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

shine On
Dolly Parton Lyrics

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Give me a word
Give me a sign
Show me where to look
Tell me what will I find
What will I find
Lay me on the ground
Fly me in the sky
Show me where to look

Tell me what will I find
What will I find

Yeah

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Love is in the water
Love is in the air
Show me where to go
And tell me will love be there, will love be there
Teach me how to speak
Teach me how to share
Teach me where to go
And tell me will love be there, will love be there

Yeah

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Give me a word
Give me a sign
Show me where to look
And tell me what will I find
What will I find
Lord, teach me how to speak
Teach me how to share
Teach me where to go
And tell me will love be there, will love be there

Yeah

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Heaven let your light shine down
Let it shine
Heaven let your light shine down

Shine, Heaven let your light shine down
Heaven let your light shine down

Shine, shine
Just give me a word
Give me a sign
Shine
Let it shine, let it shine

Teach me how to share
Teach me where to go

Tell me will love be there
Shine

Overall Meaning

Dolly Parton's song Shine is a deeply spiritual and introspective piece that seeks guidance and inspiration from a higher power. The song starts with the artist asking for direction and guidance through a word, a sign or any indication that can help her find what she is searching for. While asking for answers, Dolly also acknowledges that she is open to exploring new horizons by asking to be taken to the ground or flown in the sky. Throughout the song, the artist uses the metaphor of light to describe the divine, asking for Heaven to let its light shine down, and guide her through the journey of self-discovery.

As the song progresses, Dolly explores the concept of Divine love and its potential presence in the world around her. She asks to be shown the way, and if love is indeed present, to teach her how to speak, share and express it with others. The song ends with a plea for guidance and illumination, with the artist acknowledging that she is ready to receive the light and let it shine through her.

Overall, Shine can be interpreted as a prayer or a meditation on the importance of seeking guidance, hope and a sense of purpose in life. Through the use of the light metaphor, Dolly Parton encapsulates the idea of the divine as a guiding force that can help us navigate the darkness and uncertainty of life.

Line by Line Meaning

Give me a word
I am seeking guidance and direction.

Give me a sign
I am seeking a tangible symbol of the path I should take.

Show me where to look
I am seeking clarity and direction.

Tell me what will I find
I am asking for insight into the outcome of my choices.

What will I find
I am anxious about the outcome of my choices.

Lay me on the ground
I am willing to be vulnerable and open to guidance.

Fly me in the sky
I am willing to take risks in search of guidance.

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
I am calling out for guidance and enlightenment from a higher power.

Love is in the water
I believe that love is an elemental force.

Love is in the air
I believe that love is all around us.

Teach me how to speak
I am seeking guidance on how to communicate effectively.