The final song on Dolly’s 1982 LP Heartbreak Express, “Hollywood Potters” explores the treachery of Hollywood and its culture. Parton revealed in her 2020 book Songteller: My Life in Lyrics that the song was inspired by her experience on the set of the 1980 film 9 to 5.
I wrote ‘Hollywood Potters’...
[Verse 1]
Mothers, hold on to your sons and your daughters
Should Hollywood claim them, you'll hold them no more
'Cause they'll become clay to the Hollywood potters
And there's no escape once they walk through that door
[Chorus]
Hollywood, Hollywood, dungeon of drama
Center of sorrow, city of schemes
Hollywood, Hollywood, terrace of trauma
Palace of promises, dealer in dreams
[Verse 2]
Some, they go hungry and some go insane
Some go to the bottle and some to the veins
Some become users and some become used
And some even make it, but most never do
[Chorus]
Hollywood, Hollywood, dungeon of drama
Center of sorrow, your city of schemes
Hollywood, Hollywood, terrace of trauma
Palace of promises, dealer in dreams
[Bridge]
You spin them around like a merry-go-round
You mold them and shape them and then throw them down
All of your glitter and all of your gold
Is that what you give in exchange for a soul?
'Cause they sell their souls for the likes of you
While you chew up and spit out what you cannot use
[Verse 1]
So mothers, hold on to your sons and you daughters
Should Hollywood claim them, you'll hold them no more
'Cause they'll become clay to the Hollywood potters
And there's no escape once they walk through that door
[Chorus]
Hollywood, Hollywood, dungeon of drama
Center of sorrow, city of schemes
Hollywood, Hollywood, terrace of trauma
Palace of promises, dealer in dreams
Hollywood Potters was written by Dolly Parton.
Hollywood Potters was produced by Dolly Parton & Gregg Perry.
Dolly Parton released Hollywood Potters on Mon Mar 29 1982.