Dolly Parton: A Songwriting Legend
Dolly Parton is widely considered one of the most successful songwriters of all time, having written over 3,000 songs in her decades-long career. As both a singer and songwriter, she has had immense commercial success as well as critical acclaim. Parton is beloved for her iconic music and down-home storytelling style, with many of her songs becoming anthems that resonate deeply with audiences. However, choosing just a handful of favorites from her vast catalog is no easy task. In this article, I will take an in-depth look at 5 songs that Parton herself has highlighted as being especially meaningful to her over the years.
Down From Dover
One song Parton has frequently pointed to as holding a special place in her heart is “Down From Dover,” which was featured on her 1970 album of the same name. Written entirely by Parton, the song tells the story of a young woman leaving her small hometown of Dover, Tennessee to seek opportunity and adventure in Nashville. Parton has said the character in the song represents her own journey leaving the rural mountains for the bright lights of Music City as a rising star.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the protagonist’s conflicting emotions – excitement about the future but also sadness at leaving behind familiar people and places. As she rides the bus down the highway, she looks out the window reminiscing about her childhood and wondering what awaits her in the big city. Parton’s melodic vocals and acoustic guitar perfectly capture the bittersweet feelings of embarking on a new chapter while saying goodbye to the past.
“Down From Dover” was one of Parton’s earliest successes as a songwriter and helped cement her reputation for crafting relatable stories and characters. Though the setting is specific, the themes of chasing dreams, overcoming fears of the unknown, and transitioning to new phases of life have ensured the song remains deeply resonant for audiences. Parton has said the song holds a “special memory” as her “first really big song” and that writing it allowed her to process her own journey leaving home.
Coat of Many Colors
Another iconic song Parton has cited many times over the years is “Coat of Many Colors,” which first appeared on her 1971 album of the same name. Inspired by Parton’s own childhood, the song tells the touching real-life story of how her mother sewed her a coat from various rags to help keep her warm. Though made of patches, to the young Dolly the coat was more beautiful than any in the whole wide world because her mother’s love made it so.
Parton’s evocative lyrics and tender vocal performance imbue the simple garment with profound symbolism. Beyond keeping her daughter warm, the coat represented her mother’s creativity, resourcefulness, and most of all, her unconditional love – gifts more valuable than any store-bought item. The song is a poignant tribute to Parton’s upbringing in poverty but also to the enduring power of a parent’s devotion to their child.
“Coat of Many Colors” became one of Parton’s signature songs and a standard she regularly performs live. She has said writing the song allowed her to process and honor cherished childhood memories during harder times in her life. Its message of finding beauty in life’s simple pleasures has resonated with audiences for decades. The song is a shining example of Parton’s gift for crafting deeply moving tales from her own experiences.
I Will Always Love You
It would be impossible to discuss Parton’s most meaningful songs without mentioning the global phenomenon that is “I Will Always Love You.” Of course, the song reached new heights of popularity in 1992 when Whitney Houston recorded a stunning cover for the film The Bodyguard. However, the song was originally written and recorded by Parton herself in 1974. She has often said the song was intended as a farewell to her former partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, from whom she was professionally separating.
Even prior to Houston’s version, Parton’s recording of “I Will Always Love You” was a massive success, topping the charts for weeks. However, she has noted the song took on deeper significance after breaking off her engagement in the late 1960s. Parton poured her heart into the lyrics as a promise to always cherish the love between herself and her former partner, despite their personal and professional paths diverging.
Decades later, the song remains one of the best-selling singles of all time. Parton never could have predicted its global impact but seems grateful it was able to touch so many people. She has called the song her “gift to the world” and notes how profound it is that such a personal expression of love could resonate so universally. “I Will Always Love You” is the epitome of Parton’s talent for crafting intimate stories into anthemic songs that connect with audiences worldwide.
Jolene
No list of Dolly Parton’s most iconic songs would be complete without “Jolene,” her 1973 hit single that has taken on a life of its own. The song tells the story of Parton pleading with the beautiful “Jolene” not to steal away her man. Parton has noted she wrote the song after meeting a young fan named Jolene, though the lyrics take on a more symbolic meaning.
To this day, the identity and nature of the elusive Jolene has been endlessly debated – Is she a past lover? A fantasy? A metaphor? Parton herself has given varying explanations but seems to enjoy how open to interpretation the lyrics remain. What is certain is that her vulnerable yet defiant vocals over sparse guitar plucking create an atmosphere of quiet desperation that pulls listeners in.
“Jolene” is a masterclass in storytelling with minimal detail. Parton builds an entire psychological drama within the simple confines of asking another woman not to “take him just because you can.” The song has taken on a feminist reading as a woman asserting her own desires rather than passively accepting fate. It also exemplifies Parton’s skill at crafting imaginative characters and scenarios that have captivated audiences for decades. She has called “Jolene” one of her personal favorites and is clearly proud of how enigmatic yet powerful it remains.
I Will Always Love You (Reprise)
No discussion of Dolly Parton’s most meaningful songs would be complete without revisiting her tour de force ballad, “I Will Always Love You.” While the original version was certainly one of her signature songs, Parton recorded an especially poignant reprise of the song in 1995 for her album Something Special.
Coming nearly 20 years after the original recording, the reprise took on new layers of emotion as Parton sang from a place of greater life experience. Her voice, now richer with age and experience, imbued the lyrics with a vulnerability and wisdom that wasn’t there in 1974. Parton has noted that in re-recording the song later in life, she was able to access deeper wells of feeling and commitment to the promises within the lyrics.
Where the original version was a bittersweet farewell, the reprise feels like a joyous celebration of love that has endured across decades and chapters. Parton’s voice soars with gratitude for relationships that have stood the test of time. She has said that looking back on her career and personal journey in singing the song again, she was able to more fully appreciate “the miracle of love and life.” The 1995 recording stands as a stunning bookend showing Parton’s growth as an artist and deepening understanding of the heart.
Conclusion
While this article has only scratched the surface of Dolly Parton’s vast catalog, it hopefully conveys why these five songs in particular hold special significance for the songwriting legend herself. Whether crafting intimate portraits or sweeping love stories, Parton’s gift has always been imbuing the everyday with transcendent meaning. Across her decades-spanning career, she has proven herself not just a gifted melodist and storyteller, but also a wise observer of the human experience. Parton’s ability to pour herself so fully into her art is what has ensured these songs, and so many others, continue resonating with new generations. Her legacy as one of history’s most prolific and meaningful songwriters is as unquestionable as it is well-deserved.