The Top Ten Songs by Dolly Parton
10. “Jolene”- Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton (1974)
From the album Jolene, this song is one that is recognized all over the world as one of Dolly Parton’s best. “Jolene” is about the struggle of a housewife dealing with another woman who may or may not be having an affair with her husband. The song is filled with the haunting melody that is the signature of Dolly Parton, and millions of women have identified with “Jolene” since its rise to the top of the charts in 1974. “Jolene” was not only a hit with country fans, but reached the pop charts at the time as well. Other performers, from the White Stripes to Reba McIntyre, have covered the song “Jolene”, but none had the success with it that Dolly Parton had, with her multi-layered voice and haunting lyrics.
9. “Here You Come Again”-Music and lyrics by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil (1977)
Under the album of the same name, “Here You Come Again” was one of the few tracks Dolly Parton herself did not write. Even so, it became her first smash crossover hit, and earned Dolly a Grammy. “Here You Come Again” is a bouncy and refreshingly happy sounding song about a girl who realizes she is being swayed by the charms of her man. The lyrics are infectious, with my favorite line being, “Looking better than a body has a right to, shaking me up so that all I really know, is here you come again, and here I go. “
8. “Coat of Many Colors”-Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton (1971)
First released on the album Coat of Many Colors in 1971, the song is a soaring and emotional tribute to the humble Appalachian heritage of Dolly Parton, a special coat her mother made for her as a child, and the lesson it taught her. “Coat of Many Colors” appears on several of Dolly’s albums, and is the song that is most personal to her.
7. “The Seeker”-Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton (1975)
Appearing on 1975’s The Seeker/ We Used To, “The Seeker” is a beautiful spiritual track in which Dolly Parton has a “talk with God.” It is a song that even those who don’t enjoy gospel can identify with, and has Dolly Parton’s signature exquisite harmoney throughout. First released as a single, “The Seeker” reached number two on the charts, and was rerecorded in 1995’s Something Special.
6. “Light of a Clear Blue Morning”-Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton (1977)
An ode to the painful professional split between Dolly Parton and longtime partner Porter Wagoner, “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” was released on the album New Harvest-First Gathering in 1977. The song was also used in the soundtrack to the 1992 Dolly Parton film, Straight Talk.
5. “Single Women”-Music and Lyrics by Michael O’Donaghue (1982)
“Single Women” is a song full of personality and has an interesting story behind it. Dolly Parton intended to perform the song during a Saturday Night Live sketch, as “Single Women” was written by one of Saturday Night Live’s writers, Michael O’Donaghue. It became a hit for Dolly, and was included on her 1982 album Heartbreak Express. Dolly Parton depicts the story of single women looking for love in bars with humor and spunk, and it’s one of her best.
4. “Starting Over Again”-Music and lyrics by Donna Summer and Bruce Sudano (1980)
“Starting Over Again” was the first single released from the Dolly Parton album Dolly, Dolly, Dolly. The song is an affecting ballad, with soaring vocals, and tells the story of a long married couple divorcing. Not surprisingly, “Starting Over Again” became a number one smash hit for Dolly Parton, and millions of people still identify with the emotions in the song.
3. “9 to 5”-Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton (1980)
Written for the movie Nine to Five, this song was one of the biggest hits for Dolly Parton, and is an infectious ode to the working woman. “9 to 5” was included on the 1980 album 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs, and was nominated for an Academy Award for best song. Dolly Parton also won a Grammy award for “9 to 5” , and it remains one of her most recognized and lauded songs.
2. “Down From Dover”-Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton (2001)
“Down From Dover” is a track off the 2001 Dolly Parton album, Little Sparrow, which is one of her greatest albums. The song is a beautiful acoustic ballad, and was redone after being released years before to limited success. “Down From Dover” details the heartbreak of an unwed mother, and has a haunting Irish feel to it. As with most other Dolly Parton songs, you can identify with the story through the instruments and strong harmonies, and the lyrics are poignant and moving. “Down From Dover” is a song not to be missed, and Little Sparrow is a stunning achievement from the genius Dolly Parton.
1. “I Will Always Love You”-Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton (1973)
Most people associate “I Will Always Love You” with Whitney Houston’s smash hit from the Bodyguard soundtrack. Dolly Parton wrote the song, and had a hit with it in 1982’s The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Written for her one-time mentor, Porter Wagoner, the lyrics are poignant, and the melody is spectacular. “I Will Always Love You” is widely considered to be one of the five greatest songs ever written, and has been covered by dozens of other artists, with the most successful version being that of Whitney Houston. The earlier version by Dolly Parton is just as beautiful, however, and there’s an earnest feeling to hearing the song performed by the woman who wrote it. It’s easy to see why “I Will Always Love You” is the number one song by Dolly Parton.
Loyal fans of Dolly Parton will most likely disagree with one or more of my choices for her top ten best songs, but that is the great thing about lists. You can make them your own. It is the person behind the songs that makes them so important to millions of people. Born of poverty in the mountains of Tennessee, Dolly Parton has gone one to be the most prolific songwriter in history, and one of the most recognizable faces in music-all without losing the essence of who she is. This makes it easy to see why Dolly Parton is so beloved by millions. She’s a genius, a businesswoman, an actress, and an icon. But most of all, Dolly Parton is a real woman, and utterly irreplaceable.
