PARTON, Dolly

Down from Dover

I know this dress I'm wearing

Doesn't hide the secret I have tried concealing

When he left he promised me he'd be back

By the time it was revealing

The sun behind a cloud just casts the crawling shadow

Over the fields of clover

And time is running out for me

I wish that he would hurry down from Dover

He's been gone so long

When he left the snow was deep upon the ground

And I have seen a spring and summer pass

And now the leaves are turning brown

At any time a tiny face will show itself

'Cause waiting's almost over

But I won't have a name to give it

If he doesn't hurry down from Dover (Dover)

My folks weren't understanding

When they found out they sent me from the homeplace

My daddy said if folks found out

He'd be ashamed to ever show his face

My mama said I was a fool

And she did not believe it when I told her

That everything' would be alright

'Cause soon he would be coming down from Dover

I loved him more than anything

And I could not refuse him when he needed me

He was the only one I'd loved

And I just can't believe that he was using me

He couldn't leave me here like this

I know it can't be so, it can't be over

He wouldn't make me go through this so long

Oh, he'll be coming down from Dover

My body aches the time is here

It's lonely in this place where I'm a lyin'

Our baby has been born

But something's wrong, it's too still I hear no cryin'

I guess in some strange way she knew

She'd never have a father's arms to hold her

And dying was her way of telling me

He wasn't coming down from Dover

From Dover

From Dover


If I Lose My Mind

Mama, it's so good to be back home again

I'm so proud to see that you are looking well

Yes, I know that I look a little weary

Oh, but Mama, I have been through living hell

You know how much I've always loved him, Mama

But he done things to me I couldn't understand

Why, he made me watch him love another woman

And he tried to make me love another man

Mama, can I be your little girl again?

I need you now even more than I did then

And I need a lot of love and understanding

And a lot of time to get me over him

If I lose my mind, Mama, I wanna be here with you

Have them lock me up and see I have good care

But I just couldn't stand his torture any longer

I was afraid of what I'd do if I stayed there


My Tennessee Mountain Hom

Sittin' on the front porch on a summer afternoon

In a straightback chair on two legs, leans against the wall

Watch the kids a' playin' with June bugs on a string

And chase the glowin' fireflies when evenin' shadows fall

In my Tennessee mountain home

Life is as peaceful as a baby's sigh

In my Tennessee mountain home

Crickets sing in the fields near by

Honeysuckle vine clings to the fence along the lane

Their fragrance makes the summer wind so sweet

And on a distant hilltop, an eagle spreads its wings

An' a songbird on a fence post sings a melody

Walkin' home from church on a Sunday with the one ya' love

Just laughin', talkin', making future plans

And when the folks ain't lookin', you might steal a kiss or two

Sittin' in the porch swing, holdin' hands


Light of a Clear Blue Morning

It's been a long dark night

And I've been a-waitin' for the mornin'

It's been a long hard fight

But I see a brand new day a-dawning

I've been looking for the sunshine

You know I ain't seen it in so long

But everything's gonna work out just fine

And everything's gonna be all right

That's been all wrong

'Cause I can see the light of a clear blue morning

I can see the light of a brand new day

I can see the light of a clear blue morning

Oh, and everything's gonna be all right

It's gonna be okay

It's been a long, long time (

Since I've known the taste of freedom

Those clinging vines

That had me bound, well I don't need 'em,

I've been like a captured eagle

You know, an eagle's born to fly

Now that I have won my freedom

Like an eagle, I am eager for the sky

But I can see the light of a clear blue morning

I can see the light of brand new day

I can see the light of a clear blue morning

Oh, and everything's gonna be all right

It's gonna be okay

I can see the light of a clear blue morning

I can see the light of a brand new day

I can see the light of a clear blue morning

Oh, and everything's gonna be all right

Everything's gonna be all right

Everything's gonna be all right

It's gonna be okay

The Seeker

I am a seeker, a poor sinful creature

There is no weaker than I am

I am a seeker and you are a teacher

You are a reacher, so reach down

Reach out and lead me, guide me and keep me

In the shelter of your care each day

'Cause I am a seeker and you are a keeper

You are a leader, won't you show me the way?

