The answer to “Your beauty is beyond...” in Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” is “compare.” The line introduces the song’s central appeal: the narrator sees Jolene as an almost impossibly beautiful rival and begs her not to take her man.
“Jolene” was written and recorded by Dolly Parton and released in 1973 as the title track of her album. Parton has said the song was inspired partly by a red-haired bank teller who flirted with her husband, along with a young fan named Jolene who once asked for Parton’s autograph.
The song’s power comes from its unusual point of view. Instead of threatening the rival, the narrator admits her fear and vulnerability, describing Jolene’s striking appearance and charm. A common mix-up is confusing “compare” with the later idea of competing with Jolene; the song uses both concepts, but “beyond compare” is the requested phrase.