Dolly Parton‘s hit song, “Here You Come Again,” holds great significance in her career, marking a pivotal moment. Unlike many of her songs, Dolly did not write this one herself, making it a unique addition to her repertoire. Moreover, it holds the distinction of being her first million-selling single. The song was co-written by the renowned songwriting duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, with production by Gary Klein. Interestingly, it was initially recorded by B.J. Thomas before finding its way into Dolly Parton’s hands.
During that period, Dolly was already a beloved country music superstar. However, she was determined not to neglect her loyal country fans while aspiring to reach a broader audience. Mann crafted the melody, and Weil contributed the lyrics, recalling that she unintentionally altered the melody slightly, a change that Barry actually liked. The “great opening line” of the song, “Here you come again, just when I’ve begun to get myself together,” was Weil’s creation. Gary Klein, who was producing Dolly at the time, heard the song and instantly fell in love with it. Dolly, always gracious and endearing, expresses her gratitude to Mann and Weil whenever she sees them for gifting her with the song. Initially, she had reservations about the track, fearing it might be too polished and alienate her country fanbase. However, she was eventually persuaded to record it, and now she is thrilled that she did.
A fascinating aspect of Dolly’s decision to record “Here You Come Again” was her desire for people to hear the steel guitar in the song. This allowed her to assert its country authenticity if anyone criticized its genre. As stated in the book “The Billboard Book of Number One County Hits,” Gary Klein, the producer, spoke about Dolly’s relief, comparing her apprehension to a reprieve from a life sentence.
Despite Dolly Parton’s concerns, “Here You Come Again” managed to strike the perfect balance, impressing both country and pop music enthusiasts. It soared to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and reached an impressive position of No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart. At that time, it became her highest-charting single across all genres. Additionally, the album of the same name, released in 1977, marked her successful crossover into the pop music scene and became her first album to break into the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The impact of “Here You Come Again” extends beyond its initial release, as a Dolly Parton-themed musical, named after the iconic song, is currently in development at the Connecticut-based theater company, Goodspeed Musicals. Scheduled to run from July 26 to August 27, 2023, this musical adaptation pays homage to Dolly’s enduring legacy and the timeless appeal of her music.
Movie: Dumplin’
Artist: Dolly Parton
Released: 1977
Genre: Country
Lyrics
Here you come again
Just when I’ve begun to get myself together
You waltz right in the door, just like you’ve done before
And wrap my heart ’round your little finger
Here you come again
Just when I’m about to make it work without you
You look into my eyes and light those dreamy eyes
And pretty soon I’m wondering how I came to doubt you
All you gotta do is smile that smile
And there go all my defenses
Just leave it up to you and in a little while
You’re messing up my mind and filling up my senses
Here you come again
Looking better than a body has a right to
And shaking me up so, that all I really know
Is here you come again, and here I go
All you gotta do is smile that smile
And there go all my defenses
Just leave it up to you and in a little while
You’re messing up my mind and filling up my senses
Here you come again
Looking better than a body has a right to
And shaking me up so, that all I really know
Is here you come again, and here I go
Here I go
And here I go
And here I go
Here you come again
And here I go
Here I go
And here I go
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