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
