For Dolly Parton a heartfelt tribute [Verse 1] She came from a little mountain home, With a dream bigger than the sky, A guitar in her hands, a song in her heart, And a kindness she never let die. She turned her pain into melodies, Turned her tears into gold, And every broken heart that heard her sing Found a hand they could hold. [Pre-Chorus] And somewhere tonight, A little girl hears “Jolene,” Someone finds courage in “9 to 5,” And somebody whispers through their tears, “Thank you for making my life feel alive.” [Chorus] So sing one more song, Dolly, Let the angels hear your voice, You gave the world a thousand reasons To believe we still have a choice. You taught us how to love through sorrow, How to laugh when days were hard, And though the world feels colder now, Your light still warms our hearts. So rest beneath those mountain stars, You’ve done more than you’ll ever know… And if heaven has a stage tonight, I hope they let you steal the show. [Verse 2] You sang about the coat your mama made, About dreams that wouldn’t stay small, About losing someone you loved so much You thought you’d never stand at all. But you stood there in your sparkle, With that beautiful, fearless smile, And made millions feel less lonely For just a little while. [Pre-Chorus] And there will be little voices Singing songs you wrote someday, Children holding books you gave them, Learning there is hope along the way. You gave away pieces of your heart Without asking for a thing… And somehow, Dolly, You made the whole world sing. [Chorus] So sing one more song, Dolly, Let the angels hear your voice, You gave the world a thousand reasons To believe we still have a choice. You taught us how to love through sorrow, How to laugh when days were hard, And though the world feels colder now, Your light still warms our hearts. So rest beneath those mountain stars, You’ve done more than you’ll ever know… And if heaven has a stage tonight, I hope they let you steal the show. [Soft Piano Interlude] “And I will always love you…” [Bridge — almost whispered] I wonder if your daddy’s waiting, Standing at the golden gate, Saying, “Baby girl, you made it…” And you laughing, saying, “Daddy, I guess I’m not too late.” Maybe Mama’s there beside him, With that old coat in her hands, And the mountains look like Tennessee Beyond the promised land. And maybe all the souls you helped Are singing just for you… Because every life you touched down here Is carrying your song through. [Final Chorus — build slowly] So sing one more song, Dolly… But this time, don’t sing it for us. Let the heavens hold your melody, Let the stars become your chorus. You gave us “I Will Always Love You,” And somehow now we understand… Those words were never just a song— They were the gift inside your hands. [Final Verse — piano only] The curtain falls, The lights grow dim, But your music doesn’t end. It lives in every lonely heart, In every stranger, every friend. And somewhere in the Smokies, The wind is moving through the trees… It almost sounds like someone’s singing, Softly on the evening breeze. [Outro — whispered] Goodnight, Dolly. Thank you for the songs. Thank you for the laughter. Thank you for the love. You may have left the stage… but you never have to leave our hearts. And if heaven has a radio tonight, turn it up… Dolly’s singing again.
