The Hard Candy Christmas song has long been a favorite of mine. Dolly Parton brings something to the song that no one else could. She is not only a Christmas favorite everywhere, but she also touches your heart at the same time. Dolly Parton’s music, lyrics and sweet voice have made this a number one Christmas song for years.
This Christmas song was originally written by Carol Hall, who was a composer and lyricist for the musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. The song was later recorded and made famous by Dolly Parton when the song was adapted for the big screen in 1982 when it was released by Universal Pictures.
In the original version of the song, the girls sang it as a chorus as they left the brothel after it was ordered closed. In the film, Dolly Parton sang it as a soloist with the girls singing backing vocals. It didn’t take long for the song to reach number eight on the country charts.
There are many rumors about what Hard Candy Christmas means. However, two of them make more sense. In the movie, Burt Reynolds, who played the sheriff, had broken Dolly Parton’s heart and she said it would be a sweet Christmas but she wouldn’t let sorrow bring her down. However, hard candy Christmas can also represent the Christmases Dolly Parton had growing up. In an interview, she once said that you always knew what kind of Christmas you were having when you were a kid by the kind of candy her parents bought for her. Hard candy was a rare gift and toys were unheard of on Christmas morning. Therefore, the song title and lyrics can be taken both ways. Still, no matter how you decide to interpret it, Hard Candy Christmas is a timeless classic that will touch hearts every Christmas for generations to come.
While Dolly Parton is the name associated with Hard Candy Christmas, it has been recorded by other singers over the years. Some of the most notable are Rupaul in 1997, Dan Bryk, and Sixpence None the Richer singer Leigh Nash in 2006. The Venture Brothers also recorded the song in 2005.
I know I’ll be listening, humming along to Hard Candy Christmas when the holidays roll around again this year and I’m sure others will too.