Everything Flows: Jolene and I Will Always Love You

Cover versions of the month #119 & #120
White Stripes and Whitney Houston cover Dolly Parton

I have a list of songs and cover versions I intend to research and blog about when time allows. The White Stripes ferocious take on Dolly Parton's Jolene has been on that list for a while. As I set out to finally write about Jack and Meg White's ferocious garage band cover version, I stumbled across something astounding that made me decide to also write about Parton's I Will Always Love You.Whitney Houston's skyscraping version was number 1 for months in my youth.

The astounding fact is ... Dolly Parton, very likely, wrote both of these world class songs in one day!

In 2017, Parton told a radio show that she had found an old cassette of some initial songwriting ideas/demos. Jolene and I Will Always Love You were on it, back to back! In a later interview with GQ in 2020, Parton said;

If I didn't write them on the same day, it was during that same week, or that period of time when I had that particular cassette in my little player. It was very possible that it happened.

Wouldn't it be great to hear that initial demo?! Parton allegedly has a treasure trove of demos and unreleased songs. That would be some boxset!

Jolene was initially released as a single in late 1973, before becoming the title track of Parton's February 74 album. I Will Always Love You was then released as a single in March 74.

The picked guitar riff intro (by Chip Young) to Jolene is iconic - instantly recognisable. More subtle, is Wayne Moss playing the beautiful pedal steel guitar. Listen carefully, it is truly gorgeous. Headphones are recommended! Parton begins the song with the chorus, leaving the listener in no doubt about her concerns and the subject matter of the song through a heartfelt plea.

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

Parton becomes more poetic in verse as she sings of Jolene's beauty, hair, skin, eyes, smile and voice. She knows, and admits, that she cannot compete.

After the first verse, there are two shorter verses, with Parton admitting that her love talks about Jolene in his sleep, and how she knows Jolene could take him, but she doesn't know what he means to her. After a chorus, Parton is back delivering two shorter verses, highlighting that this is the love of her life and her happiness now lies in the hands of Jolene.

It's heartbreaking to see the lyrics written down in black and white and to listen to Parton's pleas. What a voice! Parton is in danger of being heartbroken and you can hear it.

The song was inspired by a red-haired bank clerk who flirted with Parton's husband Carl Dean, just after they were married. Parton revealed that Jolene's name and appearance were based on those of a young fan who came on stage for her autograph.

I Will Always Love You is breathtakingly good. I mean, songwriting doesn't really get much better than this. The delivery is extraordinary. Parton's voice is astonishing and when the choir comes in to back her up it hits like a punch. If you didn't have tears in your eyes, then you might have now.

The intro is heartachingly tender and then Parton comes in ... WOW - this must be one of the best vocal performances of all time. I have to stop writing every time I hit play on this song. Parton won Female Vocalist of the Year at the 1975 Country Music Awards for this song - deservedly so!

If I should stay, I would only be in your way

So I'll go, but I'll know

I'll think of you each step of the way

Then you hear the chorus for the first time, Parton's voice rising, full of love and heartbreak;

And I will always love you

I will always love you

Partron's portrays lost love with tender care and through beautifully poetic lyrics. The second verse ends with the devastating realisation;

Good-bye, please don't cry

Because we both know I'm not what you need

Followed by the two line chorus. Coming in on the back of those lyrics, it hits even harder. The love is still pouring out, despite the hurt. The third verse is spoken word, Parton over strings and gently strummed acoustic guitar. The heavenly backing vocals that come in behind her for the final chorus really tug on the heart strings. Gorgeous.

Had I ever heard Parton's original before researching this blog? I must have! Maybe on news clips back around the time Whitney Houston was at number one forever. But this was pre-internet. You couldn't just look something up on Spotify or YouTube! Anyway, Parton's original has blown me away!

On to the covers by The White Stripes and Whitney Houston ...

The White Stripes electrifying and spine tingling garage punk cover version of Jolene is raw and raucous. Jack White is spitting out the lyrics with passion and fire, while you can hear his guitar buzzing from the start. Meg's drums are pure primal, coming in to help add urgency at all the right times, also falling back to allow Jack's voice to lead at others.

The band covered loads of songs through their career, but seemed to have a real affinity with Jolene - originally releasing a studio version as a b-side to Hello Operator in 2000, and then a live version from Blackpool in 2004.

I was fortunate to catch The White Stripes play King Tuts back in the day and their performance of this song was a stand out. Jack White playing a battered guitar and switched between microphones, while Meg looked super cool, following his lead, catching his eye, totally in tune.

Research leads me to believe that the guitar White played, that looked like it was covered in paper mache - but it wasn't, was his 1950's Kay hollowbody - believed to be a Kay K6533 Value Leader. It was like nothing I had previously seen. Likewise, I hadn't seen any band with such a ferocious live energy as The White Stripes. Their distinctive look and colour scheme, raw and powerful sound and incredible energy were captivating and mind blowing.

Music fans of my generation will remember this cover. How could you not?! It was inescapable, number 1 for months, thanks not only to Whitney Houston's remarkable vocal range, but due to its feature in the Bodyguard film in which Houston starred with Kevin Costner.

Listening back, Houston's voice is mesmerising. Her 3-3.5 octave range was unique in popular music and it made everything seem completely effortless to her, extraordinary to us mere mortals. Starting off acapella for the first verse, Houston's voice is beautifully tender. Strings are introduced for the chorus and then Houston's voice starts to really shine. By the second chorus, she is reaching notes that most can't even dream of.

The instrumental section is more 80's than 90's (the song was released in 1992), indeed, listening back, the music is very 80's and doesn't really match Houston's soulful voice. There is A LOT of saxophone and it even makes a reappearance when Houston is soaring through the post instrumental chorus. Like, really soaring.

However, the music is a mere footnote in this cover version, it's all about Whitney Houston and her extraordinary voice. You can only imagine the version she could have recorded with a producer like Rick Rubin, or even Mark Ronson - think of what he produced with Amy Winehouse.

Parton's sublime originals and The White Stripes (studio and live) and Whitney Houston cover versions are added to my Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist on Spotify which also features all of the songs listed below. Search for the title or CLICK HERE

Previous covers of the month blogs

1. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

2. Going Back To My Roots

3. Nirvana play The Vaselines

4. Slip Inside This House

5. Top 10 covers by Teenage Fanclub

6. Only Love Can Break Your Heart

7. Time For Livin'

8. Sound and Vision

9. All Along The Watchtower

10. I Am The Walrus

11. Guiding Star