A song from a Mothers Day Concert at South Yarra Senior Centre in Fawkner Park four months ago.

This song, written and recorded by American country music singer Dolly Parton, was released in September 1971 as the second single and title track from her album, "Coat of Many Colors". She composed the song in 1969, while traveling with Porter Wagoner on a tour bus. 

The song tells of how Parton's mother stitched together a coat for her daughter out of rags given to the family. As she sewed, she told her child the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colours. But when she went to school, proud of her new clothes, she found the other children made fun of her for wearing a coat made of rags. Parton has called the song "a world of things" and that "it teaches about bullying, about love, about acceptance, about good parents."

The song has been covered by several artists, including Billy Connolly (1975), Emmylou Harris (1976) Shania Twain (2003) and Eva Cassidy (2008).

Lyrics and chords:
D
Back through the years I go wandering once again
……………...................…………….. G
Back to the seasons of my youth.
...…. D
I recall a box of rags that someone gave us
……………………………......................……… G
And how my mama put the rags to use.

……........…….. D
There were rags of many colors, and every piece was small
…………………………......................…………. A7
And I didn't have a coat and it was way down in the fall.
……........ D ………………….................………….. G
Mama sewed the rags together, sewin’ every piece with love.
……….........……… D …………...............………… A7 ……........…….. D
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 & mama blessed it with a kiss.

….... G ………………………..................….. D
My coat of many colors that my mama made for me
G …………………..................……… D ……...….....…. A7
Made only from rags, but I wore it so proudly.
…..... D …………………................………… G
Although we had no money I was rich as I could be
……...... D ………………...............…….. A7 ……….........…… D
In my coat of many colors my mama made for me.

…….....…. E
So with patches on my britches, and holes in both my shoes
…………………..................………….. B7
In my coat of many colors I hurried off to school
…….....… E …………………....................………. A
Just to find the others laughing and making fun of me
…….....….. E …………...............…………… B7 ……..........….… E
And my coat of many colors my mama made for me.

And oh, I couldn'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.

…….....…… A …...…………….............…….. E
But they didn't understand it and I tried to make them see
…....… A ……………..........…….. E ………..........……. B7
That one is only poor only if you choose to be.
…….....…. E …………………...................……………. A
Now I know we had no money, but I was rich as I could be
……....… E …………………...............…… B7 …..........………. E
In my coat of many colors, my mama made for me...
B7 …….........……. E
Made just for me.