23 January 2017

Always...

Earlier today, while walking in the post-industrial environs of Staveley, North East Derbyshire, I spotted this graffiti on a gateway:-
"I Will Always Love You" is not just the title of  Dolly Parton's great song, it is also a line that is communicated by many people at some stage in their life. The words might be written or spoken but in this instance they appear in silver-white writing on a gate that leads to a land reclamation project at Staveley Town Basin - once an important staging post on the old Chesterfield Canal.

Having closely witnessed the handwriting habits and styles of thousands of teenagers, I would say that this particular declaration was made by a teenage girl aged between thirteen and sixteen. Was she with the object of her affections when she scrawled the message or did she expect him/her to see it when walking along that same path?

In Dolly Parton's case, the sentiments contained in "I Will Always Love You" related to her breaking up with her lover and professional partner Porter Wagoner. Singing those five words back in 1973 was a way of saying goodbye. And I think that is rather sad. "I will always love you" should not be goodbye words  but an affirmative declaration filled with hope for the future.

25 comments:

  1. I'm nt sure you got the correct demographic for the writer, it doesn't use a heart to dot the I :)
    I agree that "I will always love you" is best used in regard to a future together but it is a very lovely thing to say when breaking up as well. It says that there are no grudges, that you will always wish the best for the other, it might even allow a window of opportunity if circumstances were to change.

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    1. I know what you mean about hearts and little round bubbles floating over the letter "i". A ridiculous ornamentation. And thank you, Kylie, for reflecting thoughtfully on saying goodbye with "I will always love you."

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  2. I still prefer Dolly's version of this beautiful song over Whitney Houston's cover. Houston's was wonderful...she was a great singer, but I still love the original better. I find songs sung by the songwriter are special...the emotions are deep.

    I knew Porter Wagoner was her music partner and mentor for a number of years earlier in her career, but not her lover. She wrote the song in dedication to Wagoner at the breaking up of their professional partnership. Who knows? Only Parton (who denies a romance), Wagoner (who also denies any romantic link-up) and Dolly's long-time husband, Carl Dean, I guess.

    I remember shedding tears at the end of the movie "The Best Little Whorehouse in the West", the first time I saw it - when Dolly sang the song to Burt Reynolds.

    The song is extremely emotive...for me, anyway.

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    1. You are right that when a songwriter sings his/her song there's a special authentic quality that is frequently absent from cover versions.

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  3. Well, I will always love you made for a great song and lots of money. The "scrawl" as you say is much more interesting as it causes questions.

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    1. Usually I hate graffiti scrawl but sometimes it speaks to us about what it is to be human.

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  4. The words "always" and "never" should always be used with caution, never spontaneously.

    When RJ left me after four years, we talked (and still do) a lot about us, and how important a good work relationship and friendship are to us. We both managed the transition and are proud of still being close friends, and we know that we will "always" have a special place in each other's hearts.

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    1. Very tricky to have been in a loving relationship with someone and then to keep seeing them in the workplace. Well done to you and to RJ for managing your situation and finding a harmonious way to keep on working closely together.

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  5. I liked the Dolly Parton version of the song. I didn't know about the Porter Wagoner connection.

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    1. Do you sing it to Paul when he's making your dinner?

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    2. Absolutely, I do have trouble hitting the high notes though.

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    3. Try "Old Man River" instead...

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  6. I always associate the song with Whitney Houston which is impossible to listen to without it making your ears bleed.

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  7. Anonymous12:10 pm

    Wonder if this love still exists? Or is it a one-side love? Does this message exert pressure to someone? Do I read guilt? There may be various reasons to write a message like this, but real love doesn't need statements like this, or am I wrong?

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    1. I wonder what "real love" is Beech.Arguably it means different things to different people.

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  8. Looks more like it is written by an eighty something year old to me.

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    1. Eighty somethings generally don't go around scrawling graffiti. Instead they go to Marks and Spencers to check out the latest beige cardigans!

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  9. I love stumbling across graffiti like this and wondering about the backstory. I'd forgotten that Dolly originally sang that song. Like others, I always think of Whitney Houston. I'll have to listen to Dolly's version again.

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    1. And then you can sing it to Dave... make his ears bleed!

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  10. I have always loved that song...if either Dolly or Whitney sing it I really enjoy it and it always makes me cry

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    1. Instead of Libby you should be Big Softie!

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  11. I see that Lee let you know that Dolly and Porter Wagoner were not involved romantically. If Dolly says she didn't, she didn't! And Dolly did write those words but she also wrote the music to go with them!

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    1. Maybe there was nothing between them but Porter Wagoner said there was Kay... and besides why would anyone write such a wonderful goodbye love song to a mere professional partner?

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