Jolene – English Lyrics

• By: Dolly Parton

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Dolly Parton's "Jolene" offers a unique opportunity. The song's clear and heartfelt narrative, combined with its repetitive and melodic chorus, makes it an excellent choice for English learners to practice pronunciation and storytelling. Its rich vocabulary, describing physical beauty and deep emotions, can expand your expressive abilities in English. What makes "Jolene" special for language learning is its universal theme of jealousy and love, allowing learners to connect with the song on an emotional level while appreciating the nuances of country music storytelling.

[English]

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

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

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
begging /ˈbɛɡɪŋ/ B2	verb - to ask someone earnestly or humbly for something.
take /teɪk/ A1	verb - to get possession of something
beauty /ˈbjuːti/ B1	noun - the quality of being pleasing to the eye or mind
compare /kəmˈpeər/ B2	noun - an instance or manner of comparing. verb - estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between.
flaming /ˈfleɪmɪŋ/ C1	adjective - burning fiercely; blazing
locks /lɒks/ B2	noun - a tress or curl of hair.
auburn /ˈɔːbərn/ B2	adjective - reddish-brown in color
ivory /ˈaɪvəri/ B2	adjective - having a creamy white color
skin /skɪn/ A1	noun - the outer protective layer of the body
emerald /ˈemərəld/ B2	adjective - of a rich green colour
smile /smaɪl/ A1	noun - an expression of happiness verb - to have or show a smile
breath /breθ/ A2	noun - the air inhaled or exhaled in respiration
spring /sprɪŋ/ A2	noun - the season after winter and before summer
voice /vɔɪs/ A2	noun - the sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth
soft /sɒft/ A2	adjective - easy to mold, cut, compress, or fold; not hard or firm to the touch.
summer /ˈsʌmər/ A2	noun - the warmest season of the year
rain /reɪn/ A1	noun - water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere.
sleep /sliːp/ A1	noun - a condition of body and mind which typically recurs for several hours every night verb - be in a state of sleep
crying /ˈkraɪɪŋ/ A2	verb - shed tears
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - have a great affection or liking for. noun - an intense feeling of deep affection.
happiness /ˈhæpinəs/ B1	noun - the state of being happy

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm begging of you, please, don't take my man

  ➔ Present continuous for emphasis/urgent request; imperative (don't take)

  ➔ The present continuous, "I'm begging", emphasizes the urgency and desperation of the speaker's plea. "Don't take" is an imperative, directly commanding Jolene.

• Please don't take him just because you can

  ➔ Modal verb of ability ("can") in the negative with "just because"; Conditional sentence implied

  ➔ "Can" expresses Jolene's ability, but the phrase "just because you can" suggests that having the ability doesn't justify the action. It implies: "Even though you *could* take him, please don't."

• Your beauty is beyond compare

  ➔ Preposition "beyond" indicating exceeding a limit/standard.

  ➔ "Beyond compare" is an idiom meaning unmatched or unparalleled. It emphasizes that Jolene's beauty is exceptional.

• And I cannot compete with you, Jolene

  ➔ Modal verb "cannot" expressing inability; preposition "with" expressing comparison/opposition.

  ➔ "Cannot" indicates a lack of ability to compete. The preposition "with" sets up the comparison between the speaker and Jolene.

• How you could easily take my man

  ➔ Indirect question with "how" and modal verb "could"; adverb "easily".

  ➔ The phrase is part of a larger sentence, but functions as an indirect question expressing the speaker's understanding of Jolene's power. "Could" expresses potential ability, and "easily" emphasizes how simple it would be for Jolene.

• But you don't know what he means to me, Jolene

  ➔ Contrast conjunction "but"; relative pronoun "what" introducing a noun clause; simple present tense.

  ➔ "But" introduces a contrasting idea. "What he means to me" is a noun clause acting as the object of the verb "know". The simple present tense conveys a general truth.

• You could have your choice of men

  ➔ Modal verb "could" + "have" + past participle expressing unrealized possibility in the past.

  ➔ "Could have had" indicates that Jolene *had* the option to choose any man she wanted, but hasn't acted upon that choice in this scenario.

• My happiness depends on you

  ➔ Simple present tense expressing a general truth/dependence; preposition "on" showing reliance.

  ➔ The sentence expresses that the speaker's well-being is directly tied to Jolene's actions. "Depends on" signifies this reliance.