Coat of Many Dreams

Born in a cabin where the mountain winds would sing

Twelve children and a woodhound who gave everything

With a hand-me-down guitar and a heart too big to hide

She learned to turn the ache into a fire deep inside

Every little dream was bigger than the roof

Blooming like wildflowers through the dust and gloom

From the hills she heard it calling

Like a train rolling through the night

A small voice with a mighty echo

Ready to burn so bright

She wore a coat of many dreams

Stitched with faith and silver beams

From the valley to the limousine

She rose above the seas

With laughter and grace and Tennessee pride

She sang for the broken and the ones denied

A little spark became the light

Dolly Barton, shining through the night

Nashville opened up its doors, but not without a fight

She stood her ground in rhinestones under neon lights

Writers, singers, showmen, queen

With a mind that never slept

Every lyric held the truth

Of the promises she kept

From Jolene to 95

Her stories crossed the land

Making room for every bay heart

In a world that understands

Through the clueless and the doubters

She kept walking tall and free

A mountain girl with golden courage

And a boundless apathy

She wore a coat of many dreams

Sips with faith and silver beans

From the valley to the limousine

Sue rose above the scenes

Then laughter, grace, and jealousy pried

She sang for the broken and the ones denied

A little spark became a light

Pale departing, shining through the night

Every word went dark and cold

More than gold

Goods for children

Hope for home

A generous heart that made its own

Not just a legend on the stage

But kindness written on each page

She wore a coat of mini-dreams

Sticks with faith and silver beams

From the valley to the limousine

She waits above the scenes

With laughter, grace, and Tennessee pride

She sang for the broken and the ones denied

List for the cave of lies

Darling, pardon, shining through the night

So here's to my girl

From the smokey mountain sky

Who taught us drink and go

And the humble lies

A code of many colors

Forever in our sight