Back through the years

I go wandering once again

Back to the seasons of my youth

I recall the box of rags

Someone gave us

And how my mama put the rags to use

There were rags of many colors

Every piece was small

And I didn't have a coat

And it was away down in the fall

Mama sewed the rags together

So in every piece with luck

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 my mama blessed it with a kiss



My coat of many colors

That my mama made for me

Made only from rags

That I wore it so proudly

Although we had no money

Well, I was rich as I could be

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

And no, I couldn't understand it

For I felt I was rich

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



But they didn't understand it

And I tried to make them see

"But one is only poor

Only if he chooses to be."

Now I know we had no money

In my coat of many colors

My mama made for me

Made just for me