“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
When we think of Dolly Parton, we often picture a larger-than-life persona: a country music legend with an undeniable presence, warm heart, and unforgettable voice. However, like all of us, she’s given some thought to the inevitable – and her choice of funeral song may surprise you.
In a world where many gravitate toward songs that reflect lasting love and heartbreak, Parton’s choice is deeply rooted in family, faith, and sentimentality. The country icon has expressed a strong wish for the hymn “If We Never Meet Again” to play at her funeral, a song that takes on personal significance due to its religious origins and its connection to her family’s history.
During a 2014 conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Parton candidly shared her hopes, though she was not optimistic that her family would adhere to her request. “I’m sure they’ll be playing ‘I Will Always Love You’ when I die, just like they did with Whitney Houston,” she said, referring to the iconic ballad she wrote and made famous. “When they picked her coffin up and started in on that song, I started to cry, and I thought, ‘Oh my Lord.’ That’s when it hit me that she was really gone.”
Despite this inevitable association with her most famous song, Parton’s heart remains tied to “If We Never Meet Again,” a moving country-gospel tune that reflects the idea of reunification in heaven. She explained that it was a song her father adored, and it was also sung at his funeral in 2000. Parton’s connection to the song goes even further: decades before her father’s passing, she included the very same lyrics in her 1974 track “Sacred Memories”, from her album Love Like A Butterfly. In that song, Parton sings:
“If we never meet again this side of heaven,
I will meet you on that beautiful shore,
Where the charming roses bloom forever,
And where separations come no more.”
The lyrics reflect her spiritual upbringing and connection to her family’s church, where she first discovered music. For Parton, this song not only ties into her religious roots but also encapsulates the love and bond she shares with her late father. It’s a poignant and fitting tribute to a life well-lived and a legacy that will continue on in the hearts of those who knew her best.
As she expressed, she hopes that this hymn will be sung as she “waves goodbye to planet Earth,” a gentle reminder that her life, like the song, has come full circle. For the woman whose music has touched so many, it is only fitting that her final moments be underscored by the song that connected her to her most cherished memories.
Video
Lyrics
Soon we’ll come to the end of life’s journey
And perhaps we’ll never meet anymore
Till we gather in Heaven’s bright city
Far away on that beautiful shore
If we never meet again this side of Heaven
As we struggle through this world and its strife
There’s another meeting place somewhere in heaven
By the side of the river of life
(Where the charming roses bloom forever)
(And where separation comes no more)
If we never meet again this side of Heaven
I will meet you on that beautiful shore
Oh, they say we shall meet by the river
Where no storm clouds ever darken the sky
And they say we’ll be happy in Heaven
In the wonderful sweet by and by
(Where the charming roses bloom)
News
Reba McEntire’s Ex-Husband Narvel Blackstock Ties the Knot Again – But It’s Who He Married That Left Fans Absolutely Speechless!
Reba McEntire’s Ex-Husband, Narvel Blackstock, Marries Laura Stroud Mark Von Holden/Variety via Getty Images Narvel Blackstock, Reba McEntire’s former…
From Country Queen to Screen Legend: 10 of Reba McEntire’s Most Unforgettable Movie and TV Roles – Including a Few You Totally Forgot About (or Never Knew Existed!)
10 Of Reba McEntire’s Unforgettable Roles In Movies & TV Shows Reba McEntire Has Acted In Many Movies & TV…
Dolly Parton’s Hotel Isn’t Just Another Nashville Venue – It’s a Bachelorette Wonderland with a Glamorous Secret!
