Music of the Day : Dolly Parton - Coat of Many Colors

Source

"Coat of Many Colors" is a song by American country music singer Dolly Parton, released on September 27, 1971. It was released as the second single and title track of her eighth solo studio album, Coat of Many Colors. It was written by Dolly Parton and produced by Bob Ferguson. Source

Dolly Parton - Coat of Many Colors

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Back through the years I go wandering once again
Back to the seasons of my youth
I recall a box of rags that someone gave us
And how my mama put the rags to use

[Verse 2]
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
Mama sewed the rags together sewing every piece with love
She made my coat of many colors that I was so proud of

[Verse 3]
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

[Bridge 1]
My coat of many colors that my mama 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 mama made for me

[Verse 4]
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 mama made for me

[Verse 5]
And oh, I couldn't understand it for I felt I was rich
And I told them of the love my mama sewed in every stitch
And I told them all the story mama told me while she sewed
And how my coat of many colors was worth more than all their clothes

[Bridge 2]
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 mama made for me
Made just for me

Songwriter: Dolly Parton
Source

“Coat of Many Colors” is part autobiography, part valuable life lesson that teaches about bullying, about love, about acceptance and about good parents. Dolly Parton's mother had made her a patchwork coat and the kids at school were making fun of her, which was a traumatic experience for her. "And oh, I couldn't understand it for I felt I was rich / And I told them of the love my mama sewed in every stitch / And I told them all the story mama told me while she sewed / And how my coat of many colors was worth more than all their clothes" Parton was singing to them. The song concludes with Dolly Parton singing the moral of her story: "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 mama made for me / Made just for me"

Additionally, Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors, a drama film based on the true story of Dolly Parton, written by Pamela K. Long and directed by Stephen Herek, was made in 2015. I watched the movie and it was pretty good.

Dolly Parton - Coat Of Many Colors (Live)

Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors trailer

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