Dolly Parton

Released: October 4, 1971

Songwriter: Dolly Parton

Producer: Bob Ferguson

[Verse 1]
The man I loved ran a salesman route
Selling goods from house to house
Now I knew my mama would never stand
For me stepping out with no traveling man
Mama bought things that he was a'selling
But mama didn't know and I sure wasn't telling
That behind her back I was making plans
To meet somewhere with that traveling man
Oh the traveling man was a good bit older
But a girl needs arms to hold her
Mama didn't know because I didn't told her
But mama wouldn't understand
Me stepping out with a traveling man

[Verse 2]
Mama didn't allow me going courting
And I'd tell lies that I reckon I oughtn't
Oh but she'd give me the back her hand
If she'd seen me with that traveling man
So I tell my mama that I reckon I ought to
Go to the spring and fetch us some water
What mama didn't know is I had a plan
To meet down there with that traveling man

[Verse 3]
Now I make plans to run away
With that traveling man on a Saturday
Well Saturday's here and here I stand
And there goes my mama with that traveling man

[Verse 4]
Oh that traveling man was a two-time lover
He took my love then he took my mother
But I didn't know because mama didn't told me and I don't understand
My mama running off with my traveling man

[Verse 5]
Mama, you know you oughtn't done that
You just like my daddy
He run off before I ever know him
You done run-off with my traveling man
And I really don't think I ever know you either
Oh there goes my mama with my traveling man
And I'm really going to miss that traveling man
Mm-hm

Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music

Beginning her career as a child performer, Parton issued a few modestly successful singles from 1959 through the mid-1960s, showcasing her distinctive soprano voice. She came to greater prominence in 1967 as a featured performer on singer Porter Wagoner’s weekly television program; their first duet single, a cover of Tom Paxton’s “The Last Thing on My Mind”, was a top-ten hit on the country singles charts, and led to several successful albums before they ended their partnership in 1974. Moving towards mainstream pop music, Parton’s 1977 single “Here You Come Again” was a success on both the country and pop charts. A string of pop-country hits followed into the mid-1980s, the most successful being her 1981 hit 9 to 5" (from the film of the same name), and her 1983 duet with Kenny Rogers “Islands in the Stream”, both of which topped the U.S. pop and country singles charts. A pair of albums recorded with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris were among her later successes. In the late 1990s, Parton returned to classic country/bluegrass with a series of acclaimed recordings

more tracks from the album

Coat of Many Colors

From the albums

Coat of Many Colors (1971)
Bubbling Over (1973)
The Best Of Dolly Parton (Vol. 2) (1975)

Dolly Parton popular songs

Traveling ManDolly Parton

Dolly Parton

Coat of Many Colors