We Used To

Album: Dolly (1975)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Dolly Parton is no stranger to heartache ballads like "We Used To," a wistful recollection of romantic times spent with an ex-lover. Because she's so adept at expressing the pain of a broken romance, many of her fans assume the long-married singer must have had a string of affairs. Dolly responded in her 2020 book, Songteller: "I say, 'Well, I don't admit or deny anything.' I have been everywhere, and I have felt everything. I'm a very passionate person, and I feel everything to the nth degree.

    But the truth is that I can draw from other people's sorrows, as well as my own. It's easy for me to write about heartaches. Hurt is hurt, whoever you are. Hell, I had boyfriends from the time I was three years old. I have always loved boys. I've had my sweethearts. I'm like Will Rogers, 'I've never met a man I didn't like.'"

    Although Dolly likes to joke about her penchant for flirting with men, she insisted she only had eyes for her husband, Carl Dean, whom she married in 1966 and stayed with until his death in 2025. Besides, Carl landed himself in hot water with Dolly when he got flirtatious with a redheaded bank teller named "Jolene."
  • This was the second single from Dolly's 16th solo album, following "The Seeker." It peaked at #9 on the Country chart.
  • Dolly announced her split from her longtime duet partner Porter Wagoner in 1974, famously writing the platonic love song "I Will Always Love You" as a testament to their friendship. But Wagoner was still in Dolly's professional orbit for a couple more years; she continued to appear on his TV program, and he produced and arranged her Dolly album. Her subsequent release, All I Can Do marked the end of Wagoner's involvement with Dolly's solo material.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Tony Banks of Genesis

Tony Banks of GenesisSongwriter Interviews

Genesis' key-man re-examines his solo career and the early days of music video.

Leslie West of Mountain

Leslie West of MountainSongwriter Interviews

From the cowbell on "Mississippi Queen" to recording with The Who when they got the wrong Felix, stories from one of rock's master craftsmen.