Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics by Tim Rice

NARRATOR
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 the days in the fields with sheep.

Jacob was the founder of a whole new nation, thanks to the number of children he'd had.
He was also known as Israel 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 (CHOIR)
Reuben was the eldest of the children of Israel, with Simeon and Levi the next in line, (Ah ah)
Napthali and Isaachar with Asher and Dan, Zebulun and Gad took the total to nine. (ah ah)

NARRATOR, BROTHERS & CHOIR
Jacob, Jacob and Sons,

NARRATOR & BROTHERS
Benjamin and Judah, which leaves only one,

NARRATOR, BROTHERS & CHOIR
Jacob, Jacob and Sons,

NARRATOR (CHOIR)
Joseph, Jacob's favourite son. (Ah ah,)

NARRATOR, BROTHERS & CHOIR
Jacob, Jacob and Sons,
Jacob, Jacob and Sons,
Jacob, Jacob and Sons,
Jacob, Jacob, Jacob, Jacob and Sons.

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

NARRATOR
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,

BROTHERS
Being told we're also rans
Does not make us Joseph's fans.

NARRATOR
But where they have really missed the boat is

BROTHERS
We're great guys but no one seems to notice.

NARRATOR
Joseph's charm and winning smiles
Failed to slay them in the aisles,
And their 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-coloured coat to wear.

BROTHERS (CHOIR)
Joseph's coat was elegant, the cut was fine. (Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba)
The tasteful style was the ultimate in good design, (ba ba ba ba ba ba ba,)
And this is why it caught the eye; (Oo-ee-oo, oo-ee-oo,)
a king would stop and stare. (king would stop and stare,)

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

NARRATOR & CHOIR
Such a dazzling coat of many colours,
How he loved his coat of many colours.

NARRATOR (CHOIR)
In a class above the rest, (Ah)
It even went well with his vest, (ah)
Such a stunning coat of many colours, (ah)
How he loved his coat of many colours, (ah,)

It was red

NARRATOR & CHOIR
and yellow and green and brown and blue.

NARRATOR (CHOIR)
Joseph's brothers weren't too pleased with what they saw (Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba)

BROTHERS (CHOIR)
We have never really liked him all that much before, (ba ba ba ba ba ba ba)
And now this coat has got our goat,
We feel life is unfair,

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

NARRATOR & BROTHERS
Quite the smoothest person in the district,

JOSEPH (CHOIR)
I look handsome, I look smart, (Ah)
I am a walking work of art, (ah)
Such a dazzling coat of many colours, (ah)
How I love my coat of many colours, (ah)

NARRATOR & BROTHERS (JOSEPH) [CHOIR]
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 choc'late and mauve (I look handsome, I look smart,) [Ah]
And cream and crimson and silver and rose (I am a walking work of art,) [ah]
And azure and lemon and russet and grey (Such a dazzling coat of many colours,) [ah]
And purple and white and pink and orange and (How I love my coat of many colours, It was) [ah]

JOSEPH & BROTHERS (BROTHERS)
red and yellow and green and brown
And scarlet and black and ochre and peach (Doo doo doo doo)

NARRATOR & BROTHERS (BROTHERS) [CHOIR]
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn (Doo doo doo doo) [ah]
And lilac and gold and choc'late and mauve (doo doo doo doo) [ah]
And cream and crimson and silver and rose [ah]
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
And

NARRATOR, BROTHERS & CHOIR
purple and white and pink and orange and blue.

NARRATOR
Joseph's coat annoyed his brothers,

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

JOSEPH
I dreamed that in the fields one day at corn-collecting time,
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.

BROTHERS
This is not the kind of thing we brothers like to hear,
It seems to us that Joseph and his dreams should disappear.

JOSEPH
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?

BROTHERS
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 someday 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.

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

BROTHERS
Let us grab him now, do him in while we've got the time.

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

BROTHERS
Let us leave him here all alone, and he's bound to die.

NARRATOR
When some Ishmaelites, a hairy crew, came riding by.

In a flash the brothers changed their plan.

SOLO BROTHER
We need cash,

BROTHERS
let's sell him if we can.

NARRATOR & CHOIR
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?

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

NARRATOR
In a trice the dirty deal was done.
Silver coins for Jacob's fav'rite 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 he don't speak Egyptian very well.

Joseph's brothers tore his precious multi-coloured 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 & CHOIR
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,
Situation's grave, hey, sold to be a slave.

NARRATOR
(whistle)

BROTHERS
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 (Oo,)

BROTHERS (GIRL)
There's one more angel in heaven (Ah)
There's one more star in the sky (ah,)
Joseph, we'll never forget you,

BROTHERS
It's tough but we're gonna get by. (Ah, get by.)

