Dolly Parton: "Jolene" (1974)

"Jolene" is a song written and performed by Dolly Parton from her album Jolene (1974), produced by Bob Ferguson. It is ranked #217 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

"Jolene" tells the tale of a housewife confronting a beautiful seductress who she believes is trying to steal away her husband and begging her "please don't take my man". The song became Parton's second solo number-one single on the country charts after being released as a single in late 1973 (prior to the album's release). It reached the top position in February 1974; it also was a moderate pop hit for her and a minor adult contemporary chart entry, and was released as a single in the UK the following year, where it reached number seven in the UK singles chart.

Parton has said that the inspiration for the story was a tall, red-headed bank teller who Parton believed was flirting with her husband, and her husband's apparent vulnerability to the teller's charm as indicated by his sudden interest in making frequent trips to the bank. In her live performances of the song, Dolly often states she fought this woman tooth and nail for her husband. The name "Jolene" came from a beautiful little red-headed girl with green eyes who sought her autograph at a concert.

“I said, what is your name? And she said, Jolene. And I said, well, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. I said, that is pretty, I said, that sounds like a song. I'm going to write a song about that."


- Lyrics:

jolene jolene jolene jolene
I'm begging of you, please don't take my man
jolene jolene jolene jolene
please don't take him even though you can
your beauty is beyond compare
with flaming locks of auburn hair
with ivory skin
and eyes of emerald green
your smile is like a breath of spring
your voice is soft like summer rain
I cannot compete with you jolene
and he talks about you in his sleep
and there is nothing I can do to keep
from crying when he calls your name, jolene
jolene jolene jolene jolene
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
jolene jolene jolene jolene
please don't take him even though you can
well I can easily understand
how you can easily take my man
but you don't know what he means to me jolene
well you could have your choice of men
but I could never love again
he's the only one for me jolene
and I had to had to have this talk with you
my happiness depends on you
and whatever you decide to do jolene
jolene jolene jolene jolene
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
jolene jolene jolene jolene
please don't take him even though you can