Dorothy Marie Marsh was born in Tennessee on October 11, 1932. A survivor a… Read Full Bio ↴Dorothy Marie Marsh was born in Tennessee on October 11, 1932. A survivor at heart, Dottie lived through a childhood of savage beatings and sexual abuse from her father. The always hopeful Dottie was always dreaming of making a profession out of singing. While in college Dottie meet her first husband Bill West, who would give her her name. Together the couple would get gigs on local tv and clubs. it wasn't until the success of Dottie’s singles "An Angel on Paper" and "Let Me Off At the Corner" did Dottie start to make a name for herself. Those minor hits were followed by a top 10 hit with Jim Reeves called "Love Is No Excuse." There was no doubt that Dottie west was one of the hottest rising stars and her follow up #1 "Here Comes My Baby" proved it.

Throughout the sixties, seventies, and eighties Dottie pumped out chart toppers like no other. she was selling out concerts, selling millions of records, staring in movies, winning Grammies, Clieos and any other kind of awards you can think of. There is no doubt that the little girl from Tennessee came a long way. Dottie West earned herself the respect of everyone in the music industry and countless fans. If not for her music, most people remember her for either her stage presence or overall good nature. She was always looking out for others and going out of her way to do things for fans, family and friends. Despite Dottie's constant chart presence and sold out concerts her foundation fell out from under her when she discovered that she was a victim of a sneaky accountant and was overpowered by the IRS to give up all she owned. And ALL is ALL. The list of Dottie's personal momentous included the rights to all her music (I believe she wrote well over 400). All Dottie did was look out for others and this is how she was treated...disgusting if you ask me! But Dottie had dignity and started to rebuild her empire.

On august 30, 1991 Dottie was scheduled to appear at The Grand Old Opry. Her car broke down and, determined to keep her promise, she flagged down a passing driver and got a ride. On the way the driver lost control of the car and crashed. Battered, beaten and suffering from the wreck, Dottie pulled the driver from the car herself. She died due to injuries from the accident days later while in the hospital.

Before The Ring On Your Finger Turns Green
Dottie West Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

He's just leadin' you on honey he'll be gone
Before the ring on your finger turns green

Your new love is the playboy kind he's not looking for the ties that bind
He'll leave you with a tortured mind before the ring on your finger turns green
He's just leadin' you...

He's fickle cheap and phoney too just like the ring he gave to you

I know cause I've been through it too when the ring on my finger turned green

He's just leadin' you...
Before the ring on your finger turns green

Overall Meaning

The song "Before The Ring On Your Finger Turns Green" by Dottie West is a cautionary tale about the dangers of entering into a relationship without being aware of the person's true intentions. The singer warns the singer that her new love interest, a playboy type, is only leading her on and will leave her with a "tortured mind" before the ring on her finger turns green. The phrase "turns green" is a metaphor for the decay and eventual breakdown of a relationship. The singer has been through a similar situation herself, and is warning the singer not to make the same mistake.

This song is an excellent example of country music storytelling. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the singer's situation and the danger lurking beneath the surface. The melody is simple and understated, allowing the focus to remain on the lyrics and the story they tell. The use of the phrase "turns green" is a clever metaphor that adds depth and complexity to the song.

Line by Line Meaning

He's just leadin' you on honey he'll be gone
Your new love interest is not in for the long haul; he's leading you on, and he'll leave soon.

Before the ring on your finger turns green
He won't even wait around long enough for the ring to tarnish – he's not committed enough to stay.

Your new love is the playboy kind he's not looking for the ties that bind
Your new lover is a player who's not interested in a serious relationship with you.

He'll leave you with a tortured mind before the ring on your finger turns green
He'll leave you feeling hurt and confused before the ring has a chance to lose its luster.

He's fickle cheap and phoney too just like the ring he gave to you
Your new lover is unreliable, not worth much, and fake – just like the ring he gave you.

I know cause I've been through it too when the ring on my finger turned green
Because I've personally experienced this, I can tell you that it's true – he won't stick around long enough for the ring to tarnish.

Contributed by Parker P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS