"Coat of Many Colors" is a True Lesson of Love. Rest in peace, Dolly Parton.
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
I’ve never been a country music fan. And I couldn’t name more than a handful of famous country singers, and even fewer country songs. But Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors" is a new all time favorite of mine across all genres. Ironically, I knew about the song for many years, but the first time I heard her sing it was this past Tuesday after getting the news that Dolly Parton passed away. How could this be?
Many years ago I came across a children’s book on display in my public library, authored by Dolly Parton. I knew who Dolly Parton was -- the buxom blonde and flamboyant country singer -- and was intrigued enough to open it. At the time I didn't realize it was based on her lyrics to her song “Coat of Many Colors,” It's a short children's book accompanied by illustrations.
The story made a very deep impression on me. It reflected her actual experience as a nine-year-old child in a large, loving family that was very poor.
Dolly didn’t have a coat for the upcoming winter, so her mother sewed her a coat from a box full of colorful rags. As she sewed, she told Dolly the story from the Bible about Joseph and his coat of many colors, given to him by his father Jacob. When the coat was finished, Dolly was absolutely thrilled and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the coat.
She was so proud of her gorgeous new coat that she couldn’t wait to wear it to school! But instead of the expected compliments, the kids laughed and her and made fun of her for wearing a coat made of rags. Anybody-- especially a child -- would be shocked and hurt and confused to be greeted that way. But little Dolly soldiered on when faced with the mockery and ostracism. She tried to explain to them that the coat was made with the richness of her mother’s love. She even told them the story of Joseph from the Bible.
"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
That my mama made for me
Made just for me."
This is such a perfect summary of the pathos of our humanity. Rest in peace, Dolly Parton.
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