Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

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By: Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber

Some folks dream of the wonders they'll do Before their time on this planet is through Some just don't have anything planned They hide their hopes and their heads in the sand Now I don't say who is wrong, who is right But if by chance you are here for the night Then all I need is an hour or two To tell the tale of a dreamer like you We all dream a lot - some are lucky, some are not But if you think it, want it, dream it, then it's real You are what you feel But all that I say can be told another way In a story of a boy whose dreams came true And he could be you

Any Dream Will Do

I closed my eyes, drew back the curtain To see for certain what I thought I knew Far far away, someone was weeping But the world was sleeping Any dream will do

Joseph & Children:

I wore my coat, with golden lining Bright colors shining, wonderful and new And in the east, the dawn was breaking And the world was waking Any dream will do

A crash of drums, a flask of light My golden coat flew out of sight The colors faded into darkness I was left alone

Joseph & Children:

May I return to the beginning The light is dimming, and the dream is too The world and I, we are still waiting Still hesitating Any dream will do

A crash of drums, a flask of light My golden coat flew out of sight The colors faded into darkness I was left alone

Joseph & Children:

May I return to the beginning The light is dimming, and the dream is too The world and I, we are still waiting Still hesitating Any dream will do

Way way back many centuries ago, Not long after the bible began Jacob lived in the land of Canaan, A fine example of a family man. Jacob, Jacob and sons Depended on farming to earn their keep. Jacob, Jacob and sons, Spent all of his days in the fields with sheep. Jacob was the founder of a whole new nation Thanks to the number of children he had He was also know as Isreal, but most of the time His sons and his wives used to call him dad. Jacob, Jacob and sons, Men of the soil, of the sheaf and crook Jacob, Jacob and sons, A remarkable family in anyone's book.

Narrator, Brothers, Female Ensemble & Children:

Reuben was the eldest of the children of Isreal With Simeon and Levi the next in line Napthali and Issachar with Asher and Dan Zebulun and Gad took the total to nine Jacob, Jacob and sons, Benjamin and Judah, which leaves only one Jacob, Jacob and sons Joseph - Jacob's favorite son Jacob, Jacob and sons Jacob, Jacob and sons Jacob, Jacob and sons Jacob

Joseph's mother, she was quite my favorite wife I never really loved another all my life And Joseph was my joy because He remind me of her

Through young Joseph, Jacob lived his youth again Loved him, praised him, gave him all he could, but then It made the rest feel second best And even if they were -

Being told we're also-rans Does not make us Joseph fans

But where they had really missed the boat is

We're great guys but no-one seems to notice

Joseph's charm and winning smile Failed to slay them in the aisle And his father couldn't see the danger He could not imagine any danger He just saw in Joseph all his dreams come true Jacob wanted to show the world he loved his son to make it clear that Joseph was the special one So Jacob bought his son a coat A multi-colored coat to wear

Brothers and female ensemble:

Joseph's coat was elegant, The cut was fine The tasteful style was the Ultimate in good design And this is why it caught the eye A king would stop and stare

And when Joseph tried it on He knew his sheepskin days were gone

Narrator, female ensemble & children:

Such a dazzling coat of many colors How he loved his coat of many colors

In a class above the rest It even went well with his vest Such a stunning coat of many colors How he loved his coat of many colors It was red and yellow and green and Brown and blue Joseph's brothers weren't Too pleased with what they saw

We have never liked him All that much before And now this coat Has got our goat We feel life is unfair

Narrator, female ensemble & children:

And when Joseph graced the scene His brothers turned a shade of green His astounding clothing took the biscuit

Quite the smoothest person in the district

Joseph & female ensemble:

I look handsome, I look smart I am a walking work of art Such a dazzling coat of many colors How I love my coat of many colors

Narrator, Joseph, ensemble & children:

It was red and yellow and green and brown And scarlet and black and ochre and peach And ruby and olive and violet and fawn And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve And cream and crimson and silver and rose And azure and lemon and russet and gray And purple and white and pink and orange And red and yellow and green and brown And scarlet and black and ochre and peach And ruby and olive and violet and fawn And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve And cream and crimson and silver and rose And azure and lemon and russet and gray And purple and white and pink and orange And blue

Joseph's coat annoyed his brothers

But what makes us mad Are the things that Joseph tells us of the Dreams he's often had

I dreamed that in the fields one day, The corn gave me a sign Your eleven sheaves of corn All turned and bowed to mine My sheaf was quite a sight to see, A golden sheaf and tall Yours were green and second-rate And really rather small

This is not the kind of thing We brothers like to hear It seems to us that Joseph and his Dreams should disappear

I dreamed I saw eleven stars, The sun and moon and sky Bowing down before my star, It made me wonder why Could it be that I was born For higher things than you? A post in someone's government, A ministry or two

The dreams of our dear brother are The decade's biggest yawn His talk of stars and golden sheaves Is just a load of corn Not only is he tactless but He's also rather dim For there's eleven of us and There's only one of him The dreams of course will not come true That is, we think they won't come true That is, we hope they won't come true What if he's right all along? The dreams are more than crystal clear, The writing on the wall Means that Joseph some day soon Will rise above us all The accuracy of the dreams We brothers do not know But one thing we are sure about The dreamer Has to go

Poor, Poor Joseph

Next day, far from home, the brothers planned the repulsive crime

Let's grab him now, Do him in, while we've got time

This they did and made the most of it Tore his coat and flung him in a pit

Let us leave him here, All alone, and he's bound to die

When some Ishmaelites, A hairy crew, came riding by In a flash the brothers changed their plan

We need cash. Let's sell him if we can

Narrator, female ensemble & children:

Poor, poor Joseph, what'cha gonna do? Things look bad for you, hey, what'cha gonna do? Poor, poor Joseph, what'cha gonna do? Things look bad for you, hey, what'cha gonna do?

Could you use a slave You hairy bunch of Ishmaelites? Young, strong, well-behaved, Going cheap and he reads and writes

In a trice the dirty deal was done Silver coins for Jacob's favorite son Then the Ishmaelites Galloped off with a slave in tow Off to Egypt where Joseph was not keen to go It wouldn't be a picnic he could tell

And I don't speak Egyptian very well

Joseph's brothers tore His precious multicolored coat Having ripped it up, They next attacked a passing goat Soon the wretched creature was no more They dipped his coat in blood and guts and gore

Narrator, ensemble & children:

Oh now brothers, how low can you stoop? You make a sordid group, hey, how low can you stoop? Poor, poor Joseph, sold to be a slave Situations grave, hey, sold to be a slave

One More Angel in Heaven

Father we've something to tell you, a story of our time A tragic but inspiring tale of manhood in its prime You know you had a dozen sons - Well now that's not quite true But feel no sorrow, do not grieve, He would not want you to

Reuben, Reuben's wife & male ensemble:

There's one more angel in heaven There's one more star in the sky Joseph we'll never forget you It's tough but we're gonna get by There's one less place at our table There's one more tear in my eye

But Joseph the things that you stood for

Like truth and light never die When I think of his last great battle A lump comes to my throat It takes a man who knows no fear To wrestle with a goat His blood-stained coat is tribute to His final sacrifice His body may be past it's peak But his soul's in paradise

There's one less place at our table There's one more tear in my eye

But Joseph the things that you stood for

Like truth and light never die

Carve his name with pride and courage

If he had not laid down his life We all would now be dead.

Joseph was taken to Egypt in chains and sold, Where he was bought by a captain named Potiphar

Narrator & male ensemble:

Potiphar had very few cares He was one of Egypt's millionares Having made a fortune buying shares in

Narrator & male ensemble:

Potiphar had made a huge pile Owned a .large percentage of the Nile

Meant that I could really live in style

Narrator & male ensemble:

Joseph was an unimportant Slave who found he like his master Consequently worked much harder, Even with devotion Potiphar could see that Joseph Was a cut above the average made him leader of his household, Maximum promotion

Narrator & male ensemble:

Potiphar was cool and so fine

But my wife would never toe the line

Narrator & male ensemble:

It's all there in chapter thirty-nine Of Genesis She was beautiful but

Narrator & male ensemble:

Saw a lot of men against his will He would have to tell her that she still Was his

Joseph's looks and handsome figure Had attracted her attention Every morning she would beckon

Come and lie with me love

Joseph wanted to resist her, Till one day she proved to eager Joseph cried in vain

Please stop I don't believe in free love

Potiphar was counting sheckels In his den below the bedroom When he hear a might rumpus Clattering above him Suddenly he knew his riches Couldn't buy him what he wanted Gold would never make him happy If she didn't love him

Narrator, children & ensemble:

letting out a mighty roar Potiphar burst through the door

Joseph, I'll see you rot in jail The things you have done are beyond the pale

Narrator, children & ensemble:

Poor, poor Joseph, locked up in a cell Things ain't going well, hey, locked up in a cell Poor, poor Joseph, locked up in a cell Things ain't going well, hey, locked up in a cell Locked up in a cell

Close Every Door

Close every door to me, Hide all the world from me Bar all the windows And shut out the light Do what you want with me, Hate me and laugh at me Darken my daytime and torture my night If my life were important I Would ask will I live or die But I know the answers lie Far from this world Close every door to me, Keep those I love from me Children of Israel Are never alone For I know I shall find My own peace of mind For I have been promised A land of my own

Close every door to me, Hide all the world from me Bar all the windows And shut out the light

Just give me a number Instead of my name Forget all about me And let me decay I do not matter, I'm only one person Destroy me completely Then throw me away If my life were important I Would ask will I live or die But I know the answers lie Far from this world Close every door to me

Joseph, ensemble & children:

Keep those I love from me Children of Israel Are never alone For we know we shall find Our own peace of mind For we have been promised A land of our own

Go, Go, Go Joseph

Joseph's luck was really out, His spirit and his fortune low Alone he sat, alone he thought Of happy times he used to know

Hey dreamer, don't be so upset

Hey Joseph, you're not beaten yet

Narrator & ensemble:

Go, go, go Joseph you know what they say Hang on now Joseph you'll make it some day Don't give up Joseph fight till you drop We've read the book and you come out on top

Now into Joseph's prison cell Were flung two very frightened men

We don't think that we will ever See the light of day again Hey Joseph, help us if you can We've had dreams that we don't understand

Narrator & ensemble:

Both men were servants of Pharaoh the King Both in the doghouse for doing their thing

One was a baker, a cook in his prime One was a butler, the Jeeves of his time

Tell me of your dreams my friends, And I will tell you what they show Though I cannot guarantee To get it right, I'll have a go

First the butler, trembling took the floor Nervously he spoke of what he saw

There I was standing in front of a vine I picked some grapes and I crushed them to wine I gave some to Pharaoh who drank from my cup I tried to interpret but I had to give up

You will soon be free my friend, So do not worry any more The king will let you out of here, You'll buttle as you did before

Next the baker rose to tell his dream Hoping it would have a similar theme

There I was standing with baskets of bread High in the sky I saw birds overhead Who flew to my basket and ate every slice Give me the message - like his would be nice

Sad to say your dream is not The kind of dream I'd like to get Pharaoh has it in for you Your execution date is set Don't rely on all I said I saw It's just that I have not been wrong before

Go, go, go Joseph you know what they say Hang on now Joseph you'll make it some day Sha la la Joseph you're doing fine You and your dreamcoat ahead of your time Go, go, go Joseph you know what they say Hang on now Joseph you'll make it some day Sha la la Joseph you're doing fine You and your dreamcoat ahead of your time Go, go, go, go Go, go, go, go Go, go, go, go Go, go, go, go Go, go, go, go Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go Joseph you know what they say Hang on now Joseph you'll make it some day Sha la la Joseph you're doing fine You and your dreamcoat ahead of your time Go, go, go, go, go, go, go Joseph you know what they say Hang on now Joseph you'll make it some day Sha la la Joseph you're doing fine You and your dreamcoat ahead of your time

Pharaoh, he was A powerful man With the ancient world In the palm of his hand To all intents and purposes he Was Egypt with a capital E Whatever he did He was showered with praise If he cracked a joke Then you chortled for days No-one had rights or a vote but the king In fact you might say He was fairly right-wing When Pharaoh's around, Then you get down on the ground If you ever find yourself near Ramases Get down on your knees

Female ensemble & children:

A pharaoh's story A pharaoh's story A pharaoh's story A pharaoh's story

Down at the other End of the scale Joseph is still Doing time in jail For even though he is In with the guards A lifetime in prison Seems quite on the cards But if my analysis of The position is right At the end of the tunnel There's a glimmer of light For all of a sudden Indescribable things Have shattered the sleep Of both peasants and kings Strange as it seems, There's been a run of crazy dreams And a man who could interpret Could go far - could become a star

Female ensemble & children:

Could be famous Could be a big success Could be famous Could be a big success

Strange as it seems, There's been a run of crazy dreams And a man who could interpret Could go far - could become a star

Narrator & ensemble:

Could be famous Could be a big success Could be famous Could be a big success Strange as it seems, There's been a run of crazy dreams And a man who could interpret Could go far Ah Could become a star could be famous Could be a big success Could be famous Could be a star

Poor, poor Pharaoh

Guess what? In his bed Pharaoh Had an uneasy night He had had a dream that pinned him To his sheets with fright No-one knew the meaning of this dream What to do, whatever could it mean? Then his butler said

I know of a bloke in jail Who is hot on dreams Could explain old Pharaoh's tale

Well fetch this Joseph man I need him to help me if he can

Narrator & ensemble:

Poor, poor Pharaoh, What'cha gonna do Dreams are haunting you, hey, What'cha gonna do

Chained and bound, afraid, alone Joseph stood before the throne

My service to Pharaoh has begun Tell me your problems, mighty one

Song of the King (Seven Fat Cows)

Pharaoh & ensemble:

Well I was wandering along by the banks of the river When seven fat cows came up out of the nile, uh-huh And right behind these fine healthy animals came Seven other cows, skinny and vile, uh-huh Well the thin cows ate the fat cows which I Thought would do them good, uh-huh But it didn't make them fatter like such A monster supper should Well the thin cows were as thin As they had ever, ever, ever been Well this dream has got me baffled hey, Joseph, won't you tell me what it means? Well you know that kings ain't stupid But I don't have a clue So don't be cruel Joseph Help me I beg of you Well I was standing doing nothing in a field out of town When I saw seven beautiful ears of corn, uh-huh They were ripe, they were golden and You've guessed it, Right behind them came seven other ears Tattered and torn, uh-huh Well the bad corn ate the good corn They came up from behind yes they did Now Joseph here's the punch line It's really gonna blow your mind Well the bad corn was As bad as it had ever, ever, ever been Well this dream has got me all shook up Treat me nice and tell me what it means Hey, hey, hey Joseph Won't you tell poor old Pharaoh What does this crazy dream mean? Oh yeah

Pharaoh's Dream Explained

Seven years of bumper crops are on their way Years of plenty, endless wheat and tons of hay Your farms will boom, there won't be room To store the surplus food you grow After that, the future doesn't look so bright Egypt's luck will change completely overnight And famine's hand will stalk the land With food an all-time low Noble king, there is no doubt What your dreams are all about All these things you saw in your pajamas Are a long-range forecast for your farmers

Joseph, female ensemble & children:

And I'm sure it's crossed your mind What it is you have to find Find a man to lead you through this famine With a flair for economic planning But who this man could be I just don't know Who this man could be I just don't know Who this man could be I just don't know

Well stone the crows, This Joseph is a clever kid Who'd have thought that fourteen cows Could mean the things he said they did? Joseph, you must help me further, I have got a job for you You shall lead us through this crises - You shall be my number two

Narrator & female ensemble:

Pharaoh told his guards to fetch A chisel from the local stores Whereupon he ordered them To cut the chains that Joseph wore Joseph got a royal pardon And a host of splendid things A chariot of gold, a cloak, A medal and some signet rings Joseph - Pharaoh's number two Joseph - Egypt looks to you

Joseph, narrator & female ensemble:

Joseph - Pharaoh's number two Joseph - Egypt looks to you

Narrator and Female Ensemble:

Seven summers on the trot Were perfect just as Joseph said Joseph saw that food was gathered Ready for the years ahead Seven years of famine followed Egypt didn't mind a bit The first recorded rationing In history was a hit

