08/25/2026
There’s always been a little Dolly at The Barn. ❤️
Dolly Parton’s music, charisma, humor and enormous heart have influenced us for years. Her songs and sentiments have found their way into many a Barn show…and more than a few of our actors have had the privilege of depicting Dolly in all her glorious, rhinestoned forms. So it feels especially fitting that one of the last Dolly songs to grace our stage was “Travelin’ Thru” during Nuns World Tour this summer.
While writing the show, I (Abby) felt an overwhelming need to include this song into the script. In fact, I wrote Brother Rich into the story largely because I wanted to give these words a place, a purpose and a little more meaning. Today, they mean even more.
Dolly had a beautiful way of reminding us that we’re all just traveling through this world. Visitors in many ways. And while we’re here, we ought to love people, lift them up and maybe leave the place a little shinier and spectacular than we found it.
She certainly did that for all of us here at The Barn...and beyond.
Today we mourn the loss of a true star and we feel incredibly grateful that our Sisters and Brother Rich got to celebrate her words over and over again this summer!
Here’s a little segment of Brother Rich Teegarden sharing Dolly’s beautiful “Travelin’ Thru.” Rest well, Dolly. And thanks for leaving so much sparkle behind. ✨
Original Lyrics:
Well I can't tell you where I'm going, I'm not sure of where I've been
But I know I must keep travelin' till my road comes to an end
I'm out here on my journey, trying to make the most of it
I'm a puzzle, I must figure out where all my pieces fit
Like a poor wayfaring stranger that they speak about in song
I'm just a weary pilgrim trying to find what feels like home
Where that is no one can tell me, am I doomed to ever roam
I'm just travelin', travelin', travelin', I'm just travelin' on
Questions I have many, answers but a few
But we're here to learn, the spirit burns, to know the greater truth
We've all been crucified and they nailed Jesus to the tree
And when I'm born again, you're gonna see a change in me
God made me for a reason and nothing is in vain
Redemption comes in many shapes with many kinds of pain
Oh sweet Jesus if you're listening, keep me ever close to you
As I'm stumblin', tumblin', wonderin', as I'm travelin' thru
I'm just travelin', travelin', travelin', I'm just travelin' thru
I'm just travelin', travelin', travelin', I'm just travelin' thru
Oh sometimes the road is rugged, and it's hard to travel on
But holdin' to each other, we don't have to walk alone
When everything is broken, we can mend it if we try
We can make a world of difference, if we want to we can fly
Goodbye little children, goodnight you handsome men
Farewell to all you ladies and to all who knew me when
And I hope I'll see you down the road, you meant more than I knew
As I was travelin', travelin', travelin', travelin', travelin' thru
I'm just travelin', travelin', travelin', I'm just travelin'
Drifting like a floating boat and roaming like the wind
Oh give me some direction lord, let me lean on you
As I'm travelin', travelin', travelin', thru
I'm just travelin', travelin', travelin', I'm just travelin' thru
I'm just travelin', travelin', travelin', I'm just travelin' thru
Like the poor wayfaring stranger that they speak about in song
I'm just a weary pilgrim trying to find my own way home
Oh sweet Jesus if you're out there, keep me ever close to you
As I'm travelin', travelin', travelin', as I'm travelin' thru
