'It's a warning': What Beyoncé's version of Jolene really means.

Several celebrities have covered Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' throughout its 50-year run, but few artists have made it their own the way Beyoncé has.

Bey, who sang a rendition of the hit track on her new album, Cowboy Carter, rewrote the lyrics, referencing her relationship with her husband Jay-Z.

Watch: Dolly Parton on her famous style. Post continues below.

Instead of "begging" Jolene not to steal her man, as Parton did in the original, Beyoncé issues a warning, telling Jolene to stay away from her husband and family.

"I’m warnin' you, don’t come for my man," she sings.

In a 22-second track before Beyoncé's 'Jolene', Parton herself introduces the cover. 

"You know that hussy with the good hair you sing about?" Parton asks Beyoncé, referencing her famous "Becky with the good hair" lyric on her 2016 song 'Sorry'.

"Reminding me of someone I knew back when, except she has flaming locks of auburn hair, bless her heart. Just a hair of a different colour but it hurts just the same."

“DOLLY P” IS THE SECOND INTERLUDE! I LOVE HOW DOLLY PARTON MADE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN JOLENE AND BECKY!!! PERFECTION!! https://t.co/SVr2ox7ch7

— 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚌𝚊 ⚡️ (@MJFINESSELOVER) March 29, 2024

I love Beyoncé’s version of Jolene, because she wasn’t begging her, she was WARNING her.

That’s my girl!

— Tolly (@tolly_t) March 29, 2024

Beyoncé and Jay-Z may be one of the most powerful couples in the music industry, but that doesn't mean they haven't experienced their fair share of relationship woes. 

For starters, Beyoncé's album Lemonade, released eight years ago, explored themes of infidelity with the songs, 'Sorry' and 'Don't Hurt Yourself'.

The former Destiny's Child star met Jay-Z back in the year 2000 when she was just 18. 

They started dating in 2001 and wed in 2008. The couple share three children: 12-year-old Blue Ivy and six-year-old twins Sir and Rumi.

While they collaborate often, the two are notoriously private and rarely give interviews or talk about their marriage to the press. 

Beyonce and Jay-Z. Image: Instagram.

In the past, they were plagued with cheating rumours (many fuelled by Beyoncé and Jay-Z themselves). 

It was said that Jay-Z struggles to remain faithful to his wife, a topic that has been the subject of Beyoncé's music for years. 

The reactions to Beyoncé's 'Jolene' have been mixed so far, with some people loving the change of tone, and others feeling as if it takes the soul out of the song. 

jolene is about the pleading, the desperation, the borderline homoeroticism of it. you take all of that out?? you replace begging with warning? you stop talking about how hot jolene is to talk about your man, your man, your man?? ugh. booo booo tomatoes

— tallulah bankhead (@diandrasdiandra) March 29, 2024

Been thinking about how so many have their knickers in a twist over Beyoncé’s new country album. The lyric change Dolly’s song Jolene is brilliant. IMO. It’s about time the big names in country music get used to women singing about taking charge instead of

— Stella Parton (@StellaParton) April 1, 2024

Parton on the other hand couldn't get enough, reacting to the performance with a message on X: "Wow, I just heard Jolene. Beyoncé is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it!"

❤️ pic.twitter.com/6hRpwERG8O

— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) March 29, 2024

Compare Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' to Beyoncé's version below.

Dolly Parton's '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

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 nothin’ I can do to keep

From cryin’ 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

Beyoncé's cover of 'Jolene'.

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I’m warnin’ you, don’t come for my man (Jolene)

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

Don’t take the chance because you think you can

You’re beautiful, beyond compare

Takes more than beauty and seductive stares

To come between a family and a happy man

Jolene, I’m a woman too

Thе games you play are nothing new

So you don’t want no hеat with me, Jolene

We’ve been deep in love for twenty years

I raised that man, I raised his kids

I know my man better than he knows himself (Yeah, what?)

I can easily understand

Why you’re attracted to my man

But you don’t want this smoke, so shoot your shot with someone else (You heard me)

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I’m warnin’ you, woman, find you your own man

Jolene, I know I’m a queen, Jolene

I’m still a Creole banjee bitch from Louisianne (Don’t try me)

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

Me and my man crossed those valleys

Highs and lows and everything between

Good deeds roll in like tumblin’ weeds

I sleep good, happy

‘Cause you can’t dig up our planted seeds

I know my man’s gon’ stand by me, breathin’ in my gentle breeze (Ah)

I crossed those valleys

Highs and lows and everything between

Good deeds roll in like tumblin’ weeds

Good and happy

‘Cause you can’t dig up them planted seeds

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I’ma stand by her, she will stand by me, Jolene

Feature Image: Instagram @beyonce/Getty.