Whitney Houston's cover of this song has become so eponymous that it's all too easy to forget that I Will Always Love You is a Dolly Parton song, originally written and performed by her in 1974 after the break-up of a relationship.

And what a song it is! So bittersweet and beautiful, and Dolly's voice on this is a perfect vehicle for this tale of woe. I do love the power of Whitney's voice, but I far prefer Dolly's sweeter, sadder voice for this song. Have you ever really listened to the lyrics?

In Whitney's hands it's a great power ballad; in Dolly's it's absolutely heartbreaking.

"Bitter-sweet memories
That's all I have, and all I'm taking with me
Good-bye, oh, please don't cry
'Cause we both know that I'm not
What you need."

Gonna go crack open a beer and probably cry in it now.

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