Poor, Poor Joseph

Next day, far from home

The brothers planned the repulsive crime

(Let us grab him now)

(Do him in, while we've got the time)

This they did, and made the most of it

Tore his coat and flung him in pit

(Let us leave him here)

(All alone, and 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)

Poor, poor Joseph—whatcha gonna do?

Things look bad for you, hey—whatcha gonna do?

Poor, poor Joseph—whatcha gonna do?

Things look bad for you, hey—whatcha 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

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