I built a riverboat for you,
And called her Old Jolene for you.
And I sat in the bough of the boat and waited for a sign from you.
But the water said it could not find you.
You didn't come through.

Hah-hoe, hah-hoe-hoe, hah-hoe, hah-hoe.
Old Jolene, where could he be?

I built a waterfall for you,
And like a toad with a golden ball for you,
I sat in the bough of that boat and I waited for a sign from you.
And yet the water said it could not find you.
You didn't come through.

Hah-hoe, hah-hoe-hoe, hah-hoe-hoe, hah-oh
Old Jolene, where could he be?
Old Jolene, where is he?

Down a river made of dust and dew, Towards a country once rich and rare and blue,
I sat in the bough of that boat and scattered all of my parts from you.
Here comes my home, my heart and my crew.
So adieu to you.