Slow Jolene: Variations of a Song

Dolly Parton’s song “Jolene”, which topped the Billboard Country Charts in February of 1974, has been covered and re-arranged by many different artists. But this isn’t a cover. This is Dolly Parton’s original version of “Jolene”, on a 45 rpm single slowed down to 33 rpm. Take a listen…

Now here’s the original version from Dolly

And, here’s a heart-wrenching version from Portland artist, Holcombe Waller

Dolly’s Thoughts on the Song

It’s a great chord progression — people love that ‘Jolene’ lick. It’s as much a part of the song almost as the song. And because it’s just the same word over and over, even a first-grader or a baby can sing, ‘Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.’ It’s like, how hard can that be?