I am a vessel that's empty and useless

I am a bad seed that fell by the way

I am a loser that wants to be a winner

And you are my last hope, don't turn me away

I am a seeker, a poor sinful creature

There is no weaker than I am

I am a seeker and you are a teacher

You are a reacher, so reach down

Reach out and lead me, guide me and keep me

In the shelter of your care each day

'Cause I am a seeker and you are a keeper

You are a leader, won't you show me the way?

Oh, and you are a mountain

From which there flows a fountain

So let its water wash my sins away

'Cause I am a seeker, and you are a keeper

You are a teacher, won't you teach me the way?

Reach out and lead me, guide me and keep me

In the shelter of your care each day

You are

Sometimes I try to count the ways

And reasons that I love you

But I can never seem to count that far

I love you in a million ways

And for a million reasons

But more than this I love you as you are

More than this I love you just as you are

You are my inspiration

You are the song I sing

You are what makes me happy

You are my everything

You are my daily sunshine

You are my evening star

Everything I'd ever hoped to find

That's what you are

Everything I'll ever want for 'mine'

Is what you are

You are my thoughts when I'm awake

And my dreams when I'm asleep

You are the reason for my smile

You are the words I speak

Every role I play in life

You play the leading part

Everything I'll ever want or need

Is what you are

The only one I'll ever want for me

That's what you are

You are my inspiration

You are the song I sing

You are what makes me happy

You are my everything

You are my daily sunshine

You are my evening star

Everything I ever had in mind

Is what you are

The only one I'll ever want for 'mine'

That's what you are

Jolene

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I'm beggin' of you, please don't take my man

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

Please don't take him just because you can

Your beauty is beyond compare

With flaming locks of auburn hair

With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green

Your smile is like a breath of spring

Your voice is soft like summer rain

And I cannot compete with you, Jolene

He talks about you in his sleep

And there's nothin' I can do to keep

From cryin' when he calls your name, Jolene

And I can easily understand

How you could easily take my man

But you don't know what he means to me, Jolene

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I'm beggin' of you, please don't take my man

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

Please don't take him just because you can

I Will Always Love You

If I should stay

I would only be in your way

So I'll go, but I know

I'll think of you each step of the way

And I will always love you

I will always love you

Bitter-sweet memories

That's all I am taking with me

Good-bye, please don't cry

We both know that I'm not

What you need

I will always love you

I will always love you

I hope life, treats you kind

And I hope that you have all

That you ever dreamed of

And I wish you joy

And happiness

But above all of this

I wish you love

And I will always love you

I will always love you

I will always love you



Coat of Many Colors

Back through the years

I go wonderin' once again

Back to the seasons of my youth

I recall a box of rags that someone gave us

And how my mama put the rags to use

There were rags of many colors

Every piece was small

And I didn't have a coat

And it was way down in the fall

Mama sewed the rags together

Sewin' every piece with love

She made my coat of many colors

That I was so proud of

As she sewed, she told a story

From the Bible, she had read

About a coat of many colors

Joseph wore and then she said

Perhaps this coat will bring you

Good luck and happiness

And I just couldn't wait to wear it

And mama blessed it with a kiss

My coat of many colors

That my mama made for me

Made only from rags

But I wore it so proudly

Although we had no money

Well, I was rich as I could be

In my coat of many colors

My mama made for me

So with patches on my britches

And holes in both my shoes

In my coat of many colors

I hurried off to school

Just to find the others laughing

And are making fun of me

In my coat of many colors

My mama made for me

And oh, I couldn't understand it

For I felt I was rich

And I told 'em of the love

My mama sewed in every stitch

And I told 'em all the story

Mama told me while she sewed

And how my coat of many colors

Was worth more than all their clothes

But they didn't understand it

And I tried to make them see

That one is only poor

Only if they choose to be

Now I know we had no money

But I was rich as I could be

In my coat of many colors

My mama made for me

Made just for me