Dolly Parton: The Songs She’s Not Proud Of
Dolly Parton is renowned the world over as one of the most successful female singer-songwriters of all time. With over 3,000 songs written and countless hits under her belt, it would be easy to assume the country music legend loves each and every one of her compositions. However, even a prolific talent like Dolly has penned some songs that she’s not particularly proud of or fond of in hindsight. While she’s understandably reluctant to criticize her own work, Dolly has opened up in interviews about a few songs that don’t hold a special place in her heart. Let’s take a closer look at some of the tracks Dolly Parton has admitted she’s not a huge fan of.
“Oilwells Love You”
One song Dolly has been openly critical of is “Oilwells Love You” from her 1968 album Just Because I’m a Woman. In recent years, she’s jokingly called it a “clunker” and said it’s one of her least favorite recordings. The song paints an idealized portrait of life in the oil fields of Texas and Louisiana, describing hardworking roughnecks who find solace in their jobs and communities. However, Dolly has said the lyrical depiction doesn’t ring entirely true and the composition itself leaves something to be desired.
“When I wrote that song, I really didn’t know anything about the oil business,” Dolly explained in a 2017 American Songwriter interview. “I just made up something that sounded good. But it’s really not very realistic. Those guys work so hard out there – it’s hot, dirty, dangerous work. The song makes it sound like some kind of romantic fantasy life, which it surely is not.”
She also critiqued the musical construction, saying “the melody is kind of clunky and it doesn’t really go anywhere. It’s just not one of my better efforts, for sure.” While Dolly never intended to glorify or trivialize hard labor, she’s been self-aware enough to acknowledge “Oilwells Love You” doesn’t do justice to the real-life challenges of the oil industry. It’s a candid admission from an artist learned enough to look back on even her earliest work with a discerning ear.
Other Undisclosed Songs
In addition to openly poking fun at “Oilwells Love You,” Dolly has also hinted there are other songs from across her catalog that don’t meet her current standards. However, she’s been tight-lipped about naming specific titles, likely not wanting to disparage any of her past creative efforts. In a 2016 interview, she told Billboard that “there are definitely songs that I’m not as crazy about as others. But I try not to be too critical – they were what they were at the time.”
Part of the challenge is that Dolly wrote many of her songs decades ago as a young artist still developing her signature sound. Her tastes, perspectives and skills have naturally evolved over a career spanning seven decades. While she doesn’t regret anything she wrote in her early career, Dolly acknowledged it’s only natural that “your likes and dislikes change as you get older.” She added, “there are definitely some songs that in hindsight I probably wouldn’t have cut or written the same way.”
Fans can only speculate which songs Dolly may look upon less fondly today. Possible candidates include some of her more simplistic or formulaic country songs from the 1960s and 70s. However, Dolly is too gracious an artist to outright disparage any of her past work. As she told Billboard, “they got me to where I am, so I’ll always be grateful for all of them.”
The Mysterious 2045 Song
One Dolly Parton song fans won’t get to hear for another two decades is an as-yet unreleased track locked away in a vault at Dollywood. According to the park’s director of archives and special collections Becky Magura, Dolly deposited the master recording of an unknown song there in 2001 with very specific instructions. It’s not to be played, copied or distributed until the year 2045.
Naturally, this has sparked widespread curiosity and speculation about what could possibly be on that mysterious recording. Some have wondered if it’s a song Dolly wasn’t happy with and chose to shelve long-term. Others theorize it could be a deeply personal track she wasn’t ready to share with the world. In any case, Dolly clearly wanted this song kept under wraps for an astounding 44 years before being unveiled.
When asked about the vaulted recording, Dolly has remained coy. She’s said she doesn’t remember exactly which song it is herself anymore after so much time. But she stands by her decision to withhold it, joking it’s “probably not any good anyway” and she didn’t want to be around for any criticism of it. Of course, only time will tell if Dolly ends up liking or disliking the long-hidden song once 2045 finally rolls around. The mystery ensures it will be one of the most anticipated Dolly Parton discoveries for future generations.
An Honest Self-Critic
While Dolly Parton’s catalog contains thousands of beloved hits, not every song was destined for greatness in her eyes. As one of country music’s most successful and prolific songwriters, she’s learned over her illustrious career that even legends are capable of missing the mark creatively on occasion. However, Dolly’s willingness to poke fun at a few of her less stellar efforts or admit she might do things differently shows a refreshing dose of self-awareness and honesty. It proves she maintains an objective perspective on her own work rather than assuming everything she’s ever written is gold.
Her candor about songs like “Oilwells Love You” demonstrates Dolly isn’t afraid to critique or laugh at herself. She understands tastes change over time and what worked before may not satisfy today. Most importantly, Dolly knows her worth isn’t defined by every single note she’s ever put to paper. Even with some songs she’d rather forget, Dolly Parton’s legacy as one of America’s most cherished entertainers and gifted storytellers endures. Her body of work stands as a phenomenal whole, flaws and all.