A Reading of “Coat of Many Colors” Songtext
von Dolly Parton

Back through the years
I go wonderin′ once again
Back to the seasons of my youth
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
But every piece was small
And I didn't have a coat
And it was way down in the fall
Momma sewed the rags together
She sewed every stitch with love
And made my coat of many colors
That I was so proud of


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

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 couldn′t wait to wear it
As she blessed it with a kiss

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 children laughing
And making fun of me
In my coat of many colors
That my momma made for me


And I didn't understand it
For I felt that I was rich
And I told them of the love
That momma sewed in every stitch
And I told 'em all the story
Momma told me as she sewed
And how my coat of many colors
Was worth more than all their gold

But they didn′t understand it
And I tried to make them see
That one is only poor
If they choose to be
And though we had no money
But I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colors
That momma made for me

Through life I remained happy
And good luck is on my side
I have everything
That anyone could ever want from life
But nothing is as precious
As mommas memory
And my coat of many colors
That my momma made for me