April 30 : Jolene (2 ways) by Dolly Parton and Ray Lamontagne

I have always loved Dolly Parton. I used to hang out at Azul, my once haunt in Austin, and Joel, a barista there would play old records. We spoke secretly of our mutual major crush on Dolly as he spun her albums.

Well, in listening to BBC's Radio 2, I came across Ray Lamontagne's new single, Jolene, was taken back to the first song with that name. They seem to go together - Dolly begging a woman not to take her man and Ray talking about how this woman's undone him at the core. Seems Jolene's still at it. These are as poetry examples? Well, of course! Narrative poetry is the best and just as Helen of Troy began a war, Jolene transformed the two who wrote about her. This is poetry's goal.

Dolly's contribution:

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,
An' 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.)

Ray's contribution:

Cocaine flame in my bloodstream
Sold my coat when I hit Spokane
Bought myself a hard pack of cigarettes in the early morning rain
Lately my hands they don't feel like mine
My eyes been stung with dust, I'm blind
Held you in my arms one time
Lost you just the same Jolene I ain't about to go straight

It's too late I found myself face down in the ditch
Booze on my hair
Blood on my lips
A picture of you, holding a picture of me
In the pocket of my blue jeans

Still don't know what love means
Still don't know what love means Jolene
Ah, La, La, La, La, La Jolene

Been so long since I seen your face or felt a part of this human race
I've been living out of this here suitcase for way too long
A man needs something he can hold onto
A nine pound hammer or a woman like you
Either one of them things will do Jolene I ain't about to go straight
It's too late I found myself face down in the ditch
Booze in my hair
Blood on my lips
A picture of you, holding a picture of me
In the pocket of my blue jeans

Still don't know what love means
Still don't know what love means Jolene
La, La, La, La, La, La, La Jolene La, La, La, La, La, La, La Jolene