About The Song
This is a classic song written and recorded by Dolly Parton. It was released on October 1971 as a single from Parton’s album, Coat of Many Colors.
Coat of Many Colors is the eighth album released by Dolly Parton. It was under RCA Records. Upon the release of the album, it was nominated for Album of the Year at the 1972 CMA Awards and was listed on the Time Magazine’s list of 100 Greatest Album of all time. Thus, this album ranked number 301 on the Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Album of all time.
Being one of the favorite songs in the ’70s, it has been recorded by various music artists including Shania Twain along with Alison Krauss, and Union Station, Emmylou Harris, and Eva Cassidy.
Twain’s version of the song was included on Parton’s tribute album, Just Because I’m a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton. Based on Country airplay, Twain’s version of the song peaked at number 57 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
“Coat of Many Colors” was described as Parton’s favorite song she has written. Parton composed this song during a tour. She was with Porter Wagoner during that time. Thus, Parton also shared that while writing this song, she could not find any piece of paper so she wrote it at the back of a receipt given by Wagoner. When the song became a country hit, Wagoner then framed the receipt.
The song “Coat of Many Colors” talks about Parton’s mother who stitched a coat for her daughter out of rags that were given to the family. While making it, her mother tells a biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. Upon hearing the story, Parton was excited to wear the coat, and when she wore it in school many students laughed at her for wearing a coat made of rags.
Video
Lyrics
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
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
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 ’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 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