About the song
Background of “My Tennessee Mountain Home” by Dolly Parton
- Concept Album: This song is the title track from Dolly Parton’s 1973 album of the same name. The entire album is a concept piece focusing on her childhood experiences growing up in rural East Tennessee.
- Autobiographical: Parton wrote the song herself, drawing on vivid memories of her family, home, and the natural beauty surrounding her.
- Nostalgia: Released not long after she moved to Nashville to pursue music, the song reflects a sense of longing for her simpler childhood.
Themes in “My Tennessee Mountain Home”
- Home and Belonging: The song paints a picture of a peaceful and loving home life, emphasizing the importance of roots and where one comes from.
- Simple Joys: The lyrics celebrate the beauty of nature and the simple pleasures of rural life, contrasting it with the potentially fast-paced world Parton was entering in Nashville.
- Family: The song expresses love and appreciation for Parton’s family, highlighting the strong bonds formed in her childhood.
- Gratitude: Despite facing poverty, the song reflects a sense of thankfulness for the lessons learned and the love received during her upbringing.
Even though the song focuses on a specific time and place, the themes of home, family, and simple pleasures resonate with listeners from all backgrounds, making “My Tennessee Mountain Home” a timeless classic.
Video
Lyrics
Sittin’ on the front porch on a summer afternoonIn a straight-back chair on two legs, leaned against the wallWatch the kids a-playin’ with June bugs on a stringAnd chase the glowin’ fireflies when evenin’ shadows fall
In my Tennessee mountain homeLife is as peaceful as a baby’s sighIn my Tennessee mountain homeCrickets sing in the fields near by
Honeysuckle vine clings to the fence along the laneTheir fragrance makes the summer wind so sweetAnd on a distant hilltop, an eagle spreads it’s wingsAn’ a songbird on a fence post sings a melody
In my Tennessee mountain homeLife is as peaceful as a baby’s sighIn my Tennessee mountain homeCrickets sing in the fields near by
Walkin’ home from church on Sunday with the one ya’ loveJust laughin’, talkin’, making future plansAnd when the folks ain’t lookin’, you might steal a kiss or twoSittin’ in the porch swing, holdin’ hands
In my Tennessee mountain homeLife is as peaceful as a baby’s sighIn my Tennessee mountain homeCrickets sing in the fields near by
Mm-mm