It isn’t a good look for this ongoing series that I haven’t included the most successful (female) country artist of all-time – someone who also happens to be the sole writer of over 700 songs, including her own hits.
That person is Dolly Parton.
Her decades-long career is even more remarkable than that, considering what she’s done outside of country music. She’s become a national icon, from her movie acting credits, to her own Dollywood theme park, to the attention she’s recently received for her lifelong philanthropic efforts.
On the music side, she’s probably best known for one of her earliest efforts, Jolene. From a strictly songwriting perspective, I Will Always Love You was her biggest hit, after it was remade as a pop ballad and popularized by Whitney Houston in the movie The Bodyguard.
For purposes of this entry, let’s include her tremendous popular music crossover success. Songs like Here You Come Again and 9 to 5 would be chart-toppers, but I think the best lyrics come from the song Two Doors Down. Consider the variations of the refrain she uses in that song, moving from sad and lonely to happy and friendly:
Two doors down they're laughing and drinkin', and having a party
Two doors down they're not aware that I'm around
Cause here I am crying my heart out, feelin' sorry while
They're having a party just two doors down
I think I'll dry these useless tears and get myself together
I think I'll wonder down the hall and have a look around
'Cause I can't stay inside this lonely room and cry forever
I think I really rather join 'em two door down, yeah
Two doors down they're laughing and drinkin', and having a party
Two doors down they're not aware that I'm around
'Cause here I am no longer crying and feelin' sorry
We're having a party just two doors down
I can't believe I'm standing here dry-eyed, all smiles and talking
Making conversation with the new love I have found
I ask him if he's like to be alone and we start walking
Down the hall to my place waiting two doors down, yeah
Two doors down they're laughing and drinkin', and having a party
Two doors down we're not aware that they're around
'Cause here I am feelin' everything but sorry
We're having our own party two doors down
