Jolene
The Little Willies Lyrics


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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
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
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

Overall Meaning

The Little Willies's song Jolene is a heart-wrenching plea to a beautiful woman not to steal the singer's man. The song is written in the form of a conversation, where the singer tries to persuade Jolene not to take her man. The opening lines repeat Jolene's name four times, emphasizing the singer's desperation. The singer acknowledges Jolene's beauty, describing her flaming locks of auburn hair, ivory skin, and emerald green eyes. She goes on to compare Jolene's smile and voice to the qualities of spring and summer. The singer feels inferior to Jolene, realizing she cannot compete with her in terms of physical beauty or charm.


The lyrics also reveal the singer's vulnerability and insecurity when it comes to her relationship. She admits that her man talks about Jolene in his sleep, and she can't help but cry at the sound of his repeated utterances of her name. Despite understanding that Jolene could easily take her man, the singer pleads with her not to do so, reminding her that she doesn't understand what he means to her. The singer realizes that Jolene has her choice of men but reveals that she could never love again if her man were taken away from her. The song ends with the singer begging Jolene not to take her man even though she is capable of doing so.


Line by Line Meaning

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Repeatedly calling out the name of the song's titular character.


I'm begging of you please don't take my man
Imploring Jolene not to take away the singer's romantic partner.


Please don't take him just because you can
Asking Jolene not to act on her ability to take away the singer's partner.


Your beauty is beyond compare
Complimenting Jolene's unparalleled physical attractiveness.


With flaming locks of auburn hair
Describing Jolene's vividly red hair color.


With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green
Detailing Jolene's physical features, including her green eyes and fair complexion.


Your smile is like a breath of spring
Comparing Jolene's beaming smile to a fresh season.


Your voice is soft like summer rain
Drawing a parallel between Jolene's voice and the gentle sound of rain in summertime.


And I cannot compete with you, Jolene
Admitting that the artist feels inferior to Jolene in terms of physical attractiveness and charm.


He talks about you in his sleep
Revealing that the artist's partner frequently mentions Jolene even while sleeping.


There's nothing I can do to keep
Acknowledging the singer's helplessness in stopping her partner from mentioning Jolene.


From crying when he calls your name, Jolene
Expressing the artist's sadness and heartbreak upon hearing her partner utter Jolene's name.


And I can easily understand
Recognizing Jolene's potential to steal away the singer's partner.


How you could easily take my man
Conceding that Jolene has the ability to charm the singer's partner away from her.


But you don't know what he means to me, Jolene
Stating that Jolene may not fully comprehend the depth of the singer's attachment to her partner.


You could have your choice of men
Noting that Jolene has many potential romantic suitors.


But I could never love again
Insinuating that the artist's love for her present partner is irreplaceable.


He's the only one for me, Jolene
Affirming the singer's exclusive devotion to her current partner.


I had to have this talk with you
Admitting the necessity of the conversation the singer is having with Jolene about her partner.


My happiness depends on you
Revealing the importance of Jolene's decision in terms of the artist's happiness.


And whatever you decide to do, Jolene
Leaving the choice of action up to Jolene, but reiterating the artist's plea to not take her partner.


Please don't take him even though you can
Restating the artist's request for Jolene to refrain from taking her partner.


Jolene, Jolene
Repeating the song's title to close it out.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dolly Parton

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Leslie Fernandez

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
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
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



All comments from YouTube:

James Schafer

I was there live, about 10 feet from her. Goosebumps

Brian J. Carnevale

Such an intimate setting, I could just imagine!

ohmamadoes

Best rendition I'v ever heard. Blown away.

Livefire123

An excellent cover!!!! This lady owns it!!!

Ondřej Šmíd

Together with Cash´s Hurt the best cover ever. Done with deep respect to original and adding something fresh.

gudduugr8

I'm 15 and I'm in love with this , why aren't there anymore awesome songs like these? :(

mefeb10

what an amazing song! Amazingly sung too ! beautiful vocals! i like it a lot

Brian Slagle

S he feels it down deep...and owns it now

Vianey Cardona

The version has a sadness the original didn't... it matches what the song is about more, I think. Just an awesome cover.

smalltownfire

profd65 honestly I prefer this or mindy smith’s version over the original

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