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