Dolly Parton

Released: April 2, 1973

Songwriter: Dolly Parton

Producer: Bob Ferguson

[Chorus]
Down on Music Row
Down on Music Row
If you want to be a star
That's where you've got to go

[Verse 1]
I could feel a change a-comin'
I left my hometown a-hummin'
With my ol' guitar a-strummin'
Songs that I had wrote
I was on my way to Nashville
I just couldn't hardly wait
'Til I could sing my songs
To the folks on Music Row

[Verse 2]
I got into Nashville early
Sleepy, hungry, tired, and dirty
And on the steps of RCA
I ate a stale, sweet roll
In the fountain at the Hall of Fame
I washed my face and read the names
In the walkway of the stars
Down on Music Row

[Chorus]
Down on Music Row
Down on Music Row
If you want to be a star
That's where you've got to go

[Verse 3]
I waited there 'til eight o'clock
When office doors became unlocked
Then I started walking
Down the streets of Music Row
Just a-walking up and down the street
Trying to find out who to see
To help me get on record
And to hear the songs I'd wrote

[Verse 4]
But I found it going rough
Everyone was all tied up
Either in a conference
Or in the studio
They said that I could leave a tape
But they'd suggest I didn't wait
'Cause everyone was awful busy
Down on Music Row

[Verse 5]
But I could feel that change a-comin'
And I just kept right on a-hummin'
With my ol' guitar still strummin'
All them songs that I'd wrote
And then Chet and Bob at RCA
Well, they listened to my songs that day
And they both told me that I was on my way
Down on Music Row

[Chorus]
Down on Music Row
Down on music Row
If you want to be a star
That's where you've got to go

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

Down on Music RowDolly Parton

Dolly Parton

My Tennessee Mountain Home