乔伦娜 (1973)

"Jolene" is a song by American country singer Dolly Parton from her 1974 album of the same name. The lead single from the album, it was written and recorded by Parton and produced by Bob Ferguson. The lyrics are written from Parton's perspective, who begs a beautiful red-haired, green-eyed girl not to steal away her husband.

Considered by music critics to be one of the most representative songs of the country genre, the song was ranked number 217 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004 and number 63 on the revised version of the list in 2021. The song was nominated at the Grammy Awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance twice, in 1975 and again in 1976 for its live recording.

The song was covered in English and Spanish by many artists, including Olivia Newton-John, the White Stripes, Miley Cyrus, Måneskin and Leila Forouhar (1977). A 2016 version by Pentatonix won the Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. In 2024, Beyoncé covered the song with significant changes in lyrics and production; her version reached the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Singles Chart.

Following Parton's death, the song re-entered the music charts. "Jolene"—along with 26 others—broke the record previously held by Nicki Minaj for the most simultaneous tracks in the top 30 on U.S. iTunes.

Background

Onstage in 1988, Parton told the audience that "Jolene" was based on a true story, which was why she did not like to sing it too often. A red-headed bank clerk used to flirt with her husband, Carl Dean, at his local bank branch when they were newly married, she has said. In an interview, she also revealed that Jolene's name and appearance (red hair, green eyes, and fair skin) are based on those of a young fan who came on stage for her autograph. This fan may have been Juline Whelan, a Canadian who met and got an autograph from Parton at age 10 in 1972; her appearance was as described, and her first name has often been confused with Jolene. Parton sang "Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene" to remember the name, which is how it became the chorus.

The guitar parts on the recording were performed by Chip Young and Wayne Moss. Young played the primary thumb-picked part, with Moss playing the complementary steel-string part that enters on the second refrain. Young got the fingerpicking pattern from a similar pattern played by Joe South.

During an interview on The Bobby Bones Show in 2018, Dolly Parton revealed that she wrote "Jolene" on the same day that she wrote "I Will Always Love You". Parton said in a later interview the songs were written "pretty close at the same time" but not necessarily on the same day.

Content

The song tells of the narrator confronting Jolene, a stunningly beautiful woman, who she worries will steal away her lover or husband. Throughout the song, the narrator implores Jolene, "Please don't take him just because you can." The lyrics state the narrator's partner is fixated on Jolene and speaks her name in his sleep, but it is unclear if Jolene actually intends to steal the narrator's lover, an ambiguity that has been addressed in several answer songs, usually sung from Jolene's point of view.