LEAVIN’ HOME!! NEVER NINE TO FIVE.
As I’ve hinted at in a couple of other columns, people my age and around are passing on – it’s an age thing, some sooner than others – take us by surprise – what they all have in common is that they have their own beloved mourning clan, all who weep internally and externally for them- whether they are family, friends, so called personalities, actors, musicians and weird achievers – and fans, supporters and so on, of these good folks!
One thing I wrestle with at the moment is how we hold true to what these folks have achieved, where their soul, talent, spirit and song go. By song I mean this in the broadest way, definition – not simply singing, but song of life.
When a friend passes, can we still hug them? Even speak to them? Speak with them?
I want to mention Dolly Parton, who passed this last few weeks. Some peoples caricature of a Country Singer, others, and the number is growing, seeing her as a unique heroine, yes, in the real sense, who made an attempt at doing her bit to save the world!! Some thought here for our own contribution.
Look into her background – it’s an eye opener.
She was known world wide, though as I hinted, not everyone believed it. She was a great philanthropist and more trivially – perhaps – wrote some of the most popular westernised ballads and love song, covered by hundreds of people
Her contribution to the support of people who are deprived of books and reading is immense. Kids, find out about it. Another prompt from yer grandad.
Here are some comments and observations from passionate folks who care about Dolly in a passionate way.
“I don’t really follow pop music or country and western very much, but Dolly Parton was always something special – separate from it all, in a way. She seemed absolutely indomitable. Coming from a large family in a mountain home and being brought up in poverty, she broke through to have this incredible career and you couldn’t help feeling fond of her. How she did it I don’t know, but nothing seemed to faze her. Misc.
kd lang, singer-songwriter
She was a plain-clothed prophet. She transcended all misconceptions of what a Christian is, what an American is, what an artist is or what an ally is. She came from a southern, Christian, country and western place and she never wavered in her support of the LGBTQ+ community or the Black community – all those that have suffered at the hands of those with a far-right mentality.
Of all her songs, I really like Coat of Many Colors. I’m not a Christian, but there’s something so down-home about that. I truly believe that it is a story from Dolly’s life.
Joan Osborne, singer-songwriter
Peggy Seeger, singer-songwriter
Dolly was a one-off – and I mean off the wall. Honest, brash, daring and way ahead of her time, yet very present in her own time. She wasn’t a 9 to 5 woman; she was full-on round the clock. I followed her career throughout and adored everything she did. She’s left us way too soon, yet left us so much.
Adorned with suspended pendants of silver chains. As tiny as she was, her presence was big enough to fill 10 football stadiums.
Rest in power, Dolly Parton … the REAL deal.
And…
We’ve lost someone who was an embodiment of a type of American exceptionalism that has been eclipsed by the Trump carnival of people who say: “Empathy is toxic.” She was the opposite of that. Her faith was based on the idea that, as she once said: “I just want everybody to be treated good.” That quote came from someone asking her about anti-trans legislation in her home state of Tennessee. She didn’t hedge it. She went on to say: “We are all God’s children and how we are is who we are.” She didn’t stop at trans people, or American people, or white people. She extended that to everybody.
She was tougher than any man. Her second album was called Just Because I’m a Woman. She was saying: don’t be messing with me, because I see through your pernicious attitudes towards me as a woman and I’m gonna turn that back on you.
Billy Bragg.
‘She silenced the crowd at Glastonbury’Everyone loved Dolly. How could you not? She was the archetype of joy and beauty and generosity – and the music was amazing. The first time she came into my psyche was watching her in 9 to 5 and she’s the best person I’ve seen at Glastonbury in 20 years of going.
Because she came from such an extraordinarily poor background, she could connect with the working-class experience around the world. She was interested in people: “Tell me where you come from. What’s your life about?” I don’t k but thinking of her immediately fills us with joy, rather than sadness.
KT Tunstall, singer-songwriter
Dolly was beyond the greatest. She was a world-leveller, in her immeasurable talent and in her ability to wrap anyone and everyone together in warmth and love. She’ll for ever be one of the best examples of how to spend a life on Earth.
Guys, my wonderful grandkids, what has this got to do with us? Everything. Dig it out one day, see what sense it makes.
Dolly Parton, never nine to five. now how much country music embraces queer culture – possibly not much – but she was hugely supportive of us.
She was the kind of person who got on with it: did the job, got her money and helped people out, rather than making a big song and dance about it. She was strong without being aggressive and would rebut people without being unkind, which is a great skill. You just knew she had the back, not just of queer people, but of all people who face shit in their lives. She was looking out for you and singing for you. She’ll be hugely missed.