Dolly's Coat Of Many Colors Celebrating 50 Years

On April 27, 1971, Dolly Parton walked into a Nashville recording studio to work on what would be her eighth studio album. By the end of the day the legend had five songs in the can, including one that was years in the making.

"Obviously this experience had a big impact on me so the painful part of the memory would come to the surface every now and again, then I would push it back down and then it would come around the bend once again," Parton said in a 2016 interview with the U.S. Library of Congress of how "Coat Of Many Colors" came to be. "So each time I would be dialed into the memory, a line or the melody would come together."

The song describes a coat Parton's mother made for her but one that was ridiculed by other kids at school. Parton said the song took some time to craft but finally came together while touring with longtime country collaborator Porter Wagoner.

"One day I was on the bus and the moment came where all of the lines to the song started to flow but I didn't have anything to write down the words," she said in the same 2016 interview. "So I looked up and there was a dry cleaner tag on one of Porter's outfits so I just ripped it off and started to put pen to paper. I still have that dry cleaner receipt at my museum in Dollywood."

While it's one of her most iconic tracks, it's also been admired by several musicians over the last 50 years. Brandi Carlile recently covered the song as part of Broken Horses audiobook. "That song's always been really important to me, since I was a kid," Carlile told Kelly Clarkson earlier this month, adding the song initially struck a chord with her growing up poor. As she got older Carlile saw the multi-colored coat to symbolize the rainbow in terms of sexual orientations.

Parton and Pearl spoke to a few musicians about "Coat Of Many Colors." Here are their thoughts:

Ron Sexsmith: "As a kid I was obsessed with songs, especially story songs! And so when I first heard Dolly sing, "Coat Of Many Colors" (I think I saw her perform it on a television show) I hung on every word. It's such a beautiful, wise and spiritual lyric that looking back on it, I'm sure it came as much-needed soul nourishment for me."

Melissa McClelland of Whitehorse: "Growing up my only connection to Dolly was her larger than life persona and maybe the song/movie 9 To 5. I liked her, but I had no idea the scope of her genius as a songwriter and musician. When I was 19 I took a spontaneous trip to Nashville with two girlfriends. While there I played whatever open mics I could sneak my way into, danced the two step at Roberts and picked up a Best of Dolly Parton CD at a truck stop. The CD didn’t leave my player for months. At first I recognized "Jolene" as a White Stripes song and quickly got schooled on the Dolly catalogue. "I Will Always Love You" was written by Dolly Parton?! "Coat of Many Colors" I had never heard before and I was blown away by the purity of her storytelling. The song is a beautiful tale of family, love and the true meaning of wealth. Every note is delivered in her sweet songbird voice and signature inflections that emphasize the emotional narrative. By the time I got home from Nashville I was a dedicated Dolly Parton fan and she has influenced my music and songwriting to this day."

Rosanne Cash: "It’s a remarkably visual song with a strong narrative—like a Eudora Welty (American novelist/short story writer) story.”

Miko Marks: "Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors” is heartfelt and beautiful. It takes me back to my youth and the figurative coat my Mama made for us. I can definitely relate to not being rich in wealth but rich in other ways. My Mama had very little time to give to us as she was the sole provider for my sister and I. However, she always had little anecdotes to share with us on her way to work: “You are a child of the Most High!  Let your light shine wherever you go because your light could help someone else find their way.” She would gently hammer home the importance of being our best selves, to love and be kind to others and to listen to what we learned in church and to use it in our everyday lives. As a child, I didn’t realize how she was enriching and shaping my character. Like Dolly, I wear the coat my Mama made for me proudly."