There's one less place at our table, (Ah ah)
There's one more tear in my eye, (Ah ah)
But Joseph, the things that you stood for,
Like love and peace never die.

Joseph died as he wished to,
He answered duty's call,
He single-handed fought the beast (goldarnit, goldarnit,)
That would have killed us all. (yip-aye-ay.)
His bloodstained coat is tribute to his final sacrifice
His body may be past its peak, but his soul's in Paradise.

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, (Ah ah)
There's one more tear in my eye, (Ah ah,)
But Joseph, the things that you stood for,
Like truth and light never die.

SOLO BROTHER (BROTHERS)
When I think of his last great battle, (Oo oo)
A lump comes to my throat. (woo oo,)
It takes a man who knows no fear (goldarnit, goldarnit,)
to wrestle with a goat. (yip-eye-ay.)

BROTHERS
Carve his name with pride and courage, let no tear be shed (Oo,)
If he had not laid down his life we all would now be dead. (goldarnit, goldarnit.)

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 democracy never die.

CHOIR
Joseph was taken to Egypt in chains and sold, (Ah)
Joseph was taken to Egypt in chains and sold, (Ah)
Where he was bought by a captain named Potiphar, (Ah)
Where he was bought by a captain named Potiphar. (Ah.)

NARRATOR & MEN
Potiphar had very few cares,
He was one of Egypt's millionaires.
Having made a fortune buying shares in pyramids,
Potiphar had made a huge pile,
Owned a large percentage of the Nile,
Meant he could really live in style and he did.

NARRATOR & CHOIR
Joseph was an unimportant slave who found he liked his master,
Consequently worked much harder, even with devotion.
Potiphar could see that Joseph was a cut above the av'rage,
Made him leader of his household, maximum promotion.

NARRATOR & MEN
Potiphar was cool and so fine,
But his wife would never toe the line,
It's all there in chapter thirty-nine of Genesis.
She was beautiful but evil,
Saw a lot of men against his will,
He would never have to tell her that she still was his.

NARRATOR & CHOIR
Joseph's looks and handsome figure had attracted her attention,
Ev'ry morning she would beckon

MRS. POTIPHAR
Come and lie with me, love.

NARRATOR & CHOIR
Joseph wanted to resist her, till one day she proved too eager.
Joseph cried in vain

JOSEPH
Please stop! I don't believe in free love.

NARRATOR & CHOIR
Potiphar was counting shekels in his den below the bedroom
When he heard a mighty 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 (CHOIR)
Letting out a mighty roar (Ah ah)
Potiphar burst through the door, (Ah ah,)

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

NARRATOR & CHOIR
Poor, poor Joseph, locked up in a cell,
Things ain't going well, hey, locked up in a cell.

JOSEPH
Close ev'ry 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 ev'ry 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.

CHOIR
La la la la la la
la la la la la la
la la la la la la
la la la la la la
la la la la la la
la la la la la la
la la la la la la la.

JOSEPH
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 and 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.

JOSEPH & CHOIR
Close ev'ry door to me, 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.

NARRATOR
Joseph's luck was really out, his spirit and his fortune low,
Alone he sat, alone he thought of the happy times he used to know.

Hey dreamer! Don't be so upset.
Hey Joseph! You're not beaten yet.

NARRATOR & MEN
Go, go, go Joseph, you know what they say.
Hang on now Joseph, you'll make it someday.

Sha la la Joseph, you're doing fine,
You and your Dreamcoat-- ahead of your time.

NARRATOR
The prison walls were wet and black, his chains were heavy, weighed him down.
A candle was his only light, the hungry rats the only sound.

Hey dreamer! Don't be so upset.
Hey Joseph! You're not beaten yet.

NARRATOR & MEN
Go, go, go Joseph, you know what they say.
Hang on now Joseph, you'll make it someday.

Sha la la Joseph, you're doing fine,
You and your Dreamcoat-- ahead of your time.

NARRATOR
In the prison cell with Joseph were two very frightened men.

BUTLER & BAKER
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 & MEN
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.

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

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

BUTLER
There I was standing in front of a vine.
I picked some grapes and I crushed them to wine.

I gave them to Pharaoh who drank from my cup.
I tried to interpret but I had to give up.

JOSEPH
You will soon be free old chap, so do not worry anymore.
The king will let you out of here, you'll buttle as you did before.

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

BAKER
There I was standing with baskets of bread.
High in the sky I saw birds overhead

Who flew to the baskets and ate ev'ry slice.
Give me the message but keep it concise.

