In 1992, Whitney Houston’s powerful vocals turned “I Will Always Love You” into a cultural phenomenon. The song topped the US charts for 14 weeks, won multiple awards, and became one of the best-selling singles of all time. But many people are unaware that the song was originally written and recorded by country legend Dolly Parton. Parton wrote the song in 1973, and released it on her album Jolene the following year. In this article, we’ll explore the story and meaning behind the song!
The Story Behind the Song
Dolly Parton launched her career in the late 1960s when she joined “The Porter Wagoner Show”. The host of the show, Porter Wagoner, saw potential in Parton and functioned as her mentor. The two even established a successful musical partnership with hits such as “The Last Thing on My Mind” and “Please Don’t Stop Loving Me”.
But as Parton’s popularity grew, she began to feel constrained by the limitations of the show. After 7 years on “The Porter Wagoner Show”, Parton felt it was time to pursue her own musical career. Wagoner, however, was resistant to Parton’s ideas and refused to listen to her desires.
It inspired Dolly Parton to write “I Will Always Love You”, which was Parton’s way of saying goodbye to Wagoner.
“How am I gonna make him understand how much I appreciate everything, but that I have to go? He won’t listen to me. He’s not listening to reason when I want to go!” So I went home and I thought, “Well, what do you do best? You write songs.” So I sat down and I wrote this song (I Will Always Love You).
Dolly Parton in an interview with The Tennessean
Parton wrote the song in just a single day and gathered the courage to perform it in front of Wagoner the very next day. Wagoner was reportedly moved to tears during Parton’s performance and finally changed his mind about opposing her artistic dreams.
Dolly Parton’s first release after leaving “The Porter Wagoner Show” was her studio album Jolene (1974). It contained the hits “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” and embarked her career as a mainstream star.
The Meaning of the Song
Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” is a heartfelt expression of farewell from the perspective of someone who is leaving a relationship. Although the song is commonly interpreted as a song between romantic lovers, in Parton’s case, it was written about her professional breakup with partner Porter Wagoner.
The opening lines of the song instantly expose the tragic theme of the song. The narrator admits that the relationship isn’t working out, but still wants to preserve the good memories and love that was shared.
The rest of the song exposes the narrator’s desire for her loved one’s well-being and happiness. This shows that the narrator cares about her partner’s future despite their breakup.
The iconic chorus reinforces the narrator’s commitment to her love, despite the upcoming separation.
In many ways, the song reflects Dolly Parton’s relationship with Porter Wagoner. After the two broke up, they remained close friends.
Whitney Houston’s Cover
In 1992, Whitney Houston covered “I Will Always Love You” for the soundtrack of The Bodyguard. Houston’s version was a departure from Parton’s original, featuring a dramatic build-up, soaring vocals, and commercial production.
Houston initially desired to cover another song for the lead single of The Bodyguard, but co-star Kevin Costner insisted Houston to cover “I Will Always Love You”. A good recommendation, because Houston’s cover topped the US charts for 14 weeks and became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Whitney Houston’s cover of “I Will Always Love You” became such a cultural phenomenon that a lot of people are unaware Dolly Parton wrote and sang the original. But Dolly has expressed she doesn’t mind the song being ‘Whitney’s song’.
People say: ‘Well that’s Whitney’s song.’ I said: ‘That’s fine. You can give her the credit. I just want the cash. So, send that check on te me.’
Dolly Parton in an interview with AXS TV
The Song’s Legacy
Overall, “I Will Always Love You” is a timeless classic that has made an unquestionable impact on popular music. Dolly Parton’s original recording captured the core of the song’s message with its stripped-down instrumentation and heartfelt vocals. Whitney Houston’s cover elevated the song to new heights of popularity, making the song a phenomenon.
Interested in more stories behind Dolly Parton songs? Click here
