The 10 best songs by Dolly Parton
Since her rise to prominence in the 1960s, Dolly Parton has thrived with her distinctive mix of folksy charm, wit, and self-effacing humour. Time and time again, the country star has demonstrated that she surpasses the media’s portrayal of her as a ‘dumb blonde’. In truth, for decades, Parton has stood as an unrelenting talent whose artistry knows no bounds.
When crafting her latest album, Rockstar, even those closest to Parton didn’t elicit much support. Nevertheless, against her husband’s advice not to take on certain rock classics, she charged ahead and delivered an album packed with excellence and elegance, proving that her talent and artistry isn’t just limited to the realm of country music.
Of course, the preeminent blonde balladeer in country music has consistently exuded self-assurance. “I’ve always had a lot of confidence in my talent and in my personality,” she once said. “The way I am, the way I dress, the makeup, the hair – this is fun for me,” as it should be – a talent so effortless glows brighter on Parton than just about everyone else.
From the career-critical ‘9 To 5’ to the more heartfelt ‘Coat of Many Colors’, Parton’s gift for music seamlessly blends endearing pop sensibility with country’s introspective, romantic lyricism. ‘Jolene’ and its marriage of these two intrinsic elements tells the poignant story of a love affair where Parton sings about a beautiful woman, urging her not to “take him just because you can”.
1974’s ‘I Will Always Love You’ was also penned as a farewell to her longtime collaborator, Porter Wagoner, as she embarked on a solo journey in music. Although cover versions by Linda Ronstadt and Whitney Houston propelled the song to new heights, Parton’s version arguably remains the most sentimental, with her much-loved emotional crooning as she glides over the song’s poignant lyrics.
While delving into the intricacies of Parton’s entire discography would take months, if not years, her hefty catalogue of love songs provides an intense and endearing journey. Regardless, here are just ten of her most magical offerings, from the tender to the straight-up groovy.
The 10 best Dolly Parton songs:
‘Coat of Many Colors’
If you’ve ever wondered why anyone would get a framed dry cleaning receipt, in this particular case, it was because it had Parton’s hand-written notes on it. These notes were ideas she had in 1969 about a song that would eventually be titled ‘Coat of Many Colors’, becoming immortalised forever via Porter Wagoner, who decided to display the receipt in pride of place as soon as the song became a hit.
‘Coat of Many Colors’ has become a beloved hit for many reasons. On the one hand, it showcases Parton’s penchant for delivering the lyrics with weighty sentiment. On the other; it holds a relatable tale at its heart, one that delves deep into Parton’s own childhood experiences, including lessons about “bullying, about love, about acceptance, about good parents,” as she puts it.
Interestingly, it’s perhaps the one verse of the song that wasn’t included in the song that communicates its message most clearly: “Through life I’ve remained happy and good luck is on my side. / I have everything that anyone could ever want from life. / But nothing is as precious as my mama’s memory / and my coat of many colours that mama made for me.”
‘Old Flames Can’t Hold A Candle To You’
Although not originally written by Parton, this particular ballad experienced a resurgence when she applied her magic. Within the song, Parton sings about past romances, providing reassurance as these “old flames” belong to the bygone days and fade from memory in the light of the present love.
Imposter syndrome in a relationship is something we can all relate to. In Parton’s version of ‘Old Flames Can’t Hold A Candle To You’, past liaisons are no match for current love, a sentiment present in her emotive and powerful delivery of the words: “Sometimes at night I think of old lovers I’ve known / I remember how holding them helped me not feel so alone / Then I feel you beside me and even their memories are gone / Like stars in the night lost in the sweet light of dawn.”
‘Jolene’
Apparently, Parton wrote ‘Jolene’ about a bank teller who had a crush on her husband. “She got this terrible crush on my husband,” she explained, “And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us – when I was saying, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money.'”
While Parton injected some of her signature humour into the situation, it’s clear that it bothered her to some extent—enough to pen the song. She goes on to say, “She had everything I didn’t, like legs – you know, she was about 6 feet tall. And had all that stuff that some little short, sawed-off honky like me don’t have… So no matter how beautiful a woman might be, you’re always threatened by certain… You’re always threatened by other women, period.”
‘I Will Always Love You’
‘I Will Always Love You’ is one of the most exceptional love songs in the annals of music history. The genesis of this song lies in Parton’s pivotal choice to sever professional bonds with Wagoner in 1974. In the wake of this decision, she gave rise to a timeless love ballad — a composition that became a chart-topping sensation for the singer on three occasions.
