VOA慢速英语2020--Fans Celebrate Dolly Parton with Viral Video

Country music star Dolly Parton is being celebrated¹ in song for her $1 million donation to coronavirus vaccine² research efforts.

Boston, Massachusetts professor Ryan Cordell posted a video on Twitter of himself performing a re-written version of Parton's famous song Jolene. Vaccine is the name of the new version.

And it is a hit! Cordell's post received tens of thousands of views in just a few days since its posting.

Parton's song is about a woman worried that she will lose her lover to Jolene, a desirable woman who can have any man she wants. Parton sings, "Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene / I'm begging you please don't take my man / Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene / Please don't take him just because you can."

Vaccine expresses a similar sense of longing³, but for a very different object. Cordell sings, "Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine / I'm begging of you, please go in my arm / Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine / Please just keep me safe from COVID harm."

The gently humorous lyrics⁴ came from Gretchen McCulloch, a language expert and writer. She posted the words to Vaccine online and invited people to record it.

Cordell accepted.

"I love that song. I love Dolly Parton," he told The Boston Globe on Tuesday. "So I went and grabbed my guitar."

Parton's gift to Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center helped efforts by researchers to develop Moderna's experimental coronavirus vaccine. The drug company announced successful results for its vaccine this week.

Cordell grew up listening to Parton's music and saw her sing at a show last year. He called that performance one of his "favorite musical memories."

"So I was just thrilled to see this news that she had contributed to COVID vaccine research," he said.

Cordell hopes medical workers enjoy his video of Vaccine. He noted⁵ the intense pressure they are under.

"If they watched the video, and it made them happy for a minute," he said, "that's all I need."

Words in This Story

view –n. the act of seeing or examining

thrilled –adj. very excited and happy

contribute – v. to help something happen, to be a part of an effort

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

3 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

4 lyrics   

n.歌词

参考例句：

• music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
• The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。