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Happy 75th, Dolly Parton!
I asked my student, Misty, to share with my readers some of her vast knowledge about her shero, Dolly Parton, who turns 75 today. Misty's mom went to high school with Dolly, and when Misty asked her parents to host us in their home this past fall, they pulled out the yearbooks. That's Misty's index finger on Dolly's senior picture. In the group shot below, we show off the "What Would Dolly Do?" t-shirts Misty (second from left) gave us.
So now from Misty Hedrick I give you...
Five Reasons to Love Dolly Parton
1. Billboard estimates Dolly's current catalog at nearly 5,000 songs. That makes Dolly Partonthe most prolific living songwriter. She writes poetry, screenplays, and Broadway musicals, and she starred in hit movies like 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias. And Dolly now churns out Netflix specials based on her songs, like Jolene and Two Doors Down.
2. From farm-raised to superstardom, Dolly probably never worked 9 to 5 a day in her life. Actually, she recently stated her day begins at 3 AM. Dolly’s business acumen speaks for itself. She owns a publishing company and the rights to her songs. Her award-winning theme park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, attracts 4 million visitors a year while providing four thousand jobs and invigorating job growth in surrounding communities. Although she visits the park often, she never rides the roller coasters.
3. Dolly Parton gives back. She raised $9M for victims of wildfires that swept through the Smokies in 2016; and she donated $1M to Covid-19 vaccine research. But the real jewel in her generous crown? Dolly’s Imagination Library sends books to children ages birth to 5 years (130 million books at last count). She credits her father, who could not read or write, as the inspiration behind Imagination Library and her title “the Book Lady.”
4. Dolly loves her husband. She met Carl Dean, her husband of 54 years, at the Wishy-Washy Laundromat one day after she moved to Nashville. They eloped two years later, though her new record label wanted her to stay single. At 50 years, they renewed their vows, prompting Dean to dub Dolly his second wife. He stays out of the limelight, but Dolly says they enjoy road-tripping in their camper, and he loves her fried chicken.
5. Dolly Parton loves Jesus. Her faith shines through in her grateful, humble attitude, hard-working spirit, and ever-inclusive soul. Her songs speak of prayer and the power of the gospel to help her through hard times. Dolly’s latest hits include God Only Knows with For King & Country, and There Was Jesus with Zach Williams. Although she calls herself a “Backwoods Barbie,” Dolly always says, “where it counts, I’m real.”
How to Write Good Lyrics
My guest today is by singer/songwriter, Katherine Long. You can check out her FB fan page and hear her sing by going here.
“I can't get that song out of my head!” A familiar phrase, no? How does a songwriter pen a simple line of words that plays over and over in eager minds and could become legendary in the history of music? If you expect a quick answer or a three-step process, alas, I have neither. The thing about song writing is that the process is a little different for everyone. Some start with a good melody line and fill in lyrics that fit . For others, lyrics must come first. The good news is that after consulting the experts (Songwriting for Dummies by Jim Peterik, et al), I can give you some great tips on writing good lyrics.
There are a lot of possible starting points, so here are some suggestions: begin with a title, an idea, an experience you’ve had, an imagined storyline, a catchy phrase, or even a melody line that suggests a lyric. Any of these should get you in the “writing” groove. Once you’ve settled on an idea, start with the verses of the song and begin writing. Let the verses express the concept of the song and have the chorus make the main point. As you write, pay attention to the way the words sound together and within the melody. Though rhyming isn’t necessary every time, songs that do not rhyme are definitely the exception. I actually find it easier to write lyrics when I’m trying to come up with a great rhyme. But everyone’s different.
While I found these tips to be helpful and true, my favorite tip from Songwriting for Dummies was to create “the hook.” The hook is a line of lyrics, a sound effect, a melody that catches the listeners ear. It gives a song that special something that puts it in the “I can’t get that song out of my head” category. One of the best examples of a hook is from Beethoven’s 5th Symphony: Bum Bum Bum Bahhh, Bum Bum Bum Bahhh. Hum that to just about anyone, and he or she will know exactly what you’re talking about. If you can create a memorable hook—whether in words, in melody or in effect—you’ll have a song that people will remember.
Finally, a note for those who want to write songs specifically for worship. I was speaking to a director of a large worship ministry in Texas recently and he said there are two things you have to realize when writing worship songs. One, you have to write the song so that non-singers can sing it. And two, keep it simple. Simple doesn’t mean shallow, he said. It means that your song has one concept—a concept that needs to be remembered by the people singing it so the message will stick with them. If you can’t write the main point or message of your song in one sentence, it’s probably too complicated.
For anyone interested in reading more about songwriting and diving deeper into some great ideas and examples, I do recommend Songwriting for Dummies. Peterik also covers topics such as getting your songs heard and how to market yourself. Check it out from your local library. Happy songwriting!
Resources for Songwriters