Coat of Many Colors

Written in 1969 while on a bus tour with Porter Wagoner, Parton 1st recorded this on her 1971 "Coat of Many Colors" album. It is an autobiographical song about being teased for her patched together clothes she wore to school as a child.

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 & it was way down in the fall
Momma sewed the rags together sewin' every piece with love
She made my coat of many colors that I was so proud of

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 & momma 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

So with patches on my britches & holes in both my shoes
In my coat of many colors I hurried off to school
Just to find the others laughing & making fun of me
In my coat of many colors my momma made for me

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 colorsvwas worth more than all their clothes

But they didn't understand it & 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

Lyrics & music by Dolly Parton

© 1971 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. All rights reserved.