Beyoncé has come out swinging in her cover of Dolly Parton’s country anthem ‘Jolene’, which features on the track listing for her new album Cowboy Carter.
The singer released both an interlude introduction from Parton herself, called ‘Dolly P’, alongside a re-imagined version of ‘Jolene’, where the ‘humble wife’ warns, rather than begs, Jolene not to go near her man.
The collaboration between these two music icons has been a long time coming, with Parton repeatedly mentioning that she would love to work with Beyoncé throughout the years.
Here, we’re going to look at how Beyoncé has changed the lyrics in her new version of ‘Jolene’ and the hidden meaning that could echo her own relationship struggles.
How Did Beyonce’s Version Change Jolene?
Fans of the original ‘Jolene’ will remember the passive tone as the ‘wife’, Dolly, begs an attractive woman with red hair not to take her husband from her.
“You could have your choice of men, but I could never love again, he’s the only one for me, Jolene. I had to have this talk with you, my happiness depends on you and whatever you decide to do Jolene,” she sings.
In this version of the song, the wife makes a direct plea to Jolene not to tear her family apart out of the goodness of her heart.
The chorus goes, “Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. I’m beggin’ of you, please don’t take my man. Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. Please don’t take him just because you can.”
Meanwhile, Beyoncé’s version flips the narrative on its head. She’s not a plaintive woman begging another to back away from her husband. Instead, she’s an assertive woman with a happy marriage who is warning her not to mess with it.
Her chorus goes, “Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. I’m warnin’ you, don’t come for my man (Jolene). Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. Don’t take the chance because you think you can.”
Meanwhile, the verses reframe Jolene from an attractive woman every man would want, to a desperate woman doing the wrong thing, singing, “There’s a thousand girls in every room, that act as desperate as you do. You a bird, go on and sing your tune, Jolene (What?)
“I had to have this talk with you, ‘cause I hate to have to act a fool, your peace depends on how you move, Jolene.”
What Does Dolly Parton Think Of Beyoncé’s Jolene?
In honour of Beyoncé covering ‘Jolene’, Dolly Parton recorded an interlude for Cowboy Carter, called ‘Dolly P’.
Parton referenced Beyoncé’s own songs about infidelity such as ‘Sorry’ on Lemonade, where she sings, “He only want me when I’m not there / He better call Becky with the good hair.”
Parton says in the interlude, ““You know that hussy with the good hair you sing about? Reminded me of someone I knew back when. Except she has flaming locks of auburn hair,” Parton said, adding, “Bless her heart.”
Parton signs off, “Just hair of a different color. But it hurts just the same.”
She also took to Twitter to celebrate the release of the album, writing, “Wow, I just heard Jolene. Beyoncé is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it, Love, Dolly P.”
It’s not the first time rumours of Beyoncé and Dolly working together have surfaced.
In 2022, Parton spoke to The Daily Show about the various covers of Jolene over the years, and said she’d hoped Beyoncé would take it on.
“I don’t know if she’s even got the message, but wouldn’t that be killer? I think she’s fantastic and beautiful and I love her music,” Parton said.
“I would just love to hear ‘Jolene’ done in just a big way, kind of like how Whitney [Houston] did my ‘I Will Always Love You.’ Someone that could take my little songs and make ’em like powerhouses. That would be a marvelous day in my life if she ever does ‘Jolene.”
She also said a similar sentiment in 2020, telling The Big Issue, “It has been recorded worldwide over 400 times in lots of different languages, by lots of different bands. The White Stripes did a wonderful job of it, and many other people.”
“But nobody’s ever had a really big hit record on it,” Parton continued. “I’ve always hoped somebody might do someday, someone like Beyoncé.”
Perhaps this has been in the works for quite some time?
Who Was The Original Jolene In Dolly Parton’s Song?
Dolly Parton originally released ‘Jolene’ in 1973, telling NPR that the woman with the red hair was inspired by a little girl who attended one of her shows.
“One night, I was on stage, and there was this beautiful little girl − she was probably 8 years old at the time,” Parton said. “And she had this beautiful red hair, this beautiful skin, these beautiful green eyes, and she was looking up at me, holding, you know, for an autograph. I said, ‘Well, you’re the prettiest little thing I ever saw. So what is your name?’ And she said, ‘Jolene.’ And I said, ‘Jolene. Jolene. Jolene. Jolene.’ I said, ‘That is pretty. That sounds like a song. I’m going to write a song about that.'”
However, the tone of Jolene was decided later, following an interaction between Parton’s husband Carl Dean and a bank teller.
“She got this terrible crush on my husband,” Parton told NPR. “And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us.”
Who Is Beyoncé’s Jolene About?
While the details of any infidelity between Beyoncé and Jay Z haven’t been openly admitted to, fans of the artist often reference her Lemonade album and the public fight between her sister Solange and Jay Z to suggest there may have been cheating in the past.
Beyoncé has never named any woman but “Becky with the good hair”.
While some publications have suggested it could reference anyone from Rita Ora to fashion designer Rachel Roy, the true identity of the ‘Jolene’ Beyoncé is singing to remains unknown.
Naturally, fans of the singer are loving that she is opening up about her response to this kind of situation, and showing how she would address a third party in her marriage.
Who Has Covered ‘Jolene’ In The Past?
Many artists have covered ‘Jolene’ over the years, although most of them have stuck to Parton’s original lyrics.
Notably, she’s sung it in a duet with her god-daughter, singer Miley Cyrus, and it has also been covered by the White Stripes and Olivia Newton-John.
Listen To Dolly Parton And Beyoncé’s ‘Jolene’ Versions Below:
Beyoncé:
Dolly Parton:
Beyoncé’s Jolene Full Lyrics
[Intro]
(Jolene)
(Jolene)
[Chorus: Beyoncé]
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I’m warnin’ you, don’t come for my man (Jolene)
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Don’t take the chance because you think you can
[Verse 1: Beyoncé]
You’re beautiful, beyond compare
Takes more than beauty and seductive stares
To come between a family and a happy man
Jolene, I’m a woman too
Thе games you play are nothing new
So you don’t want no hеat with me, Jolene
We’ve been deep in love for twenty years
I raised that man, I raised his kids
I know my man better than he knows himself (Yeah, what?)
I can easily understand
Why you’re attracted to my man
But you don’t want this smoke, so shoot your shot with someone else (You heard me)
[Chorus: Beyoncé]
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I’m warnin’ you, woman, find you your own man
Jolene, I know I’m a queen, Jolene
I’m still a Creole banjee bitch from Louisiane (Don’t try me)
[Verse 2: Beyoncé]
There’s a thousand girls in every room
That act as desperate as you do
You a bird, go on and sing your tune, Jolene (What?)
I had to have this talk with you
‘Cause I hate to have to act a fool
Your peace depends on how you move, Jolene
[Bridge: Beyoncé & Choir]
Me and my man crossed those valleys
0Highs and lows and everything between
Good deeds roll in like tumblin’ weeds
I sleep good, happy
‘Cause you can’t dig up our planted seeds
I know my man’s gon’ stand by me, breathin’ in my gentle breeze
I crossed those valleys
Highs and lows and everything between
Good deeds roll in like tumblin’ weeds
1Good and happy
‘Cause you can’t dig up them planted seeds
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I’ma stand by her, she gon’ stand by me, Jolene
[Outro: Beyoncé & Choir]
I’ma stand by him, he gon’ stand by me
(I’ma stand by her, she gon’ stand by me)
I’ma stand by him, he gon’ stand by me, Jolene
2
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