Happy B'day Dolly!

Dolly Parton's birthday was also today. She's 59 years young. Thanks to JD at Southern Appeal for the reminder.

One of my all-time favorite Dolly Parton songs is "Coat of Many Colors," not only because she sings it beautifully, but because she wrote it, as well. The song tells the story of a young girl whose family was so poor that the coat she wore was one her mother had made out of scraps of cloth that someone had given to them. Even though the little girl faced teasing and ridicule from the kids at school for wearing a coat made out of rags, she still wore her coat proudly, knowing that there was love "in every stitch". Those familiar with country music will know that the young girl in the song was none other than Miss Dolly herself. It's no wonder that Dolly says "Coat of Many Colors" is her favorite, too.

They just don't make 'em like that anymore.

Coat of Many Colors (Dolly Parton)

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
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
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