Beyonce’s rewrite of Dolly Parton’s Jolene sparks controversy – but are critics wrong?

Beyoncé has made some major change’s to Dolly Parton’s iconic song Jolene (Picture: Parkwood Entertainment/Getty) Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has unleashed her rendition of Dolly Parton’s hit Jolene on her new album Cowboy Carter – but the classic has been given a very controversial makeover. Fans clamouring for a Bey-Dolly collaboration got their wish fulfilled, albeit with a twist. While Beyoncé honours the essence of Jolene, she injects her signature flair, transforming the pleading song into a fierce warning to rivals vying for her man’s affection with some pretty major lyrical changes. Fans are divided on the superstar’s decision to tamper with a classic, with some celebrating the changes while others see it as messing with perfection. X user @MaddyTheHoopa wrote: ‘Ruined one of my sweetest and vulnerable songs for me.’ @harleyskooky agreed, posting: ‘Loved the album but the Jolene lyric rewrites were roooough.’ Dolly Parton has approved of the cover of her iconic song (Picture: Theo Wargo/WireImage) Others loved the changes, arguing that Beyoncé’s version tells a new, more modern story. X user @ChloeMac_ wrote: ‘Jolene is giving what it needs to give! Love that she wrote her own lyrics to it, one of the top songs for sure.’ User @OhMyGOFF agreed, posting: ‘After 51 years Dolly P & Bey finally put Jolene in her place! Lovin the new lyrics.’ Parton, who hinted at the possibility of Beyoncé covering Jolene previously, features prominently in the album. The country icon not only introduces the trap-meets-country anthem Tyrant but also delivers her own interlude, called Dolly P, playfully referencing Beyoncé’s Sorry and the infamous ‘Becky with the good hair’ lyric from Lemonade. But it’s the reimagined Jolene that steals the spotlight. The revamped track features an optimistic major-key bridge where the original was in minor, complete with a soulful choir backing Queen B’s empowering vocals. It’s immediately obvious that the lyrics to the country anthem have been redone as Beyoncé sings in the second line, ‘I’m warning you, don’t come for my man,’ instead of Parton’s ‘I’m beggin’ of you, please don’t take my man.’ Cowboy Carter is the singer’s eighth studio album (Picture: Parkwood Entertainment) You can read the two sets of lyrics in their entirety below:

Beyoncé’s new Jolene lyrics

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene I’m warning you, don’t come for my man Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene Don’t take the chance because you think you can You’re beautiful beyond compare Takes more than beauty and seductive stares To come between a family and a happy man Jolene, I’m a woman too Thе games you play are nothing new So you don’t want no hеat with me, Jolene We’ve been deep in love for 20 years I raised that man, I raised his kids I know my man better than he knows himself (what) I can easily understand why you’re attracted to my man But you don’t want this smoke, so shoot your shot with someone else (you heard me) Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene I’m warning you, woman, find you your own man Jolene, I know I’m a queen, Jolene I’m still a Creole banjee bitch from Louisianne (don’t try me) There’s a thousand girls in every room That act as desperate as you do You a bird, go on and sing your tune, Jolene (what) I had to have this talk with you ‘Cause I hate to have to act a fool Your peace depends on how you move, Jolene Me and my man crossed those valleys Highs and lows and everything between You did roll in like tumbling weeds I sleep good happy, ’cause you can’t dig up our planted seeds I know my man’s gonna stand by me breathing in my gentle breeze I crossed those valleys Highs and lows and everything between Good deeds roll in like tumbling weeds Good and happy, ’cause you can’t dig up them planted seeds Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene I’ma stand by her, she gon’ stand by me, Jolene I’ma stand by him, he gon’ stand by me I’ma stand by her, she gon’ stand by me I’ma stand by him, he gon’ stand by me, Jolene Some fans don’t like Beyoncé’s reimagined version of Jolene (Picture: Parkwood Entertainment)

Dolly Parton’s original Jolene lyrics

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene I’m beggin’ of you, please don’t take my man (Jolene) 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 (Jolene) Your smile is like a breath of spring Your voice is soft like summer rain And I cannot compete with you, Jolene (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 (Jolene) And I can easily understand How you could easily take my man But you don’t know what he means to me, Jolene (don’t take him) Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene I’m begging of you, please don’t take my man Oh, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene Oh, please don’t take him just because you can (don’t take him) You could have your choice of men But I could never love again He’s the only one for me, Jolene (he’s the only one) I had to have this talk with you My happiness depends on you Whatever you decide to do, Jolene Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene I’m begging of you, please don’t take my man (Don’t take him, don’t take him, don’t take him) Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene Please don’t take him just because you can (just because you can) Jolene, Jolene (please don’t take him, please don’t take him, Jolene) Jolene Jolene He’s the only one for me Jolene Jolene, Jolene Jolene Please don’t take him just because you can Beyoncé became the first Black woman to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with her single Texas Hold ‘Em (Picture: Beyoncé / Instagram) Parton herself has given a nod to the cover, sharing teasers on social media and encouraging fans to indulge in the original while awaiting Beyoncé’s rendition. The new album also boasts other notable covers, including a duet with Tanner Adell on the Beatles’ Blackbird and interpolations of classics like the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations and Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots Are Made For Walkin’. Beyoncé’s foray into country music with Cowboy Carter comes as a continuation of her groundbreaking career. The release of the album follows the chart-topping success of her dual singles, Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages, which marked her historic ascent as the first Black woman to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. The iconic singer has a number of other features on her new album, including Miley Cyrus(Picture: Parkwood Entertainment) This isn’t the first controversy Bey has faced for her venture into country music. The country music scene hasn’t exactly welcomed her with open arms, even denying her from entering her country song Daddy Lessons into a country category at the Grammys in 2017. It seems that snub partly inspired the project, with Bey saying Cowboy Carter was ‘born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed,’ she explained. She’s received criticism from others as well, including Azealia Banks, who called Beyoncé’s foray into the country music scene ‘narcissistic.’ The Washington Post called her first two Cowboy Carter singles a ‘wrong turn’ and ‘dull, dry, unimaginative, unnecessary, unconfident and uncool,’ an opinion shared by an Oklahoma radio station that initially refused to play Texas Hold ‘Em as they didn’t believe it was an authentic country track. Most recently, the hosts of Loose Women criticised the song in a firey tirade. Linda Robson said: ‘I’m fuming! I’m disgusted! She’s ruined that lovely song! That’s the words, they’re Dolly Parton’s words! You make your own words up in other songs, love, leave Dolly Parton’s alone!’ The hater’s didn’t stop queen Bey from celebrating Cowboy Carter’s release with a rare album signing event in Japan that was announced only a few hours before her arrival. Fan’s joked that the surprise appearance was very on brand for Bey, with one X user, @virgosgrooviest, writing: ‘Beyoncé is the most unpredictable artist ever because why would she take a flight to JAPAN out of all countries to sign CDs of her new COUNTRY album on release day.’ As positive reviews continue to roll in for the Grammy winner’s new album, it seems inevitable that the country music world will have to accept Beyoncé into their fold.