Jolene Lyrics

Janis Ian Jolene

Jimmy sits in his room 'til darkness Then he steps on the street and she watches and waits at the window, aondering who he'll meet It's a wasteland of TV dinners It's a highway in heat and there's nothing but time on the table clocking the same old beat Jolene steps out like the life of the party High class heels and polka dot sleeves Wears her hair like a girl in a hurry Walking and talking and rocking to the beat of the street

There's a crowd at the park on the corner Jimmy rushes to see On the ground is a lady in labor Jimmy forgets how to breath And it's coming too fast for a doctor and the traffic's obscene and the people are panicked and shouting "somebody do something" Jolene steps in like the life of the party Kicks her heels off, rolls up her sleeves Parts that crowd like a girl in a hurry Walking and talking and rocking to the beat of the street

And she's smiling, crying Doctoring as neat as you please People are laughing, clapping She gets up off her knees, rolling down her sleeves Holding up the kid so everybody can see

Jimmy offers his arm in the silence and the night comes alive and he drowns in her smile as the sirens finally arrive There are forms to be filled say the medics as they canvas the crowd It was dangerous, foolish and reckless This kind of thing shouldn't be allowed Jolene struts off like the life of the party High class heels and polka dot sleeves Arm in arm. That's the end of the story They're walking and talking and they're rocking to the beat of the street