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 weave got the time



[Narrator]

This they did and made the most of it

Tore his coat and flung him in 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



[Brothers]

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?



[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 favourite son

Then the Ishmaelites

Galloped off with the 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



[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, 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

Situation's grave, hey, sold to be a slave