(audio) — Dolly Parton - Little Sparrow

“Setting dulcet harmonies against lively but tasteful acoustic picking, Little Sparrow is the sound of a mature artist creating the music she loves, on her own terms.” Apple Music · 25 years ago

: Adapting the traditional melody from the ballad "Fair and Tender Ladies," Parton delivers a stark warning to young women to never trust the "hearts of men," who will "crush you like a sparrow".

: The track (and the Little Sparrow album) features backing from acoustic "leading lights" like Alison Krauss , Jerry Douglas , and members of the Irish band Altan .

: The song was birthed from a moment when Parton watched a small bird singing on her windowsill during a raging storm, which sparked reflections on the fragility of life.