A song so precious to the country star that she even once refused Elvis Presley, ‘I Will Always Love You’ is quite possibly Parton’s most intimate songwriting. Like many singers of the 1950s and 1960s, Presley had a substantial history of covering songs, with some of his major hits, such as ‘Hound Dog’, ‘Always On My Mind’, and ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ being cover versions.
While many songwriters readily allowed Presley to infuse his charisma into their songs, ensuring a near-guaranteed hit, Parton approached the matter differently. “I wouldn’t let Colonel Tom Parker [record the song],” Parton explained to the Los Angeles Times, admitting her dislike for the singer’s manager.
‘Why’d You Come In Here Looking Like That’
White Limozeen arrived at a desperate time for Parton, who marked a return to country music after the commercial failure of Rainbow in 1987. As a result, the singer received two number one country singles after the album’s release: ‘Yellow Roses’ and ‘Why’d You Come In Here Looking Like That’. Although Parton wasn’t the song’s original writer, her endearing vocals and penchant for the groove added a certain oomph to the song that made it a timeless hit.
Tapping into another relatable experience, the song tackles the idea of an ex-lover who appears to look desirable and enticing. Initially, the former lover’s appearance is meticulously discussed, as Parton highlights his cowboy boots and snug jeans that evoke the image of a cowgirl’s dream. Curious and bewildered, Parton contemplates the motivation behind his presence before delving into the backstory of their relationship, revealing him to be unfaithful and emotionally distant.
‘Here You Come Again’
‘Here You Come Again’ serves as another instance of an external song that Parton uniquely embraced. Crafted by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, the song took centre stage as the title track and debut single from her 1977 album. The album marked a crossover success for Parton, blending country and pop influences, with ‘Here You Come Again’ conveying heartache and resilience as the Parton sings about the return of a former lover.
Landing in Parton’s lap after it was refused by Brenda Lee, the country singer tightened the reigns on its musical arrangements in an effort to broaden her appeal. At the same time, however, she was ready to challenge anybody who described it as anything other than country. “She wanted people to be able to hear the steel guitar,” producer Garry Klein explained, “So if someone said it isn’t country, she could say it and prove it. She was so relieved. It was like her life sentence was reprieved.”
‘My Tennessee Mountain Home’
If there’s one thing Parton loves to bring to her professional work, it’s realism. Often citing experiences that defined her childhood and general upbringing, Parton’s focus on her own personal thoughts and feelings is arguably what makes her so universally loved. ‘My Tennessee Mountain Home’ forms part of a wider autobiography, a concept album so personal that the song eventually became the theme for her Dollywood park.
My Tennessee Mountain Home didn’t perform that well, at least not in terms of charting position. However, it remains a cherished album among her fans, who praise its introspective lyrics and evocative imagery reflective of her rural childhood in Tennessee.
‘Islands in the Stream’
The collaboration of Parton and Kenny Rogers, both luminaries in their solo careers, produced an extraordinary musical fusion when they duetted on ‘Islands in the Stream’, one of the most unforgettable pop-country songs in history.
Crafted by songwriters Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, this timeless tune became a global phenomenon, solidifying a lasting bond between Parton and Rogers. Beyond its popularity at weddings and karaoke events, their version achieved remarkable success by topping both country and pop charts simultaneously, with sales exceeding two million copies in the US alone.
‘Wildflowers’
Not many albums shimmer as effortlessly as Trio, the first album by Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt, now forever enshrined in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Amid the endearing harmony of all three musical maestros, Parton’s ode to wanderlust stands out as just one of the many rare, vibrant gems in this pure-country collection of earthly and otherworldly delights.
Interestingly, the initial recording incorporated an autoharp, an acoustic guitar performed by Harris, and a fiddle, arranged to evoke the nostalgic charm of an Appalachian folk song from yesteryears. Within the music, the lyrics express a sense of restlessness and a desire for exploration, employing wildflowers as a metaphor and ultimately asserting that “wildflowers don’t care where they grow”.
‘Just Because I’m A Woman’
Parton has been fighting off negative stereotypes since her first rise to prominence in the late 1960s. Labelled a ‘Dumb Blonde’, she transformed the male gaze into a token of power, dispelling myths about her intelligence by consistently churning out world-class music. Within her 1967 debut, Parton asserted her position as a leader in country music while castigating misogyny in response to her husband’s constant questioning about her romantic history.
“My mistakes are no worse than yours / Just because I’m a woman,” Parton sings, reprimanding sexist double standards as she asserts: “Now I know that I’m no angel / If that’s what you thought you’d found / I was just the victim of / A man that let me down.”
