Dolly Parton//Jolene

I like only a very specific brand of country. I like old, tough, raw, awesome country. I like roots of American folk. I like alt country and cowpunk. I like the country music of other countries. I like Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Hank Williams. I like The Carter Family. I like Lucinda Williams and the Old 97s. I'm predictable. I'm a parody of myself.

Now that you know where I'm coming from, Dolly Parton fucking rules!

I went to Dollywood a few times as a kid with Karen, Deb and Dr. Bob, during our NC family vacations. It's everything you'd imagine from a theme park owned by a country music megastar. There, Karen made me eat a corndog for the first time ever. It made me vomit.

Another funny story: a family friend recently worked on the 9-5 musical. He reported back that, in addition to being a completely snappy dresser EVERYday, Dolly Parton is the best human being ever, personally thanking the firemen who inspected the theater and making her homemade fudge for the cast and crew.

Nice as she may be, I would not fuck around with her. From wikipedia:
Parton has said that the inspiration for the "Jolene" character was a tall, red-headed bank teller who Parton believed was flirting with her husband, and her husband's apparent vulnerability to the teller's charm as indicated by his sudden interest in making frequent trips to the bank. In her live performances of the song, Dolly often states she fought this woman tooth and nail for her husband. However, Parton has also stated that the name "Jolene" was taken from the name of a little red-headed girl with green eyes seeking an autograph after a concert.

"Jolene" hit number one when it was released, was #217 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and has been covered by everyone from The White Stripes (who's version is awesome, live and recorded) to Paula Cole (where HAVE all the cowboys gone?).



Jolene.mp3

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene,
Im 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.