JOSEPH
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.

NARRATOR, BAKER, BUTLER & MEN
Go, go, go Joseph, you know what they say.
Hang on now Joseph, you'll make it someday.

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 someday.

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 someday.

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 someday.

Sha la la Joseph, you're doing fine,
You and your Dreamcoat-- ahead of your time.

NARRATOR
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.

CHOIR
A Pharaoh story, a Pharaoh story,
A Pharaoh story, a Pharaoh story.

NARRATOR
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 there's been visions and things
Disturbing the sleep of both peasants and kings.

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

CHOIR
Could be famous, could be a big success,
Could be famous, could be a big success.

NARRATOR
Strange as it seems, there's been a run of crazy dreams,
And a man who can interpret could go far,
Could become a star.

CHOIR
Could be famous, could be a big success,
Could be famous, could be a big success.

NARRATOR
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 the dream,
What to do? Whatever could it mean?

Then some lively lad said,

LIVELY LAD
I know of a bloke in jail
Who is hot on dreams, could explain old Pharaoh's tale.

NARRATOR
Pharaoh said,

PHARAOH
Fetch this Joseph man,
I need him to help me if he can.

NARRATOR & CHOIR
Poor, poor Pharaoh, what'cha gonna do?
Dreams are haunting you, hey, what'cha gonna do?
Poor, poor Pharaoh, what'cha gonna do?
Dreams are haunting you, hey, what'cha gonna do?

NARRATOR
Chained and bound, afraid, alone,

CHOIR
Ah

NARRATOR
Joseph stood before the throne.

CHOIR
Ah

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

PHARAOH

I was wandering along the banks of the river when seven fat cows came out of the Nile, aha, ha,

CHORUS
Bap shu wa du wa bap bap shu wa du wa,

PHARAOH
And right behind these fine healthy animals came seven other cows that were skinny and vile. aha, ha,

CHORUS
Bap shu wa du wa bap bap shu wa du wa,

PHARAOH (CHORUS)
And then the thin cows ate the fat cows, which I thought would do them good, aha, ha (Ah,)

CHORUS
Bap shu wa du wa bap bap shu wa du wa,

PHARAOH
But it didn't make them fatter like such a monster supper should,

CHORUS
Bap shu wa du wa bap bap shu wa du wa,

PHARAOH (CHORUS)
The thin cows were as thin as they had ever, ever, ever, ever been. (Ah,)
This dream has got me baffled, hey, Joseph what does it mean?

Now you know that kings ain't stupid, (Ah)
But I don't have a clue, (ah)
So don't be cruel Joseph, (ah)
Help me now I beg of you. (ah.)

And I was standing doing nothing in a field out of town when I saw seven beautiful ears of corn, aha, ha,

CHORUS
Bap shu wa du wa bap bap shu wa du wa,

PHARAOH
They were ripe, they were golden but you guessed it, right behind them there were seven other ears that were tattered and torn, aha, ha,

CHORUS
Bap shu wa du wa bap bap shu wa du wa,

PHARAOH
Then the bad corn ate the good corn, man, they came up from behind, yes they did,

CHORUS
Bap shu wa du wa bap bap shu wa du wa,

PHARAOH
But Joseph, here's the punch line, it's really gonna blow your mind.

CHORUS
Bap shu wa du wa bap bap shu wa du wa,

PHARAOH (CHORUS)
The bad corn was as bad as it had ever, ever, ever, ever been. (Ah,)
This dream has got me shook up, treat me nice and tell me what it means.
Hey, hey, hey Joseph, won't you tell poor old (ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba)
Pharaoh what does it (ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba)
mean? (ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba.)

JOSEPH (CHOIR)
Well! 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, (Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba)
Egypt's luck will change completely overnight (ba ba ba ba ba ba ba)
And famine's hand will stalk the land (oo-ee-oo, oo-ee-oo-oo,)
With food an all-time low. (Ba ba ba,)

Noble king, there is no doubt
What your dream is all about.

JOSEPH& CHOIR
All these things you saw in your pyjamas
Are a long-range forecast for your farmers,

JOSEPH (CHOIR)
And I'm sure it's crossed your mind (Ah)
What it is you have to find. (ah)
Find a man to lead you through the famine (ah)
With a flair for economic planning. (ah)

JOSEPH
But who this man would be I just don't know,

CHORUS
who this man would be I just don't know,

JOSEPH & CHORUS
who this man would be I just don't know,

CHORUS
who this man would be I just don't know,

JOSEPH & CHORUS
who this man would be I just don't know.

