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Rob Ellis

English Composition II

3 October 2021

I will always love you is a song that tells the story of someone letting go of someone. The

original song by Dolly Parton and the cover by Whitney Houston both portray the message that

letting go does not mean you do not care for someone. The lyric: “So I'll go but I know, I'll think

of you every step of the way,” shows that letting go does not mean you do not care about

someone. Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You" shares a different style than

Dolly Parton's original song. But, they both convey the same story of someone letting go of

someone who is not good for them.

Dolly Parton originally released “I Will Always Love You” in 1974. The song was a

tribute to her longtime business partner Porter Wagoner as he made the decision to leave and

start his solo career. This song was made to show that the separation of two people can be made

with respect and doesn’t always have to be an ugly breakup. Parton’s original song made the

Billboard Hot Country Songs twice after its release. In 1992, Whitney Houston made her cover

of the song for the movie “The Bodyguard.” Houston’s cover was an instant hit and stayed at

number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for fourteen straight weeks.

The two versions of these songs can relate to those of any age or gender. Both Dolly

Parton and Whitney Houston were in their late twenties when they wrote their version of “I Will

Always Love You.” But the main message from the song can be interpreted by anyone of any age

or gender. The thought of separating from someone you care about while also still caring about

them and respecting them can be relatable to anyone regardless of age. Although the overall

message of the song can be applied to anyone, it may be interpreted differently based on certain
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properties of the person listening. Depending on the age of the person listening, they might think

about the lyrics differently. Obviously, the generation that Dolly Parton’s song was written is was

different than the generation almost twenty years later that Whitney Houston’s song was written

in. But the overall message of the song can be applied universally throughout all ages and

genders.

Whitney Houston’s music video shows her on stage singing the song while it pans to a

guy in the crowd. The video shows pathos as it appeals to the emotions of the viewers. It appeals

to the idea of leaving someone important in your life while also still preserving that relationship

and not ruining that relationship despite separation. Parton’s video tells a similar story as it pans

back and forth between her and another guy. Although both videos are similar in the overall plot

of the video, the song is delivered differently. Whitney Houston’s version has an R&B feel while

Dolly Parton’s song is a country song. Despite this difference in the two videos, they both appeal

emotionally to the viewer as they both are slow-paced, and then they get quicker and quicker as

they dive into the plot of the song.

“I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston both share very similar

stories and messages despite a twenty-year difference in the releases. The main difference is the

style of music they share as Dolly Parton sticks to a county style while Whitney Houston uses an

R&B style of music. Both songs use pathos to relate to the listener and both songs can easily be

related to by any person regardless of their age or gender as they relate to the emotional side of

the audience showing figures of people that Parton and Houston used to be with. Although

Parton and Houston have different styles of music, they both share the same message and can be

relatable to anyone.
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Works Cited

“Analysis of I Will Always Love a Song by Dolly Parton.” Bartleby,

https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Analysis-Of-I-Will-Always-Love-A-PC5JBUUCZFR.

Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You ... - Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU.

Jorgenson, Dawn. “Wait, 'I Will Always Love You' Was Written about What?” WSLS, WSLS 10,

14 Feb. 2021,

https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2021/02/14/wait-i-will-always-love-you-was-written-a

bout-what/.

Eames, Tom. “The Story of... 'I Will Always Love You' by Whitney Houston.” Smooth, Smooth,

30 July 2021,

https://www.smoothradio.com/features/the-story-of/i-will-always-love-you-whitney-hous

ton-facts-video/.