Dolly Parton

Released: February 13, 1967

Songwriter: Bill Owens Dolly Parton

Producer: Fred Foster

[Verse 1]
I keep on a' giving
And I took all the taking
I gave all my love to you
And I took all your hurt
I treated you so good

[Verse 2]
But you treated me like dirt
They say love is give and take
Now my poor heart is breaking
I keep on a' giving
And I took all the taking
I always gave you everything

[Verse 3]
That I knew how to give I would for you
I treated you too good for my own good
Now I'm along and left forsaken
I keep on a' giving
And took all the taking

[Chorus]
The giving and the taking
Has caused my heart to break
I've given all that I can give
And I have taken all that I can take
The giving and the taking
Has caused my heart to break
I've given all that I can give
And I have taken all that I can take

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

Hello, I’m Dolly

From the albums

Hello, I’m Dolly (1967)
The World of Dolly Parton (1972)

Dolly Parton popular songs

The Giving and the TakingDolly Parton

Dolly Parton

Hello, I’m Dolly