Dolly Parton – Jolene

About the song

There are few songs in country music — or in popular music at all — that carry the haunting emotional weight and enduring appeal of Dolly Parton’s classic, “Jolene.” First released in 1973, this unforgettable ballad remains one of the most iconic and heartfelt pieces of storytelling ever written. With its simple yet deeply emotional lyrics, “Jolene” taps into universal feelings of jealousy, vulnerability, and the desperate plea of someone on the verge of losing love.

What makes this song truly special is its unusual perspective. Rather than attacking or blaming her romantic rival, Dolly sings directly to Jolene, the beautiful, red-haired woman who threatens to steal her man. She doesn’t scream, she doesn’t beg in anger — instead, she pleads with quiet desperation: “Please don’t take him just because you can.” That one line captures the essence of the entire song — the painful awareness that love can be fragile, and sometimes powerless in the face of charm and beauty.

Dolly Parton’s performance is intimate and piercing, her voice trembling with a kind of strength wrapped in sadness. The song’s hypnotic guitar riff is instantly recognizable, drawing listeners in from the very first note. And although the story is personal and specific, it speaks to a broader emotional truth: we all fear losing what we hold dear, especially when we feel someone else might deserve it more.

Parton has said that the name Jolene came from a young fan who asked for her autograph, and the song was inspired by a real-life bank clerk who flirted with her husband. Yet, through Dolly’s genius, this small, personal anecdote has grown into a universal anthem of insecurity and love.

More than 50 years later, “Jolene” continues to be covered by artists around the world, from The White Stripes to Miley Cyrus, proof of its timeless power. Whether you’re hearing it for the first time or the hundredth, “Jolene” never loses its grip on the heart.

Video

Lyrics

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

[Verse 1]
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
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene

[Verse 2]
He talks about you in his sleep
And there’s nothin’ I can do to keep
From cryin’ when he calls your name, Jolene
And I can easily understand
How you could easily take my man
But you don’t know what he means to me, Jolene

[Chorus]
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I’m begging of you, please don’t take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don’t take him just because you can
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[Verse 3]
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

[Chorus]
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
Jolene, Jolene