476 PART 4 | SINCE WORLD WAR II
songwriter: Dolly Parton
date: 1971
performers: Dolly Parton, vocal; studio
instrumentalists and background singers
genre: country
meter: duple
form: verse and modifi ed chorusListening Guide 19.2 “Coat of Many Colors” DOLLY PARTONtiming section text comments0:00 introduction 4 bars: Two fi ngerpicked guitars recall the
sound of old Carter Family records. In bar 3, a
soft electric bass and a shaker emphasizing the
backbeat update the sound.
0:05 verse 1 Back through the years I go
wandering once again...33 bars: Double the proportions of later verses;
the fi rst half will not return. The melody stays in
a small range and the harmony uses only three
basic chords (I, IV, and V), characteristic of
many folk songs; V chord is reserved for second
half of verse. Extra bar at the end breaks the
symmetry (8 + 8 + 8 + 9).
0:51 verse 2 As she sewed, she told a
story...17 bars (8 + 9): Sustained organ chords enter
with references to the biblical story of Joseph
and his coat. As the verse progresses, the bass
becomes more active, energizing the motion
toward the chorus.
1:15 chorus My coat of many colors... 18 bars (9 + 9): Backup singers enter on IV
chord, combining with the organ to evoke the
sound of a small church choir. Second half of
chorus matches music of second half of verse.
1:41 transition 2 bars: Sudden jump to a new key, a whole-step
higher: a pop song cliché sometimes called a
pump-up or truck driver modulation.
1:43 verse 3 So with patches on my
britches...17 bars (8 + 9): Voices and organ drop out,
returning to the texture of verse 1.
2:06 verse 4 And oh I couldn’t
understand it...17 bars (8 + 9): Parton’s vocal is particularly
expressive, dropping at moments nearly into
speech and sometimes discreetly back phrasing.WHAT TO LISTEN FOR- use of Carter-style guitar, organ, background
singers to support lyrics’ narrative - modifi ed lyrics in each chorus to support
storytelling - pump-up in second half of song to increase
energy
CD 4.1172028_19_468-494_r3_sd.indd 476 23/01/13 11:05 AM