Released: October 30, 1971
Songwriter: Dolly Parton
Producer: Bob Ferguson
[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]
But they didn'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
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]
But they didn'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
- Coat of Many Colors (1971)
- The Best Of Dolly Parton (Vol. 2) (1975)
- Heartsongs: Live From Home (1994)
- The Essential Dolly Parton (2005)
- The Very Best of Dolly Parton (2007)
- Jolene
- 9 to 5
- Coat of Many Colors
- I Will Always Love You
- Just Because I’m a Woman
- Here You Come Again
- From Here to the Moon and Back
- Cracker Jack
- Girl in the Movies
- Dumb Blonde
- Rockin’ Years
- Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
- Little Sparrow
- Here I Am
- The Bridge
- The Little Drummer Boy
- Before the Next Teardrop Falls
- Two Doors Down
- Red Shoes
- When Life Is Good Again
- Me and Little Andy
- Hard Candy Christmas
- Eagle When She Flies
- Joshua