Coat of Many Colors
Dolly Parton Lyrics

Back through the years
Reflecting on my childhood

I go wonderin' once again
I reminisce about the past

Back to the seasons of my youth
Memories of my younger years

I recall a box of rags that someone gave us
I remember a box of rags we received

And how my momma put the rags to use
And how my mother used the rags

There were rags of many colors
The rags were of various colours

Every piece was small
Each piece was tiny

And I didn't have a coat
I didn't own a coat

And it was way down in the fall
It was autumn

Momma sewed the rags together
My mother stitched the rags together

Sewin' every piece with love
Sewing them with affection

She made my coat of many colors
She fashioned a coat with the rags

That I was so proud of
A coat I was proud to wear

As she sewed, she told a story
While sewing, she shared a story

From the Bible, she had read
A tale she read from the Bible

About a coat of many colors
About a coat with various hues

Joseph wore and then she said
Joseph wore and she remarked that

Perhaps this coat will bring you
Maybe this coat shall bring you

Good luck and happiness
Good fortune and joyfulness

And I just couldn't wait to wear it
I eagerly anticipated wearing it

And momma blessed it with a kiss
And mother bestowed a kiss of blessing

My coat of many colors
My coat with various hues

That my momma made for me
That my mother created solely for me

Made only from rags
Produced entirely from rags

But I wore it so proudly
But I wore it with utmost pride

Although we had no money
Although we were financially strapped

I was rich as I could be
I felt as wealthy as possible

In my coat of many colors
Thanks to my coat with various hues

So with patches on my britches
With patches on my trousers

And holes in both my shoes
And with holes in both my shoes

In my coat of many colors
In my colourful coat

I hurried off to school
I rushed off to school

Just to find the others laughing
Only to discover classmates ridiculing me

And making fun of me
Mocking me

And oh, I couldn't understand it
I couldn't comprehend it

For I felt I was rich
I felt wealthy

And I told 'em of the love
And I spoke to them of the affection

My momma sewed in every stitch
My mother stitched into every seam

And I told 'em all the story
I shared with them the tale

Momma told me while she sewed
Mother narrated it to me when stitching

And how my coat of many colors
And how my coat of various hues

Was worth more than all their clothes
Was more valuable than their own garments

But they didn't understand it
But they didn't comprehend it

And I tried to make them see
And I attempted to make them realize

That one is only poor
That one is only destitute

Only if they choose to be
Simply based on their decision

Now I know we had no money
Now I recognize that we were broke

But I was rich as I could be
But I felt as wealthy as conceivable

In my coat of many colors
Thanks to my coat with diverse hues

My momma made for me
That my mother crafted solely for me

Made just for me
Created exclusively for me