Beyoncé may be going after Jolene, but somehow Jay-Z keeps catching strays.
The pop star released her reimagined version of Dolly Parton’s classic “Jolene” when she dropped her country-inspired album COWBOY CARTER last week.
Beyoncé introduces “JOLENE” with a clip of Dolly talking called “DOLLY P,” where Dolly calls in to leave a message, saying:
“Hey Mrs. Honeybee, it’s Dolly P. You know that hussy with the good hair you sing about? Reminded me of someone I knew back when.
Except she has flaming locks of auburn hair. Bless her heart. Just a hair of a different color, but it hurts just the same.”
That “hussy with the good hair” is a character Beyoncé fans know as “Becky,” who is featured on her 2016 Grammy-nominated Lemonade album, which focused on infidelity in her marriage with her husband Jay-Z (whose real name is Shawn Carter).
Then, it goes straight into “JOLENE,” which is completely rewritten and much more modern than the version Queen Dolly put out in the 70’s. Beyoncé takes a much harder stance when it comes to her “Jolene,” though:
“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 the fool
Your peace depends on how you move, Jolene”
Beyoncé’s mom, Tina Knowles, has Louisiana Creole heritage, so fans are speculating it might a sort of tribute to her, too, because of this line:
“Jolene, I know I’m a queen, Jolene
I’m still a Creole banjee bitch from Louisianne (Don’t try me)”
But it’s not just Jolene that has to look out, because now the internet has Jay-Z in their crosshairs – and can’t figure out why Jolene would even want Beyoncé’s man:
Now when Beyoncé sang "I can easily understand, Why you're attracted to my man" in Jolene, did she mean Jay Z or Julius? Coz ain't no way it's Mr Shawn Corey Carter pic.twitter.com/DmhvOKgNEs
— LEV.IS not LEE.VAIZ (Lev)⚪ (@LevisRyann) March 29, 2024
“Jolene, Jolene, please don’t take my man”
The man: pic.twitter.com/UMSn4OQXyn
— ShouldaListened🎁👀 (@ListenedShoulda) March 30, 2024
The only reason Beyoncé’s “Jolene” doesn’t work completely for me is that I know she is talking about fighting someone over Jay Z.
— Gingery Rogers (@GingeryRogers) March 29, 2024
Jolene and Dolly after hearing that song knowing what jay z looks like pic.twitter.com/wJqLTMmCs3
— I'm Right! 🇵🇸 🇹🇳 (@HeBackOnCrack) March 29, 2024
JOLENE U CAN HAVE ANY MAN IN THE WORLD AND U PICK JAY Z??? #COWBOYCARTER pic.twitter.com/nG8tUblgqM
— shayo🫦 (@xoshayo) March 28, 2024
Beyonce, no one wants Jay Z babes.
Jolene is probably looking like pic.twitter.com/lQM1dxqIuh
— 🌺Nico Rhonni🌺 (@theerhonnichan) March 29, 2024
-Beyoncé singing “I can easily understand why you’re attracted to my man” in Jolene
-me, knowing she’s talking bout jay z: pic.twitter.com/fTkkupc2F9— Matías Quintanilla González 🏳️🌈🌳🇨🇱 (@mati_qg) March 29, 2024
Jolene when Beyonce accused her of wanting Jay Z
— Chulito Era 🫦 (@MadamClinton) March 30, 2024
Beyoncé rewriting jolene to be about how jolene can’t take her man as if Jay z hasn’t always been famously easy to take
— re: emma (@evemmore) March 29, 2024
"jolene please don't take my man"
he's yours baby keep him😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/VkY338k7uO
— ☈IHNAISSANCE ✦ (@therihnaissance) March 29, 2024
Brutal.
