The Grass Is Blue

Album: The Grass Is Blue (1999)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In the title track from her bluegrass album, Dolly Parton copes with the pain of a breakup by pretending opposites are true:

    I'm happy now
    And I'm glad we're through
    And the sky is green
    And the grass is blue
  • Parton wrote this during a 30-minute lunch break from filming the movie Blue Valley Songbird. The song came out so quickly, she attributes it to divine intervention. "It was so perfect," she said in a 1999 interview. "You know how I just love it when, when I feel like God intervenes when I'm really needin' something really bad cause I always - any gifts I have, I always give God the glory and like I say, some songs are better than others. God does better sometimes than he does on others, but anyway, this time, I was so tired. I just wanted it to be so good and he just pretty much wrote this one on His own. I just sat back there and just, you know, in this little amount of time, so I thought, Well God wrote a really good song today, so I'm gonna send this over, but I didn't put his name on it, but at least I'll give Him the glory."
  • Parton picked the perfect time to release a bluegrass album. Bluegrass darling Alison Krauss was making her way into the mainstream and, shortly after the album's release, the Appalachian-inspired soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou? debuted to great acclaim. Despite little support from mainstream country radio, The Grass Is Blue peaked at #24 on the country chart and won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album.
  • Norah Jones recorded this for the 2003 tribute album, Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton.
  • The album was produced by Parton's friend Steve Buckingham, who first worked with the singer on her million-selling 1991 album, Eagle When She Flies. Buckingham was reading a music magazine when he came across a poll asking which non-bluegrass artist should record a bluegrass album - Parton was at the top of the list. When he suggested the idea to her, she jumped right on board.
  • The album also features a cover of Billy Joel's "Travelin' Prayer." Dolly earned a nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance at the 2001 Grammy Awards, but lost to Faith Hill for "Breathe."

Comments: 1

  • Ancient Homo Saipien from Southern AfricaI think the Grass is Green, unless you give it water with blue food coloring. Then the Grass is Blue.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Mike Love of The Beach Boys

Mike Love of The Beach BoysSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist of The Beach Boys talks about coming up with the words for "Good Vibrations," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Kokomo" and other classic songs.

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Adele

AdeleFact or Fiction

Despite her reticent personality, Adele's life and music are filled with intrigue. See if you can spot the true tales.

Michelle Branch

Michelle BranchSongwriter Interviews

Michelle Branch talks about "Everywhere," "The Game Of Love," and her run-in with a Christian broadcasting network.

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-Outs

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-OutsSong Writing

The 10 biggest "retirement tours" that didn't take.