the singer's life, despite the challenges and uncertainties that may lie ahead.

Line by Line Meaning

Every time you talk about your love
Whenever you discuss your feelings of affection

We always end up in the deepest despair
Our conversations lead to intense sadness

Because you're so afraid you
Due to your fear that

Won't ever have enough
You will never feel satisfied

Even though I say it's gonna be there
Despite my reassurances that love will endure

You may not be good at taking chances
You may struggle with risks

But don't be afraid to win or lose
Yet, do not fear failure or success

You don't know who you want to romance with
Uncertain of your romantic desires

And you wouldn't be feeling blue
Causing you sadness

If you knew what you put me through
If you understood the emotional burden you place on me

You're the only one that I ever needed
You are the sole person I require