Dolly Parton

Released: April 2, 1973

Songwriter: Dolly Parton

Producer: Bob Ferguson

We're all together once again
For the first time in I don't know when
We were so close once upon a time
There were twelve of us kids at home
Six girls, six boys and Dad and Mom
But that was in the better part of life we've left behind

Remember that old swimming hole
Where we would swim so long ago
All them possum grapes and muscadines
And do you all recall the time
We all got drunk on homemade wine?
That was in the better part of life we've left behind

Life was simple for us then
If only it could be again
How I wish we could go back in time
But time moves on and nothing lasts
Except the memories from the past
Memories from the better part of life we've left behind

Remember how we talked as kids
Of what we'd be when we got big
And all the dreams that we held in our minds
I wanted to be a singing star
And you all said that I'd go far
But that was in the better part of life we've left behind

Remember all the fun we had
Back when they say times were bad
And life was good to us and things were fine
We had fun and we had love
And a mom and dad to care for us
But that was is the better part of life we've left behind

Life was simple for us then
If only it could be again
How I wish we could go back in time
But life goes on and nothing lasts
Except the memories from the past
Memories from the better part of life we've left behind
Sweet memories from the better part of life we've left behind

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

My Tennessee Mountain Home

From the album

My Tennessee Mountain Home (1973)

Dolly Parton popular songs

Better Part of LifeDolly Parton

Dolly Parton

My Tennessee Mountain Home