Books I've Written

‘Just the Way I Am’ – Poetic Selections

Published March 1, 1979 / Last Updated August 23, 2015
Team Dolly is a collaboration of writers, editors, and publishers assembled by Dolly Parton Productions. Each member is dedicated to accurately publishing the latest news and historical archives of the living legend that is Dolly Rebecca Parton.

Managing Editor - Jacob Timmons
Creative Director - Sarah Chapman
Team Dolly

‘Just the Way I Am’ – Poetic selections on ‘reasons to live, reasons to love and reasons to smile’ from the songs of Dolly Parton.

“Just the Way I Am” is a collection of poetry comprised of song lyrics from some of her most treasured works. It was published by Blue Mountain Arts in 1979. In the introduction Dolly writes,

“My songs are like children, I conceive a thought, I carry it in my mind for a time, and then labor to give it birth. Hope you like my kids.”

Several of the poems have recognizable titles taken from both song titles and song lyrics. Within the first section, “Reasons to Love” the reader can find “Love is like a butterfly,” “Jolene” and “Back through the years.” Additionally, “Two doors down” and “Together you and I” can be found in “Reasons to Smile.”

Her songwriting is, arguably, the heart of Dolly’s artistry and often her most beloved works were born out of real-life experiences. She has a brave honesty in her music that fans embrace. This book provides yet another avenue to experience the depth and emotion of her words.

Song lyrics from “Little Bird” found on the album “In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)” can be found within the lines of this untitled poem.

“Beauty is a rare perfume, precious,
yet doesn’t last long,
and youth is but a playful breeze
that blows our way once
and moves on.

Love is a hidden treasure
and some never find where it lies,
and memory is a little bird
that flies through life
and never dies.”

Part of “Together You and I” first recorded by Dolly and Porter Wagoner can be found in this short poem.

“My love for you
is deeper than the depth of any ocean,
and as faithful as the stars
that grace the night
as constant as the sun
in its journey
through the heavens…
we will always be together,
you and I.”

The book concludes with a special section, “About the Author” followed by acknowledgments.

 

Team Dolly‘Just the Way I Am’ – Poetic Selections

‘The Best of Dolly Parton’

Published November 11, 1970 / Last Updated August 23, 2015
Team Dolly is a collaboration of writers, editors, and publishers assembled by Dolly Parton Productions. Each member is dedicated to accurately publishing the latest news and historical archives of the living legend that is Dolly Rebecca Parton.

Managing Editor - Jacob Timmons
Creative Director - Sarah Chapman
Team Dolly

Two years after signing Dolly to RCA, the label releases a compilation album, ‘The Best of Dolly Parton’

Dolly signed with RCA in 1968. By 1970, she had released four albums “Just Because I’m A Woman,” “In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad),” “My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy” and “The Fairest of Them All.” The compilation album introduced new fans to some of Dolly’s best songs from these albums. The most notable was her version of “Mule Skinner Blues.”

In addition to the title tracks of her first four RCA albums, this compilation includes “Down from Dover,” “Gypsy, Joe, and Me,” “In the Ghetto,” “Daddy Come and Get Me,” “How Great Thou Art” and “Just the Way I Am.”

Porter Wagoner was quoted on the album as saying,

“It’s very difficult to select the best of Dolly’s recordings because each song she performs seems to be the best. I have been at every recording session Dolly has done for RCA, and I’ve helped produce her records, and I can truly say Dolly has God-given talent. As she breathes life into a song you feel as if the story actually comes alive.”

“Mule Skinner Blues,” also known as “Blue Yodel No 8,” was written by Jimmie Rodgers and George Vaughan in the 1930s. Dolly’s version reached No. 3 on the U.S. country charts. It earned Dolly her first individual GRAMMY nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1970. The previous year, Dolly earned her first GRAMMY nomination with her duet partner, Porter Wagoner. The two were nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group with their song, “Just Someone I Used to Know.”

Team Dolly‘The Best of Dolly Parton’

‘In the Good Old days (When Times Were Bad)’

Published February 1, 1969 / Last Updated August 23, 2015
Team Dolly is a collaboration of writers, editors, and publishers assembled by Dolly Parton Productions. Each member is dedicated to accurately publishing the latest news and historical archives of the living legend that is Dolly Rebecca Parton.

Managing Editor - Jacob Timmons
Creative Director - Sarah Chapman
Team Dolly

Dolly releases third solo album, “In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad),” in February 1969

“In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad),” reached No. 15 on the U.S. Top Country Albums chart.


Track Listing
All tracks composed by Dolly Parton; except where indicated

  1. “Don’t Let it Trouble Your Mind”
  2. “He’s a Go Getter”
  3. “In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)”
  4. “It’s My Time” (John D. Loudermilk)
  5. “Harper Valley PTA” (Tom T. Hall)
  6. “Little Bird”
  7. “Mine”
  8. “The Carroll County Accident” (Bob Ferguson)
  9. “Fresh Out of Forgiveness” (Bill Owens, Gene Gill)
  10. “Mama, Say a Prayer”
  11. “Always the First Time” (Joyce McCord)
  12. “D-I-V-O-R-C-E” (Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman)
Team Dolly‘In the Good Old days (When Times Were Bad)’