Moore began singing with her church choir at the age of five, and eventually became a soloist. She formed a vocal group The Poppies who had hits in 1966 with the songs "Lullaby of Love" and "He's Ready".
By the mid-1970s Moore had begun a career as a solo vocalist, and released a series of best-selling singles and albums. Among her hits of this period was "Misty Blue" (featuring backing vocals by her "Poppies" bandmate Fern Kinney). The song reached number 1 on the Billboard R&B chart and number 3 on the pop chart, saving her record label, Malaco, from bankruptcy. Her next two singles were "I Believe You" (later covered by The Carpenters) and a cover version of the Willie Nelson song "Funny How Time Slips Away". Both songs reached the R&B Top 10.
Moore stopped performing for several years, returning in 1986 with a gospel album Giving It Straight To You. She went back to her original label Malaco in the 1990s, where her albums included More Moore (1997). As of 2002 she continues to perform, and has released albums on Farish Street Records of Mississippi.
With Pen In Hand
Dorothy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You sign your name
Today at five
I'll be on that train
And you'll be free
And I'll be alone
So alone
We can't find the love we once knew
If you think
I can't make everything up to you
Then I'll be gone
And you'll be on your own
You'll be on your own
Can you take good care of Jenny
Can you take her to school everyday
Can you teach her how to play
All the games that little girls play
Hear what I say
Can you teach her how to roll up her hair
Can you make sure each night that she says her prayers
Well if you can do all these things
Then maybe she won't miss me
Maybe she won't miss me
And tonight as you laid in that big lonely bed
And you look at that pillow
Where I laid my head
With your heart on fire
Will you have no desire
To kiss me
Or to hold me
And if you can forget
The good times we had
If you don't think
They out weigh the bad
Well then go ahead
Sign your name
And I'll be
On my way
I'll be on my way
The song "With Pen In Hand" by Dorothy Moore is a lament of a woman who has been left alone by the man she loves. She addresses him, telling him that he is free now that he has signed his name with a pen, and she will be on her way soon. The lyrics are heart-breaking as she pleads with him to reconsider and not let go of their love, yet she has already made up her mind to leave. The song is full of emotion and regret, with the woman asking if he will take care of their daughter, Jenny, and if he can teach her all the things that little girls need to know. The song suggests that the relationship has already fallen apart, and now she has to leave to start a new life.
Throughout the song, the woman acknowledges the man's freedom but also her own loneliness. The lines "And you'll be free, And I'll be alone, So alone" really emphasize the woman's loneliness and the fact that she is now truly on her own. She also wonders if he will have any desire to kiss or hold her as he lays in their big empty bed. The song's melancholy tone is palpable, and the sadness and regret expressed in every line are relatable and heart-wrenching.
Line by Line Meaning
With pen in hand
The singer is holding a pen to sign the papers.
You sign your name
The person is signing the papers to end the relationship.
Today at five
The time of the divorce meeting.
I'll be on that train
The person is leaving to start a new life.
And you'll be free
The other person will be free from the relationship.
And I'll be alone
The singer will be alone after the break-up.
If you think
The singer questions if the other person thinks differently.
We can't find the love we once knew
The artist wonders if they can find the love they had before.
I can't make everything up to you
The artist acknowledges their mistakes and can't fix everything.
Then I'll be gone
If the other person thinks they can't find love again, the artist will leave.
And you'll be on your own
The other person will be alone after the break-up.
Can you take good care of Jenny
The artist asks if the other person can take care of their daughter, Jenny.
Can you take her to school everyday
Asking if they can take her to school every day.
Can you teach her how to play
Asking if they can teach her how to play like any other child.
All the games that little girls play
Asking if they can play all the games that little girls enjoy.
Hear what I say
Requesting the other person to listen carefully.
Can you teach her how to roll up her hair
Asking if they can teach their daughter to style her hair.
Can you make sure each night that she says her prayers
Asking if the other person can teach their daughter how to pray every night.
Well if you can do all these things
If the other person can take care of their daughter then the singer won't worry.
Then maybe she won't miss me
Hoping that their daughter won't miss the artist too much.
And tonight as you laid in that big lonely bed
The artist asks if the other person will miss them at night.
And you look at that pillow
Their partner looks at the pillow where the artist used to sleep.
Where I laid my head
The singer used to sleep next to their partner.
With your heart on fire
The other person might be hurting and feeling alone.
Will you have no desire
Asking if they will have no desire for affection.
To kiss me
Asking if they will have no desire to kiss the singer.
Or to hold me
Asking if they will have no desire to hold the singer.
And if you can forget
The artist is questioning if the other person can forget the good times they had.
The good times we had
The artist is referring to the happy memories they had together.
If you don't think
The singer doubts if the other person thinks the good times outweighed the bad.
They outweigh the bad
The singer believes the good times are stronger than the bad times.
Well then go ahead
If their partner thinks the good times don't outweigh the bad, the artist is giving permission to end the relationship.
Sign your name
Sign the papers to make the divorce official.
And I'll be
The artist will leave.
On my way
The singer is starting a new life without their partner.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOBBY GOLDSBORO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Morning angel
on Angel of the Morning
I want it singing by Dorothy Moore
Frans
on Love Me
just call me the angel o
f the mourning baby