Among Dolly Parton’s 11 siblings, she is without question the most successful. However, she isn’t the only one with musical talent. Dolly Parton has several other siblings who are also gifted, including her younger brother, Floyd Parton. In fact, it’s Floyd Parton who wrote “Rockin’ Years”, Dolly Parton’s 1991 single. A duet with Ricky Van Shelton, “Rockin’ Years” appears on both Dolly Parton’s Eagle When She Flies record and Shelton’s Backroads album.
A song about enduring love, “Rockin’ Years” says, “Rockin’ chairs, rockin’ babies, rock-a-bye, rock of ages / Side by side we’ll be together always / And if you’ll hold me tight when you love me / That’s all I’ll ask of you / And I’ll stand by you thru our rockin’ years.”
Videos by American Songwriter
The Grammy-nominated song became Dolly Parton’s final No. 1 single. Still, she had plenty more hits at country radio after this collaboration. Following “Rockin’ Years”, she had a Top 15 single with “Silver And Gold”. In 1995, she returned to the Top 15 again, this time with her “I Will Always Love You” collaboration with Vince Gill. That duet became her final Top 15 hit.
The Artist Who Was Supposed to Record “Rockin’ Years” With Dolly Parton First
“Rockin’ Years” was a big hit for both Dolly Parton and Ricky Van Shelton, but he wasn’t the first choice for a duet partner. Instead, George Jones was originally slated to record “Rockin’ Years” with Parton. Unfortunately, Parton’s label refused to release the song with Jones’s voice, something that he later admitted still bothered him.
“There has never been a time when country radio was so disrespectful to its elders,” Jones said in I Lived To Tell It All, his 1996 memoir.
Jones might have gotten the last laugh. In 1992, he released “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair”, a response to his omission for “Rockin’ Years”. That song, written by Billy Yates, Frank Dycus, and Kerry Kurt Phillips, became a Top 40 hit for Jones.
Floyd Parton had the most success with “Rockin’ Years”. Still, that isn’t the only song he wrote for his big sister. Floyd Parton is also a writer on “Waltz Me to Heaven”, a song he sings on the soundtrack for her 1984 Rhinestone film, starring Sylvester Stallone. He also wrote “Nickels And Dimes”, a song on her 1978 Heartbreaker album, with Dolly Parton. Floyd Parton also performed with Dolly Parton throughout part of her career.
Photo by George Rose/Getty Images
More Features
-
Photo by Doug Griffin/Toronto Star via Getty Images -
American singer, songwriter and musician Tom Petty (1950-2017) attends a press conference for his debut solo album 'Full Moon Fever', 1989. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images) -
(Original Caption) A singer called Joni. Joni Mitchell, Canadian singer-songwriter, United Kingdom, 1968. The guitar-pickin' gal is Joni Mitchell, a long blonde haired Canadian folk singer. Pictured last night outside the Revolution club, Joni is here (until 1st October) for radio, television and concert appearances. Apart from concert appearances, 25 year old Joni will be heard on "Top Gear" on Radio One and "The Monday Show" on BBC 1. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) -
English rock band the Beatles arrive at London Airport from the USA, with their manager Brian Epstein (1934 – 1967, in coach doorway), 2nd September 1965. From left to right, John Lennon (1940 – 1980), George Harrison (1943 – 2001), Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. (Photo by George Stroud/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -
Musician Willie Nelson attends 24th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 10, 1989 at Disney Studios in Burbank, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) -
George Jones, who released several country songs about whiskey -
Elvis Presley and Scotty Moore (left) performing on The Milton Berle Show at NBC's Hollywood studio, Los Angeles, California, 5th June 1956. Presley performed 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You' and 'Hound Dog'. Press reaction to his performance was largely negative with his gyrating movements during 'Hound Dog' proving particularly controversial. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) -
BERKELEY, CA – SEPTEMBER 1977: Linda Ronstadt performs at the Greek Theater on September 17, 1977 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ed Perlstein/Redferns/Getty Images)