NARRATOR
Pharaoh said,

PHARAOH
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 found a job for you.
You shall lead us through this crisis. You shall be my number two.

NARRATOR (CHOIR)
Pharaoh told his guards to fetch a chisel from the local store, (Oo-ee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo,)
Whereupon he ordered them to cut the chains that Joseph wore. (oo-ee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo,)

Joseph got a royal pardon and a host of splendid things, (oo-ee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo,)
A chariot of gold, a cloak, a medal and some signet rings. (oo-ee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo,)

NARRATOR
Joseph,

CHOIR
Joseph,

NARRATOR
Pharaoh's number two,
Joseph,

CHOIR
Joseph,

NARRATOR
Egypt looks to you.

CHOIR
Ah,

NARRATOR (CHOIR)
Seven summers on the trot were perfect just as Joseph said, (Oo-ee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo,)
Joseph saw that food was gathered ready for the years ahead. (oo-ee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo,)

Seven years of famine followed, Egypt did not mind a bit, (oo-ee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo,)
The first recorded rationing in hist'ry was a hit. (oo-ee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo,)

ADORING GIRLS
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.

PHARAOH
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.

ADORING GIRLS
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.

PHARAOH
We were in a jam-- would have baffled Abraham,
But now we're a partnership it's just a piece of cake.

ADORING GIRLS
Greatest man since Noah
Only goes to sho-ah

JOSEPH
Anyone from anywhere can make it if they get a lucky break.

NARRATOR (CHOIR)
This could be a happy ending, perfect place to stop the show, (Oo-ee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo,)
Joseph after all has got about as far as he can go. (oo-ee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo,)

But I'm sure that Jacob and his other sons have crossed your mind. (oo-ee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo,)
How had famine hit the fam'ly Joseph left behind? (oo-ee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo.)

REUBEN
Do you remember the good years in Caanan?
The summers were endlessly gold.
The fields were a patchwork of clover,
The winters were never too cold.

We strolled down the boulevard together,
And ev'rything round us was fine.
Now the fields are dead and bare,
No joie-de-vivre anywhere,
Et maintenant we drink a bitter wine.

ALL BROTHERS
Those Canaan days we used to know,
Where have they gone?
Where did they go?
Eh bien, raise your berets to those Canaan days.

REUBEN
Do you remember those wonderful parties?
The splendour 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.

ALL BROTHERS
Those Canaan days we used to know,
Where have they gone?
Where did they go?
Eh bien, raise your berets to those Canaan days.

REUBEN
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.

ALL BROTHERS
Those Canaan days we used to know,
Where have they gone?
Where did they go?
Eh bien, raise your berets to those Canaan days.

NARRATOR
So back in Canaan the future looked rough,
Jacob's fam'ly was finding it tough,

BROTHERS
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,
And Egypt there's food going spare.

They've got corn, they've got meat, they've got food and drinks,
And if we have the time we could see the Sphynx.

NARRATOR & CHOIR
So they fin'lly decided to go
Off to Egypt to see brother Jo.

So they all lay before Joseph's feet,

BROTHERS
Mighty prince give us something to eat.

NARRATOR & CHOIR
Joseph found it a strain not to laugh because
Not a brother among them knew who he was.

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

I dreamed that in the fields one day at corn-collecting time,
Your eleven sheaves of corn all turned and bowed to mine,

JOSEPH (CHOIR)
I dreamed I saw eleven stars, the sun and moon and sky,
(la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la)
Bowing down before my star, it made me wonder why.
(la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la.)

JOSEPH
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.

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

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.

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

JOSEPH
I rather like the way you're talking, astute and sincere.
Suddenly your tragic story gets me right here.

BROTHERS
This is what we hope you'd say.

JOSEPH (BROTHERS)
All this tugging at my heartstrings seems quite justified. (Grovel, grovel, cringe, bow, stoop, fall.)
I shall give you what you came for and lots more beside. (Worship, worship, beg, kneel, sponge, crawl.)

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

NARRATOR
Joseph handed them sack loads of food
And they grovelled with base gratitude,

NARRATOR & CHOIR
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

No! No! No! No! No!

JOSEPH & CHOIR
Stop,

JOSEPH
you robbers, your little number's up.
One of you has stolen my precious golden cup.

NARRATOR
Joseph started searching through his brothers' sacks,
Ev'ryone was nervous, no one could relax.

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

NARRATOR
Is it Reuben?

CHOIR & BROTHERS
No!

NARRATOR
Is it Simeon?

CHOIR & BROTHERS
No!

NARRATOR
Is it Napthali?

CHOIR & BROTHERS
No!

