“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
In the summer of 1962, a 16-year-old Dolly Parton stood in a Nashville recording studio, her heart racing as she prepared to record what would become one of her earliest professional releases. “The Love You Gave” wasn’t just any song—it was a pivotal moment in the career of country music’s future queen.
Released as the B-side to “It’s Sure Gonna Hurt” on Mercury Records, this haunting ballad captures the raw emotional talent that would eventually make Dolly a household name. Written by Robert Riley and Marie Jones, the song showcases a young artist already capable of conveying profound heartbreak with remarkable maturity.
The recording features the legendary Jordanaires providing background vocals—the same group who backed Elvis Presley on many of his iconic hits. Their gospel-influenced harmonies create the perfect backdrop for Dolly’s crystal-clear voice as she navigates the song’s emotional landscape.
What makes “The Love You Gave” so compelling is its deceptive simplicity. The lyrics paint a vivid contrast between physical affection and emotional coldness: “Sweet were the lips that kissed me, warm were the arms that held me… but cold, so cold was the love you gave me.” In just a few lines, Dolly captures the heartbreaking realization that sometimes love’s outward expressions can mask an inner emptiness.
When Dolly first heard herself on WIVK, a Knoxville radio station, she later recalled, “I was so proud I walked around for days with my chest all stuck out. Somehow, nobody noticed.” This charming anecdote reveals both her youthful excitement and the humble beginnings of a career that would eventually span over six decades.
Though “The Love You Gave” didn’t chart nationally, it received airplay on local stations near Sevierville, Tennessee—Dolly’s hometown. More importantly, it represented her first release on a major label, a crucial stepping stone in her journey from the Smoky Mountains to worldwide stardom.
Today, this early recording stands as a fascinating time capsule—a glimpse of the emotional depth and vocal control that would eventually make Dolly Parton one of music’s most beloved icons. In those sweet, warm vocals lies the promise of everything she would become.
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Lyrics
(Sweet) Sweet were the lips that kissed me
(Warm) Warm were the arms that held me
(Sweet) Sweet were the lips, yes
(Warm) warm were the arms
But cold, so cold was the love you gave me
(Wet) Wet were the tears on my face
(Long) Long were the hours I cried them
(Wet) Wet were the tears, yes
(Long) Long were the hours
But cold, so cold was the love you gave me
My friends tried to tell me
That that would a-happen to me
But like a fool, I didn’t believe
That misery and pain a-would-a ever get to me, oh
(Since) Since you’ve been gone, gone away
(I cry) Cry lonely teardrops night and day
(Since) Since you’ve been gone, yes
(I cry) I cry lonely teardrops
But cold, so cold was the love you gave me
(Sweet) Sweet were the lips that kissed me
(Warm) Warm were the arms that held me