Erzählerin:

Next day, far from home,

The brothers planned the repulsive crime



Brüder:

Let us grab him now,

Do him in, while we've got the time



Erzählerin:

This they didi and made the most of it

Tore his coat and flung him in a pit



Brüder:

Let us leave him here,

All alone, and he's bound to die



Erzählerin:

When some Ishmaelites,

A hairy crew, came riding by

In a flash the brothers changed their plan



Brüder:

We need cash. Let's sell him if he can



Erzählerin & Frauen & Kinder:

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?



Brüder:

Could you use a slave,

You hairy bunch of Ishmaelites?

Young, strong, well-behaved,

Going cheap and he reads and writes



Erzählerin:

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 Egyptain very well



Erzählerin:

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



Erzählerin & 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