Dolly Parton is living the ultimate rags to riches story. The fourth of twelve children raised in a poor Tennessee family, Parton was born with more than her fair share of talent and developed a larger than life personality long before she became the Dolly Parton we all know and love today.
At just five years old, Parton penned her first song. The tune, titled “Little Tiny Tassle Top”, was about a corn cob doll that her father made for her. While Dolly only vaguely remembers writing the song, her mom was so fascinated with the 5-year old’s rhyming skills that she saved it.
In a recent interview with CBS This Morning, the now-70-year old recalled the tune to host Gayle King.
“It was about a little cob doll that my daddy made for me. Momma made it a dress. She took corn silk and made it hair. And daddy burned eyes in the cob with a hot poker, and momma dressed it up. It was called Little Tiny Tassle Top, well that’s what I named it,” Dolly said before singing the tune.
“Little tiny tassle top, I love you an awful lot.
Corn silk hat and big brown eyes,
How you make me smile.
Little tiny tassle top, you’re the only friend I got.
Hope you never go away, I want you to stay.”
Hear Dolly Parton perform “Little Tiny Tassle Top” for Gayle King in the video below.
