Dolly Parton was the ultimate lyricist. Here are a few lyrics from throughout her career that prove she always had that wisdom and wit we all knew and loved.
“Love Is Like A Butterfly”
“Love makes your heart feel strange inside / it flutters like soft wings in flight / Love is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing.”
Videos by American Songwriter
We all know Dolly Parton loves butterflies. They’re a huge part of her brand as a public figure, but if you look throughout her catalog, you’ll find that they’re also a considerable part of her songs. This song from her album of the same name was her fourth No. 1 on the country chart as a solo artist. It compares a butterfly to romantic love, of course.
“Coat Of Many Colors”
“Now I know we had no money/ But I was rich as I could be / In my coat of many colors / My momma made for me.”
“Coat Of Many Colors” gives listeners a glimpse into Parton’s childhood and a peek into the wisdom that makes her who she is. The country singer tells the story of how her mother made her a coat out of old rags, and she loved it because of the love that went into it, even though they were poor.
“Just Because I’m A Woman”
“Yes, I’ve made my mistakes / But listen and understand / My mistakes are no worse than yours / Just because I’m a woman.”
This song was the only single for Parton’s 1968 album of the same name. “Just Because I’m A Woman” was a feminist anthem, in a sense, but in Dolly Parton’s style. Witty, tongue-in-cheek, and honest with a purpose.
“Wildflowers”
“Just a wild mountain rose, needing freedom to grow / So I ran fearing not where I’d go / When a flower grows wild, it can always survive / Wildflowers don’t care where they grow.”
Recorded on the album Trio with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, “Wildflowers” is a metaphorical song about growing up, no matter where it happens. Trio won the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. It was also nominated for Album Of The Year.
Photo by: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
More The List
-
American musicians Jay Jay French, A.J. Perro, Dee Snider, Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda and Mark Mendoza of the Heavy Metal band Twisted Sister pose for photos during a visit to Atlantic Records offices on January 14, 1984 in New York, New York. (Photo By Larry Busacca/Getty Images) -
Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac -
EAST LANSING – CIRCA 1969: Photo of John Sebastian performing in East Lansing, Michigan. Circa 1969 (Photo by Tom Copi/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
30th January 1969: British rock group the Beatles performing their last live public concert on the rooftop of the Apple Organization building for director Michael Lindsey-Hogg's film documentary, 'Let It Be,' on Savile Row, London, England. Drummer Ringo Starr sits behind his kit. Singer/songwriters Paul McCartney and John Lennon perform at their microphones, and guitarist George Harrison (1943 – 2001) stands behind them. Lennon's wife Yoko Ono sits at right. (Photo by Express/Express/Getty Images) -
(Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
