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Dolly Parton Was Surprised By ‘Jolene’ Lyrics Change By Beyoncé

Bruce Haring

1 June 2024 at 1:13 pm·1-min read

Beyoncé’s lyrics change to Dolly Parton’s classic song Jolene weren’t expected by the song’s composer, one Dolly Parton.

Parton revealed to E! News that she didn’t know Beyoncé was putting her own spin on the song.

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“When they said she was gonna do Jolene, I expected it to be my regular one, but it wasn’t. But I love what she did to it. And as a songwriter, you love the fact that people do your songs no matter how they do them.”

“Well, I think it was very bold of her,” Parton said.

Parton provided an introduction for Beyoncé’s version of Jolene on the Cowboy Carter album. “Hey, miss Honey Bey. It’s Dolly P. You know that hussy with the good hair you sang about? Reminded me of someone I knew back when. Except she has flaming locks of auburn hair. Bless her heart. Just a hair of a different color, but it hurts just the same.”

For her version, Beyoncé’s lyrics took a more aggresive approach. “I’m warning you, don’t come for my man,” instead of “please don’t take my man.”

“Takes more than beauty and seductive stares/To come between a family and a happy man,” she sings. “Jolene, I’m a woman too/Thе games you play are nothing new/So you don’t want no heat with me, Jolene.”

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