Description

• Presents new ways of understanding this famous song, reckoning the song’s origin stories and re-contextualizing them
• Explores different readings of the song by studying a variety of artists of diverse backgrounds
• Includes an in-depth interview with Chapel Hart, a trio of African American women who wrote You Can Have Him Jolene

Jolene is not only one of Dolly Parton’s most beloved songs, but also a cultural phenomenon, made and remade by many artists including Olivia Newton-John, The Congo Cowboys, Lil Nas X, and Chiquis and Becky G. It is also an inspiration for several answer songs, notably You Can Have Him Jolene by Chapel Hart. In this book, author Lydia R. Hamessley shows readers how one song has been able to embrace so many versions, responses, and reimaginings.

Contents

1. BITs – to come