Jolene
Parton Dolly Lyrics
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I'm begging of you please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because 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
And I cannot compete with you
Jolene
He talks about you in his sleep
And there's nothing I can do to keep
From crying 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
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
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
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
"Jolene" by Dolly Parton is a song about a woman pleading with another woman, Jolene, not to take her man away. The song opens with the singer begging Jolene not to take her man away, knowing that Jolene is an irresistible force. The singer then goes on to describe Jolene's stunning beauty, which makes her feel inadequate, acknowledging that she cannot compare to Jolene's looks. The refrain then repeats the plea for Jolene not to take the singer's man, begging her not to do so just because she can.
The second verse talks about how the singer's man talks about Jolene in his sleep, leading to the singer crying out Jolene's name. She then acknowledges that she knows Jolene might easily take her man, but begs her to understand what he means to her. She also acknowledges her insecurities and that she could never love again if she lost him. The final verse sees the singer having a conversation with Jolene, pleading with her, for her own happiness, not to take her man away.
Line by Line Meaning
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Parton is addressing Jolene by repeating her name four times
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
Parton is imploring Jolene not to take her partner away
Please don't take him just because you can
Parton is requesting that Jolene refrains from taking her partner even if she is capable of doing so
Your beauty is beyond compare
Parton acknowledges Jolene's beauty as exceptional and incomparable
With flaming locks of auburn hair
Parton describes Jolene's hair as a fiery shade of red
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green
Parton mentions Jolene's fair skin and green eyes as additional attributes of her beauty
Your smile is like a breath of spring
Parton compares Jolene's smile to a refreshing breeze of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
Parton likens Jolene's voice to the gentle sound of summer rain
And I cannot compete with you
Parton feels inferior in comparison to Jolene's beauty and charm
He talks about you in his sleep
Parton reveals that her partner mentions Jolene even in his dreams
And there's nothing I can do to keep
Parton feels helpless in preventing her partner from thinking about Jolene
From crying when he calls your name
Parton expresses her emotional distress when her partner utters Jolene's name
And I can easily understand
Parton can relate to Jolene's appeal to her partner
How you could easily take my man
Parton acknowledges that Jolene has the ability to take her partner away
But you don't know what he means to me
Parton emphasizes that Jolene doesn't fully comprehend the importance of her partner to her
You could have your choice of men
Parton acknowledges Jolene's ability to attract men
But I could never love again
Parton emphasizes that she cannot love anyone else besides her partner
He's the only one for me
Parton declares that her partner is and will always be the only one for her
I had to have this talk with you
Parton discusses her concerns with Jolene directly
My happiness depends on you
Parton reveals that her happiness lies in Jolene's decision not to take her partner
And whatever you decide to do
Parton leaves the decision whether or not to take her partner up to Jolene
Please don't take him even though you can
Parton reiterates her plea that Jolene refrains from taking her partner
Jolene, Jolene
Parton repeats Jolene's name twice to conclude the song
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dolly Parton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind