PROLOGUE
Narrator:
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 the story of a boy whose dream came true
And he could be you
ANY DREAM WILL DO
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
Joseph , Company and Children's Choir:
I wore my coat, with golden lining
Bright colours 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 flash of light
My golden coat flew out of sight
The colours faded into darkness I was left alone
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
JACOB AND SONS
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 their 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
Reuben was the eldest of the children of Israel,
With Simeon and Levi the next in line
Napthali and Isaachar 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 favourite son
JOSEPH'S COAT
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 fans
Narrator:
But where they had really missed the boat is
Brothers:
We're great guys but no-one seems to notice
Narrator: 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-coloured coat to wear
Brothers, Children's Choir, Handmaidens:
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
Narrator:
And when Joseph tried it on
He knew his sheepskin days were gone
Narrator, Children's Choir and Handmaidens:
Such a dazzling coat of many colours
How he loved his coat of many colours
Narrator:
In a class above the rest
It even went well with his vest
Such a stunning coat of many colours
How he loved his coat of many colours
It was red and yellow and green and
Brown and blue
Joseph's brothers weren't
Too pleased with what they saw
Brothers:
We had never liked him all that much before
And now this coat
Has got our goat
We feel life is unfair
Narrator, Handmaidens, Children's Choir :
And when Joseph graced the scene
His brothers turned a shade of green
His astounding clothing took the biscuit
Brothers:
Quite the smoothest person in the district
Joseph, Female Ensemble, Children's Choir:
I look handsome, I look smart I am a walking work of art
Such a dazzling coat of many colours
How I love my coat of many colours
Narrator, Joseph, Handmaidens; Children's 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
And cream and crimson and silver and rose
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
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 choc'late and mauve
And cream and crimson and silver and rose
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
And purple and white and pink and orange
And (shouted):blue
JOSEPH'S DREAMS
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
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
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 the 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 make 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
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: Then some Ishmaelites
A hairy crew came riding by
In a flash the brothers changed their plan
1st Brother: We need cash.
2nd Brother: Let's sell him if we can
Narrator, Handmaidens, Children's 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
Ishmaelites: Going cheap and he reads and writes?
Narrator: In a trice the dirty deal was done
Silver coins for Jacob's favourite 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
Joseph: And I don't speak Egyptian very well
Brothers: Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!
Narrator: 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, Handmaidens, Children's 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
Sold to be a slave
Sold to be a slave
ONE MORE ANGEL IN HEAVEN
One Brother:
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
Brothers, Handmaidens, Children's Choir:
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
One Brother:
Like truth and light never die
One Brother:
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 its peak
But his soul's in paradise
Jacob:
There's one less place at our table
There's one more tear in my eye
Brothers:
But Joseph the things that you stood for
One Brother:
Like truth and light never die
Brothers:
Carve his name with pride and courage
One Brother:
Let no tear be shed
Brothers:
If he had not laid down his life
We all would now be dead
POTIPHAR
Narrator:
Joseph was taken to Egypt in chains and sold
Where he was bought by a captain named Potiphar
Narrator, Handmaidens, Male voices:
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 that he could really live in style
And he did
Narrator:
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 average
Made him leader of his household
Maximum promotion
Narrator, Handmaidens, Male voices:
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
Mrs Potiphar:
Evil
Narrator, Handmaidens:
Saw a lot of men against his will
He would have to tell her that she still
Was his
Narrator:
Joseph's looks and handsome figure
Had attracted her attention
Every morning she would beckon
Mrs. Potiphar:
Come and lie with me, love
Narrator:
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:
Potiphar was counting sheckels
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, Handmaidens, Children's Choir, Male voices:
Letting out a mighty roar
Potiphar burst through the door
Potiphar:
Joseph, I'll see you rot in jail
The things you have done are beyond the pale
Narrator, Handmaidens, Children's Choir:
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
CLOSE EVERY DOOR
Joseph:
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
Children's Choir:
Close every door to me
Hide all the world from me
Bar all the windows
And shut out the light
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
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, Children's Choir:
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
Narrator:
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
Butler:
Hey dreamer, don't be so upset
Baker:
Hey Joseph, you're not beaten yet
Narrator, Handmaidens, Children's Choir, Male voices:
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 dream coat ahead of your time
Narrator:
In the prison cell with Joseph
Were two very frightened men
Baker, Butler:
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:
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
And 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 some 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 any more
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 my baskets and ate every slice
Give me the message, like his would be nice
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, Handmaidens, Male Voices, Children's Choir
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 dream coat ahead of your time
Ahead of your time
Ahead of your time
Ahead of your time
Go go go Jo!