Coat Of Many Colors
Parton Dolly Lyrics

Back through the years I go wonderin' once again Back to the seasons of my youth
I reminisce about my past and go back to my childhood days.

I recall a box of rags that someone gave us And how my momma put the rags to use There were rags of many colors Every piece was small And I didn't have a coat And it was way down in the fall
Someone gifted us a box of rags which my mother used to create a coat for me during autumn. The rags were of various shades and sizes and my coat was the only one I had.

Momma sewed the rags together Sewin' every piece with love She made my coat of many colors That I was so proud of
Using her sewing skills, my mother stitched together the rags to make me a coat filled with affection. I was really pleased with my new coat.

As she sewed, she told a story From the Bible, she had read About a coat of many colors Joseph wore and then she said Perhaps this coat will bring you Good luck and happiness And I just couldn't wait to wear it And momma blessed it with a kiss
While making the coat, my mother narrated to me the story of Joseph from the Bible who wore a similar coat. She believed that the coat will bring good fortune and joy that's why before wearing it, she blessed it with a kiss.

My coat of many colors That my momma made for me Made only from rags But I wore it so proudly Although we had no money I was rich as I could be In my coat of many colors My momma made for me
Despite our financial difficulties, I was able to boast and show off my coat that my mother crafted for me. The coat made me feel blessed and affluent even though it was made out of rags.

So with patches on my britches And holes in both my shoes In my coat of many colors I hurried off to school Just to find the others laughing And making fun of me In my coat of many colors My momma made for me
As I walked to school, I wore my patchy clothes and holey shoes along with my beloved coat. However, other kids bullied me by laughing and making fun of my ragged clothes.

And oh, I couldn't understand it For I felt I was rich And I told 'em of the love My momma sewed in every stitch And I told 'em all the story Momma told me while she sewed And how my coat of many colors Was worth more than all their clothes
Their mocking comments left me confused as I was proud of my ragged clothes because they represented the love my mother put into making them. I shared with them the story of my coat and how it was way more valuable to me than any other clothes of theirs.

But they didn't understand it And I tried to make them see That one is only poor Only if they choose to be Now I know we had no money But I was rich as I could be In my coat of many colors My momma made for me Made just for me
However, their lack of understanding and empathy didn't sway me. I tried to make them see that you're never poor unless you choose to be. In spite of our poverty, I still felt blessed because of the love and care that went into making the coat. It was created solely for me and it made me feel truly rich.