Dolly Parton, the singer, songwriter, philanthropist and actor, died on 25 August in Nashville, Tennessee, aged 80. Her catalogue spans decades, and beyond the hits lie lesser-known gems that showcase her range as a narrative lyricist and performer.
Early Stories of Women's Experiences
From her fifth album, 1970's The Fairest of Them All, Down from Dover tells the harrowing story of a young woman who becomes pregnant out of wedlock. The man promises to return before she starts to show, but the seasons change and he does not. Sent away to give birth in secret, her daughter is stillborn. Parton's voice cracks on the line: "I guess she knew she'd never have her father's arms to hold her."
Daddy Come and Get Me, also from The Fairest of Them All, opens with a slide guitar and the line "In this mental institution…". The protagonist has been placed in a psychiatric hospital by her partner, though it is her heart, not her mind, that is broken. The spoken word section is raw and poetic, reminiscent of I Will Always Love You.
Wry Takes and Humor
PMS Blues, recorded for her 1994 live album Heartsongs: Live From Home, is a stomping blues number with jokes about fluid retention, mood swings, headaches and telling children to hide from their hormonal mothers. "I got those God almighty, slap somebody, PMS Blues," she growls, adding: "It's the only time in my life I ever think about wishing I'd been a man."
The Bargain Store (1975), the title track of her 15th album, uses the metaphor of a woman with a history as a bargain store, her merchandise used and cheap. It is a wry take on the madonna/whore complex, with the protagonist inviting buyers to view her goods: "I can guarantee you'll be completely satisfied."
Collaborations and Rebirth
Wildflowers, written by Parton and featured on the 1987 album Trio with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, is sung in the first person as a younger self escaping family confines. "Wildflowers don't care where they grow," she sings, a call to embrace change.
The Pain of Loving You (1971) appeared on Two of a Kind, the sixth of 13 albums with Porter Wagoner, her one-time mentor. Their relationship strained as her fame grew, and Parton's harmony skips over his: "To love and hate at the same time / the line between the two is fine."
Light of a Clear Blue Morning (1977), from New Harvest… First Gathering, was used in a 2021 revival of Larry Kramer's play The Normal Heart at London's National Theatre. Parton said it was about her rebirth after the fraying of her relationship with Wagoner.
Later Works and Enduring Themes
Backwoods Barbie, the title track of her 2008 album, was a return to country after a decade of bluegrass and folk. "Don't let these false eyelashes lead you to believe / That I'm as shallow as I look 'cause I run true and deep," she sings.
The Bridge (1968), from Just Because I'm a Woman, tells of a young woman meeting her beau on a bridge at night, leading to pregnancy and a final verse where she stands alone at the edge. The song ends abruptly: "Here is where I end it."
Here I Am (1971), from Coat of Many Colors, was revived for the 2018 film Dumplin' with a cover by Parton and Sia. The original is an anthem of reaching out: "Here I am, reaching out, to give you love that you're without." It captures Parton as a hand reaching out in the dark, and that is where she will always be.
