Coat of Many Colors was inspired by Dolly Partons own childhood. It tells the story of a coat her mother made her from rags, and although they were poor, Dolly felt rich because of the love her mother put into making the coat. The lyrics reflect themes of love, pride, and gratitude despite poverty.
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 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 And 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 Well I was rich as I could be In my coat of many colors My momma made for me
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
And oh I couldn't understand it For I felt I was rich And I told them 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
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 *Let last note ring