On this day (October 30) in 1971, Dolly Parton released the autobiographical song “Coat of Many Colors.” It was the title track and second single from her 1971 album. It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and went on to be one of Parton’s signature songs.
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Today, Parton is a country music icon who readily digs into her coffers to give to charity. Her generous nature likely comes from her impoverished upbringing. She has spoken—and written songs—about her childhood in East Tennessee many times over the years. She left her financially strapped family to chase her dreams and has been giving back to the less fortunate since she made it big. “Coat of Many Colors” is one of those songs that gives listeners an idea of what her childhood was like.
[RELATED: Behind the Meaning of “Coat of Many Colors” by Dolly Parton]
Dolly Parton Tells a True Story in “Coat of Many Colors”
One might think that Dolly Parton adapted the biblical story of the Coat of Many Colors for the song, but that’s not the case. Living in poverty, her family had to use all of their resources to get by. So, her mother really made her a coat out of scrap fabric. Unfortunately, Parton’s classmates made fun of her for the homemade coat and for being poor. However, as she says in the song, she knew that her family may have been short on money but were rich in the ways that matter.
Today, the titular coat is on display in Dollywood where thousands of visitors see it and the song’s handwritten lyrics every year.
While she learned to be proud of the handstitched coat, Parton never got used to the bullying she received because of it. Writing the song was cathartic for her. “At the time, I thought, ‘Why is this happening?’ Now I know it was so I could write that song,” she wrote in her 2020 book Songteller. “It really is true that God works in strange and mysterious ways His wonders to perform. You never know when you’re going through things what is actually going to turn out to be a blessing. So, it’s worth the suffering,” she added.
According to Songfacts, Parton wrote the song while on tour with Porter Wagoner. When the inspiration hit her, she couldn’t find a sheet of paper. So, she wrote the lyrics on Wagoner’s dry cleaning receipt.
Featured Image by Pete Still/Redferns
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