Dolly was always one of my secret crushes. Sweet. Pretty. Busty. What could be better? When I heard Jolene for the first time, I wondered how could Jolene possibly be hotter than Dolly? I never heard that they actually fought. The story I had heard from interviews was the name and flame red hair was based on a very young fan, but there was an actual bank teller who was flirting with Dolly's husband. And the fool apparently liked the flirting. The two comments I had heard from Dolly were now the teller is huge and not competition, and on the flip side, she occasionally looks at her husband and wish Jolene had taken him. Half Joking for both comments.
https://www.wideopencountry.com/jolene-dolly-parton-revisited/I always came to the conclusion that Dolly was just so sweet that the Jolene song would be her first volley to dissuade her rival. Pay her complements, tell her how pretty she is, appeal to her decency. But that wouldn't mean she would just let her take her man away. If honey didn't work, she'd go for the stinger. I wrote a Dolly song too. Not sure I ever posted it. But here is my version.
(Original Lyrics)
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
(My addition)
You are a beauty, yes it's true,
But I am told I'm a beauty too
There are many reasons why he is my man.
My hazel eyes and golden hair,
my perfect curves and face so fair
and other things you'll never understand
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I will never let you take away my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
You'll have to fight me for him if you think you can.
I've begged you, bitch, to do what's right,
but now I guess we'll have to fight.
I won't let you just take away my man.
I'll meet you anywhere you like,
we'll settle this in just one night
You and I will make our final stand.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I have tried so hard to make you understand.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'll fight you if you try to take my man.
Face to Face we'll start our brawl
My lucky man will see it all
He'll see how much I truly love my man
I'll scratch your face and pull your hair,
I'll maul your breasts and strip you bare,
You'll never try to steal another's man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm the better woman and you'll soon understand
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
You're Never going to take away my man.