The Album Lovingly Blends Dolly’s Faith And Her Family
Released 55 years ago, on Feb. 15, 1971, Dolly Parton‘s The Golden Streets of Glory remains a significant piece within the expansive tapestry of the country icon’s body of work.
Released as her sixth solo album — her 12th altogether, when counting her collaborative albums with Porter Wagoner — The Golden Streets of Glory finds Dolly searching through the sounds of her faith as well as her family.
Through this exploration, she is positioning herself within that familial legacy by continuing the work of her maternal grandfather — a minister named Rev. Jake Owens — and those who came before her.
Including a hymn like “How Great Thou Art,” and placing it among her own music and the music of her family, Dolly invites us to engage with the faith that has sustained and guided her.
In the liner notes for the record, there’s is “a note from Dolly’s Grandpa,” in which her grandfather, Rev. Owens, writes:
“I believe that as you listen to the songs in this great sacred album you will need no introduction to the lady who is singing. She is Dolly Parton with her heart and soul wrapped up in each song. Recording a collection of hymns has been the desire and hope of Dolly, and others, for a long time. It is now a dream come true.”
He concludes the liner notes, writing, “She is using her talent to ‘praise Him’ and to bless everyone. Truly she is guided by ‘The Master’s Hand’ as she keeps ‘Climbing,’ preserving her name in the ‘Book of Life.’”
Later in 1971, the ever-prolific Dolly would release two more solo albums — Joshua and the indelible Coat of Many Colors. While those works may overshadow The Golden Streets of Glory, the light from this album still shines through today.
Here is a breakdown of the 10 songs included on The Golden Streets of Glory…
1. “I Believe”
Opening with “I Believe,” it’s fitting that The Golden Streets of Glory begins with a profession of faith.
Written by Ervin Drake, Jimmy Shirl, Irvin Graham, and Al Stillman, “I Believe” was first recorded in 1953, and went on to be recorded by everyone from Perry Como to Elvis Presley.
Dolly Parton’s rendition of “I Believe” can be heard, here:
2. “Yes, I See God”
Next, Dolly Parton sings “Yes, I See God,” which was written by her aunt, Dorothy Jo Hope.
Prior to this album, Dorothy Jo wrote a hit for Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, called “Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man.”
That song was, of course, written about Dolly’s grandfather, Rev. Owens.
Here, “Yes, I See God” follows a lullaby-like structure before the choir joins in for a call and response structure.
Listen to “Yes, I See God,” here:
3. “The Master’s Hand”
“The Master’s Hand” is the first of three songs written by Dolly herself on The Golden Streets of Glory.
With a tambourine keeping rhythm for this upbeat song, Dolly sings of significant stories from the Old Testament. Beginning by singing of the evil in the world before the Great Flood, she tells of how Noah listened to God.
She then proceeds to sing the chorus, which goes:
“The Master’s hand is always held out to us, and it will lead us to the promised land. And the evil of this world cannot outdo us if we are holdin’ to the Master’s hand.”
With great Southern charm, she also sings of the account in Daniel of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusting in God as they were thrown into the furnace.
Listen to “The Master’s Hand, here:
4. “Heaven’s Just A Prayer Away”
Taking on a lightly disco-infused country sound, this upbeat cover of Tommy Tomlinson’s “Heaven’s Just A Prayer Away” shows off the strength of Dolly’s voice.
Lyrically, it’s not too distant from that later track, “Book of Life” by Rev. Jake Owens, as the song is about steps to getting to Heaven.
Listen to “Heaven’s Just A Prayer Away,” here:
5. “The Golden Streets of Glory”
For the title track, Dolly takes the reins, writing a song about Heaven.
“‘Cause my Bible tells the story, I just hope my feet are clean enough to walk upon the golden streets of glory,” sings Dolly.
Moving between the sound of traditional sacred music and guitar-picked country, this is a fun song, and it sounds like Dolly and everyone enjoyed recording this.
Hear the title track, here:
6. “How Great Thou Art”
Written in 1885 by Carl Boberg, and translated to English by Stuart K. Hine in 1949, “How Great Thou Art” is one of the most enduring of hymns.
It’s worth noting that Elvis Presley recorded his Gospel album, titled How Great Thou Art, in 1967, and won his first Grammy ever as a result of the recording, winning Best Sacred Performance.
Since then, the song has held a special place in country music, with Dolly’s recording demonstrating her talent while also elevating the album as a whole.
Listen to Dolly’s take on “How Great Thou Art,” here:
7. “I’ll Keep Climbing”
Again, Dolly’s aunt, Dorothy Jo Hope, finds another of her writings taken to the recording studio by Dolly, this time for “I’ll Keep Climbing.”
Starting slowly, reflecting the desperation of the lyrical depiction of life without the hope of Heaven, but then there’s a pause before the chorus begins.
It’s there that the chorus, which features clapping and a tambourine, has a quickened pace, as Dolly sings, “I’ll keep climbin’, I’ll keep climbin’, ’til I make Heaven my home.”
Listen to the song, here:
8. “Book Of Life”
According to the liner notes for The Golden Streets of Glory, “As a little girl, Dolly began her ‘career’ when she started singing in her grandfather’s church.”
It’s only fitting then that her first gospel album would include an original song written by her grandfather, Rev. Jake Owens.
The song, titled “Book of Life,” refers to God’s book containing the names of all who have been saved, are saved, and will be saved, as found in Philippians 4:3 and throughout Revelation.
A writeup on this album that was published in the Knoxville News Sentinel on Feb. 21, 1971, noted that Rev. Owens was, at the time, “a 72-year-old preacher who still ‘preaches hot hell’ in a church that he and his congregation built in the hills of East Tennessee.”
With a revivalist sound, the song compels its singer to ask the question, “Is my name written in the Book of Life?”
Further, the song carries the evangelical weight of telling how to be certain of one’s salvation, saying, “If you’ll turn to Jesus now, at his feet just humbly bow, then your name will be in the Book of Life.”
Listen to “Book of Life,” here:
9. “Wings Of A Dove”
The album The Golden Streets of Glory was produced by Bob Ferguson, and one of his own songs as a writer was recorded anew by Dolly.
Originally recorded in 1958 by Ferlin Husky, Dolly’s turn with the song is pleasant, and it gives the accompanying band a moment to get the spotlight.
Lyrically, it’s all about God’s love descending like the wings of a dove, looking to the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist as its central image.
Listen to “Wings of a Dove,” here:
10. “Lord, Hold My Hand”
Closing out the album, Dolly teams up with Ginny Dean to write “Lord, Hold My Hand.”
At the time of this album being released in 1971, Dolly and her husband, Carl Dean (who died on March 3, 2025), were approaching their 5th wedding anniversary.
Here, Dolly writes with Carl’s mother, Ginny.
As the final track, this is a sendoff for the listener, inviting them to lean on the Lord, saying, “Guide each step that I might take, hold my hand and keep me strong.”
It then ends on a resounding “amen.”
Hear the song Dolly wrote her mother-in-law, Ginny Dean, here:
