Beyoncé recorded a cover of Dolly Parton’s classic country song “Jolene” for her new album “Cowboy Carter,” giving the lyrics a more confrontational tone.
Parton speaks during an interlude, referencing Beyoncé’s previous song “Becky with the good hair” and comparing the situation to someone from her past.
While Parton’s original version pleads with the title character not to steal her man, Beyoncé issues threats, warning Jolene to stay away from her man and find her own.
“Hey miss Honey B, it’s Dolly P. You know that hussy with the good hair you sing about?,” Parton says.
Parton adds, “Reminded me of someone I knew back when. Except she has flamin’ locks of auburn hair. Bless her heart. Just a hair of a different color but it hurts just the same.”
The R&B star sings she’s also “a woman” who won’t tolerate Jolene’s games.
The album was inspired by Beyoncé feeling excluded from country music in the past, leading her to deeply research its history.
“Jolene, I’m a woman too/ Thе games you play are nothing new/ So you don’t want no hеat with me, Jolene,” Beyoncé sings.
“I’m warnin’ you, woman, find you your own man” Beyoncé sings. “I’m still a Creole banjee [expletive] from Louisianne (Don’t try me).”
“This album has been over five years in the making,” Beyoncé wrote.
“It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed … and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”