Dolly Parton’s much‑anticipated Songteller Hotel isn’t just another addition to Nashville’s skyline—it’s poised to become the ultimate bachelorette playground. Slated…
At 79, Dolly Parton FINALLY reveals the scary, fragile moments of the pain she went through…
Dolly Parton – Lord Hold My Hand About The Song A Prayer in Song: Dolly Parton’s “Lord Hold My Hand” In every stage of her legendary career, Dolly Parton has never been afraid to show the world her heart—especially when it comes to matters of faith, grace, and personal strength. Her song “Lord Hold My Hand”, featured on the 2022 album Run, Rose, Run, is a stirring example of that open-hearted honesty. It’s not just a song—it’s a prayer set to music, a gentle plea for guidance in life’s darkest and most uncertain hours. For listeners who seek comfort, especially those who have weathered many of life’s storms, this track offers a quiet anchor in sound and spirit. Musically, “Lord Hold My Hand” leans into a simple, roots-based arrangement that lets Dolly’s voice take center stage. Acoustic guitars, soft harmonies, and a light gospel undercurrent frame the lyrics without distraction. The production is humble and reverent, echoing the tone of a country church service or a solitary walk in the hills at sunrise. There’s no need for dramatic crescendos—the power of the song lies in its sincerity. Lyrically, it’s a deeply personal invocation. “Lord, hold my hand, I need you again / Take me and guide me through sorrow and sin.” With these lines, Dolly offers vulnerability without fear, expressing what so many feel but struggle to say: that even the strongest hearts sometimes tremble, and even the most faithful souls need reassurance. Her voice carries that emotional honesty with grace—never showy, never forced, just pure, heartfelt dependence on something greater than herself. This isn’t new territory for Dolly. Her music has long drawn from her East Tennessee roots, where gospel hymns, family prayers, and personal faith were woven into daily life. But in “Lord Hold My Hand,” that spiritual foundation is more intimate than ceremonial. It feels like a one-on-one conversation with God, born not of dogma, but of deep personal experience. For longtime fans, especially those in later life who have walked through sorrow, illness, and loss, this song resonates on a profound level. It is not about religion—it is about relationship, about the unspoken hope that, in the loneliest moments, we are never truly alone. It’s a reminder that faith doesn’t always shout—it often whispers in the quiet corners of our lives….
At age 79, Dolly Parton FINALLY talks about the life of a woman named Jolene…
Dolly Parton – Jolene About The Song Timeless Plea, Timeless Power: Dolly Parton – “Jolene” Few songs in country music—or any genre—have left as enduring a mark as “Jolene” by Dolly Parton. Released in 1973, this haunting ballad of vulnerability and quiet desperation has become one of the most iconic tracks in American music history. With its unforgettable melody, sparse instrumentation, and emotionally charged lyrics, “Jolene” remains as powerful today as it was over fifty years ago—a testament to Dolly’s songwriting brilliance and raw emotional honesty. The song opens with a tension that never releases. A simple, hypnotic guitar riff sets the stage for Dolly’s voice—clear, pleading, and filled with restrained urgency. She addresses Jolene, a woman of striking beauty, begging her not to steal the man she loves. But this isn’t a song about confrontation; it’s about fear. “Your beauty is beyond compare / With flaming locks of auburn hair,” Dolly sings, admitting her rival’s power while revealing her own deep insecurity. What makes “Jolene” so unique is its emotional complexity. Rather than vilifying the other woman, Dolly’s narrator speaks with a heartbreaking sense of admiration and helplessness. The song doesn’t dwell in anger—it lives in the quiet space between pride and panic, between knowing love can’t be forced and hoping it won’t be taken. It’s that vulnerability, that human ache, that has allowed listeners of every generation to connect with the song so deeply. Musically, “Jolene” is deceptively simple. The arrangement is lean—acoustic guitar, light percussion, and Dolly’s voice front and center. But within that minimalism lies its brilliance. The looping guitar line mirrors the obsessive thoughts of someone spiraling through doubt, while the melody’s rising and falling phrasing captures the emotional waves of pleading and fear. Beyond its initial chart success—it reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and has been covered by countless artists around the world—“Jolene” helped define Dolly Parton not just as a singer, but as a masterful storyteller. It showcased her gift for giving voice to complex emotions with clarity and grace, and it cemented her place in the canon of great American songwriters. Over the decades,…
Dolly Parton Breaks Her Silence on the Tragic Loss of Her Baby Brother – A Rare, Heart-Wrenching Revelation That Left Even the Strongest Fans Shaken: “It Crushed Me in Ways I Can’t Explain…”
Dolly Parton Opens Up About Her Baby Brother’s Death – “It Crushed Me” Bunnie Xo / YouTube Dolly Parton’s…
End of content
No more pages to load