Female ensemble:

Joseph how can we ever say All that we want to about you We're so glad that you came our way We would have perished without you

Joseph we are the perfect team Old buddies, that's you and me I was wise to have chosen you You'll be wise to agree

Female ensemble:

Joseph how can we ever say All that we want to about you We're so glad that you came our way We would have perished without you

We were in a jam Would have baffled Abraham But now we're a partnership It's just a piece of cake

Female ensemble:

Greatest man since Noah Only goes to shoah

Anyone from anywhere can make it If they get a lucky break

Narrator & Female ensemble:

This could be a happy ending Perfect place to stop the show Joseph after all has gone About as far as he can go But I'm sure that Jacob and His other sons have crossed your mind How had famine hit the family Joseph left behind?

Those Canaan Days

Do you remember the good years in Canaan? The summers were endlessly gold The fields were a patchwork of clover The winters were never too cold We'd stroll down the boulevards together And everything round us was fine

Now the fields are dead and bare No joie de vivre anywhere Et maintenant we drink a bitter wine

Those Canaan days we used know Where have they gone, where did they go? Eh bien, raise your berets To those Canaan days

Do you remember those wonderful parties? The splendor of Canaan's cuisine Our extravagant, elegant soirées The gayest the bible has seen It's funny but since we lost Joseph We've gone to the other extreme no-one comes to dinner now We'd only eat them anyhow I even find I'm missing Joseph's dreams

Those Canaan days we used know Where have they gone, where did they go? Eh bien, raise your berets To those Canaan days

It's funny but since we lost Joseph We've gone to the other extreme Perhaps we all misjudged the lad Perhaps he wasn't quite that bad And how we miss his entertaining dreams

Those Canaan days we used to know Where have they gone where did they go - did they go? Eh bien, raise your berets

To those Canaan days

Eh bien, reaise your berets To those Canaan days

The Brothers Came to Egypt

So back in Canaan the future looked rough Jacob's family were finding it tough

For the famine has caught us unprepared We are thin, We are ill, We are getting scared It's enough to make anyone weep We are down to our very last sheep

We will starve if we hang around here

But in Egypt there's food going spare

They've got corn, They've got meat, They've got fruit and drinks

And if we have the time We could see the sphinx

So they finally decided to go Off to Egypt to see brother Joe So they all lay before Joseph's feet

Mighty prince, give us something to eat

Joseph found it a strain Not to laugh because Not a brother among them Knew who he was

I shall now take them all for a ride After all they have tried fratricide

I dreamed that in the fields one day, The corn gave me a sign your eleven sheaves of corn All turned and bowed to mine I dreamed I saw eleven stars. The sun the moon and sky Bowing down before my star And now I realize why How do I know where you come from? You could be spies Telling me that you are hungry - That could be lies How do I know who you are? Why do you think I should help you? Would you help me? Why on Earth should I believe you? I've no guarantee

We are just eleven brothers, Good men and true Though we know we count for nothing When up next to you Honesty's our middle name Life is slowly ebbing from us, Hope's almost gone It's getting very hard to see us From sideways on

Narrator & Brothers:

Grovel, grovel, cringe, bow, stoop, fall Worship, worship, beg, kneel, sponge, crawl

I rather like the way your talking, Astute and sincere Suddenly your tragic story It gets me right here

This is what we hoped he'd say

All this tugging at my heartstrings Seems justified I shall give you what you came for And lots more beside

Narrator & Brothers:

Grovel, grovel, cringe, bow, stoop, fall Worship, worship, beg, kneel, sponge, crawl

Thank you, thank you, cringe, bow, stoop, fall Worship, worship, beg, kneel, sponge, crawl

Joseph handed them sackloads of food And they groveled with base gratitude

Female ensemble:

Then, unseen, Joseph nipped out around the back And planted a cup in young Benjamin's sack

When the brothers were ready to go Joseph turned to them all With a terrible stare and said

Joseph & Children:

Stop, you robbers - your little number's up one of you has stolen My precious golden cup

Joseph started searching Through his brothers' sacks Everyone was nervous, No-one could relax

Who's the thief? Who's the thief? Who's the thief? Who's the thief?