I still wonder why Dolly wrote this song. Her marriage is kind of “strange”. Perhaps a “I’m sorry for something”?
I believe she wrote it when she left Porter Wagoner’s show to have a solo career. Wagoner was her mentor and, while going solo was a great move, Dolly was still pained by the end of their partnership.
The song was a lament that she was leaving Porter Wagonner’s tutelage, and an expression of gratitude for all he did to aid her in her career.