NARRATOR
Is it Dan?

CHOIR & BROTHERS
No!

NARRATOR
Is it Asher?

CHOIR & BROTHERS
No!

NARRATOR
Is it Isaachar?

CHOIR & BROTHERS
No!

NARRATOR
Is it Levi?

CHOIR & BROTHERS
No!

NARRATOR
Is it Levi?

CHOIR & BROTHERS
No!

NARRATOR
Who's the man?

CHOIR & BROTHERS
No!

NARRATOR
Is it Zebulun?

CHOIR & BROTHERS
No!

NARRATOR
Is it Gad?

CHOIR & BROTHERS
No!

NARRATOR
Is it Judah?

CHOIR & BROTHERS
No!

NARRATOR
Is it him?

Could it be, could it be, could it be, could it be, could it be, could it be,
Could it possibly be Benjamin?

CHOIR
Yes! Yes! Yes!

JOSEPH
Benjamin, you nasty youth, your crime has shocked me to the core.
Never in my whole career have I encountered this before.

Guards! Seize him! Lock him in a cell!
Throw the keys into the Nile as well!

CHOIR
Each of the brothers fell to his knees.

BROTHERS
Oh show him some mercy,
O mighty one, please.

He would not do this, he must have been framed.
Jail us and beat us, we should be blamed

BROTHERS & CHOIR
La la la la, la la la la,
la la la la, la la la la.

BROTHERS
Oh no, not he,
How you can accuse him is a mystery.

Save him, take me,
Benjamin is straighter dan de tall palm tree.

ONE BROTHER
I hear de steel drums sing dere song,
Dey're singin' man you know you got it wrong.

I hear de voice of de yellow bird,
Singin' in de tree, dis is quite absurd.

ALL BROTHERS
Oh yes, it's true,
Benjamin is straighter dan de big bamboo.

No ifs, no buts,
Benjamin is honest as coconuts.

ONE BROTHER
Sure as de tide wash de golden sand,
Benjamin is an innocent man.

Sure as bananas need de sun,
We are de criminal guilty ones.

ALL BROTHERS
Oh no, not he,
How you can accuse him is a mystery.

Save him, take me,
Benjamin is straighter dan de tall palm tree.

La la la la la la la la,
La la la la la la la,
La la la la la la la la,
La la la la la la la.
La la la la la la la la,
La la la la la la la,
La la la la la la la la,
La la la la la la la.
La la la la la la la la,
La la la la la la la,
La la la la la la la la,
La la la la la la la.

NARRATOR
And Joseph knew by this his brothers now were honest men,
The time had come at last to reunite them all again.

JOSEPH (CHOIR)
Can't you recognize my face? Is it hard to see (La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la,)
That Joseph who you thought was dead-- your brother is me? (La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la.)

NARRATOR & BROTHERS
Joseph, Joseph, is it really true?
Joseph, Joseph, is it really you?

Joseph,
Joseph.

ALL
So Jacob came to Egypt,
No longer feeling old,
And Joseph came to meet him in his chariot of gold,
of gold, of gold, of gold, of gold, of gold.

JOSEPH
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.

I wore my coat

CHOIR & GIRLS
I wore my coat

JOSEPH
with golden lining,

CHOIR & GIRLS
Ah

JOSEPH
Bright colours shining,

CHOIR & GIRLS
ah,

JOSEPH
wonderful and new,
And in the east

CHOIR & GIRLS
And in the east

JOSEPH
The dawn was breaking,

CHOIR & GIRLS
Ah

JOSEPH
And the world was waking.

CHOIR & GIRLS
ah,

JOSEPH, CHOIR & GIRLS
Any dream will do.

MEN
Oo,

JOSEPH
A crash of drums, a flash of light,
My golden coat flew out of sight.

JOSEPH, CHOIR, GIRLS & MEN
The colours faded into darkness,

JOSEPH (CHOIR & GIRLS)
I was left alone (Ah ah)

May I return

CHOIR, GIRLS & MEN
May I return

JOSEPH
to the beginning,

CHOIR, GIRLS & MEN
Ah,

JOSEPH & MEN
The light is dimming,

CHOIR, GIRLS & MEN
Ah,

JOSEPH
and the dream is too.
The world and I,

CHOIR, GIRLS & MEN
The world and I,

JOSEPH
we are still waiting,

CHOIR, GIRLS & MEN
Ah

JOSEPH & MEN
Still hesitating.

JOSEPH, CHOIR, GIRLS & MEN
Any dream will do.

ALL
Give me my coloured coat, my amazing coloured coat,
Give me my coloured coat, my amazing coloured coat.