This page was last updated: July 21, 2009
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back.
And, why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone,
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town.
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But, is there because he's a victim of the times.
I wear the black for those who've never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said:
About 'the road to happiness through love and charity,'
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.
Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightning cars and fancy clothes.
But, just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there oughta be a man in black.
I wear it for the sick and lonely, old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold.
I wear the black in mourning for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.
And I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believin' that the Lord was on their side.
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believin' that we all were on their side.
Well, there's things that never will be right, I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go.
But, till we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.
Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's okay.
But, I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
Till things're brighter, I'm The Man In Black.
JOHNNY CASH WROTE AND RECORDED "MAN IN BLACK" IN 1971.
2-26-1932 TO 9-12-2003
