This song was mentioned by Muttley on 16-Feb-2007:


MAN IN BLACK
Words and music by Johnny Cash
As recorded by Johnny Cash on "Man in Black" (1971)

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 o' 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 talkin' straight to you and me.

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak o' lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought to 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 mournin' 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' ev'rywhere 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 ev'ry day
And tell the world that ev'rything's okay,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back.
Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.