About The Song
Released on January 13, 1975, as the lead single and title track from her fifteenth solo studio album, “The Bargain Store” became Dolly Parton’s fifth number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The album followed on February 17, 1975, through RCA Victor and was produced by Bob Ferguson at RCA Studio B in Nashville. The three-minute-twenty-second track featured a simple country arrangement built around acoustic guitar, steel, and Parton’s warm soprano, reflecting the straightforward sound that had defined much of her early solo work while she continued her high-profile duet partnership with Porter Wagoner.
By early 1975 Parton had already compiled a string of solo successes, including “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” yet she remained deeply involved in the Wagoner television show and joint recordings. The Bargain Store stood apart as a fully solo project that showcased her growing confidence in writing and performing on her own terms. Ferguson kept the production clean and focused on storytelling, allowing the album to reach number nine on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and earn steady sales even as some radio programmers hesitated over the title track.
Parton wrote the song using a second-hand store as a metaphor for emotional recovery after heartbreak. She later explained in her 2020 book Songteller that the idea came from observing how people discard items that still hold value. The narrator compares her life to a bargain store filled with slightly used merchandise that, with a little mending, can be good as new. Despite the innocent intent, several country radio stations banned the single, interpreting the “used” imagery as sexual innuendo rather than a statement about a wounded heart. The controversy only increased public interest and helped push the record to the top of the charts.
The single debuted at number eighty-one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated January 25 and climbed steadily to reach number one for the week of March 29. It spent sixteen weeks on the survey and also crossed over modestly to number thirty-five on the Adult Contemporary chart. The performance marked another milestone in Parton’s solo career and demonstrated how her direct, character-driven songwriting could connect with listeners even when it sparked debate among gatekeepers.
In the lyrics the narrator invites a potential partner to look past the visible wear and tear. She acknowledges that her heart carries the marks of previous relationships yet insists it remains capable of giving and receiving love. The verses unfold without self-pity, presenting the situation as a practical opportunity rather than a plea for sympathy. Delivered with Parton’s signature sincerity and a gentle melody, the song transforms a potentially somber subject into a quietly optimistic declaration of resilience.
Contemporary reviews praised the track’s clever metaphor and emotional honesty, while later critics have cited it as one of Parton’s strongest early examples of turning personal insight into universal country narrative. The album’s modest commercial success and the single’s chart run helped solidify her identity as a solo artist capable of balancing vulnerability with strength. The song later appeared on multiple compilations and remained a fan favorite for its understated wisdom.
Decades afterward “The Bargain Store” stands as a reminder of Parton’s skill at drawing from everyday observation to create lasting country statements. It captured a transitional moment when she was building an independent catalog while still tied to the Wagoner era, illustrating how a simple metaphor could spark both controversy and connection. The track continues to highlight the honest emotional core that has run through much of her work since the mid-1970s.
Video
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1TXnTjbf4A
Lyric
My life is likened to a bargain store
And I may have just what you’re looking for
If you don’t mind the fact that all the merchandise is used
With a little mendin’ it could be as good as new
Why you take for instance this old broken heart
If you will just replace the missing part
You would be surprised to find how good it really is
Take it and you never will be sorry that you did
The bargain store is open, come inside
(The bargain store is open, come inside)
You can easily afford the price
(The bargain store is open, come inside)
Love is all you need to purchase all the mechandise
And I can guarantee you’ll be completely satisfied
(The bargain store is open, come inside)
Take these old used memories from the past
And these broken dreams and plans that didn’t last
I’ll trade them for a future, I can’t use them anymore
I’ve wasted love, but I still have some more
The bargain store is open, come inside
You can easily afford the price
Love is all you need to purchase all the mechandise
And I can guarantee you’ll be completely satisfied
My life is likened to a bargain store
And I may have just what you’re looking for
If you don’t mind the fact that all the merchandise is used
With a little mending it could be as good as new
The bargain store is open, come inside
(The bargain store is open, come inside)
The bargain store is open, come inside
(The bargain store is open, come inside)