Rank the Discography: Dolly Parton

There is no better woman to honor during Women’s History Month than Dolly Parton, and what better way to do it besides talking about her best songs? Since she’s been creating music since the 60s, distilling her music down to her top six songs is definitely difficult, but not impossible. When choosing this list, different criteria like songwriting, societal impact, and longevity were taken into account, as well as a bit of personal bias.

1. "Jolene"

This song is one of Dolly Parton's most well-known songs, but it’s earned that spot. Not only is the song catchy as all get out, but it’s also an example of great songwriting. Lyrics like, “With flaming locks of auburn hair / With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green” use vivid imagery to talk about Jolene’s appearance. The song also builds intensity by going up in pitch every time there’s a repetition of Jolene’s name.

2. "Light of a Clear Blue Morning"

This is one of Parton’s more mellow tunes, but it’s a beautiful song. The message is beautiful. The simple and slow melody really allows her voice and words to shine through.

3. "I Will Always Love You"

This song is obviously a cultural phenomenon. Not only was the original version amazing, but Whitney Houston’s version took over the world. This song is special for other reasons. Parton, at the start of her career, was a background singer on the Porter Wagoner Show. He was convinced that he made her career and that she wouldn’t be successful without him. In order to quit the show, Dolly Parton wrote this song and got her start as a solo musician.

4. "Those Memories of You"

On the 1987 collaborative record Trio, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, and Dolly Parton came together to make a supergroup. These powerful women and this song in particular show the power of the harmonies they write. This song is the epitome of the country style Parton usually goes to.

5. "Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That"

Something interesting about this song is that it flips the gaze from male to female, and allows the audience to understand what that perspective would be like. The first line of the song, “Why’d you come in here lookin’ like that / in your cowboy boots and painted on jeans” shows this clearly. The guitar runs and the signature Dolly twang really help this feel like a quintessential country song.

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