 Jolene  is a song written and performed by American country music artist Dolly Parton.It was released in October 1973 as the first single and title track from her album of the same name, produced by Bob Ferguson.hroughout the song, the woman implores Jolene please don't take him just because you can. According to Parton, the song was inspired by a red-headed bank clerk who flirted with her husband Carl Dean at his local bank branch around the time they were newly married.