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 take a somber tone

Well there's a reason for the things I have on

I wear the black for the poor and beaten down, living on the hopeless, hungry side of town

I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime but is there because he is a victim of the time

I wear the black for those who never read or listened to the words that Jesus said about the road to happiness through love and charity

Why you would think he is talking straight to you and me

Well we're doing mighty fine I do suppose

In our streak of lightning cars and fancy clothes

But just so we're reminded of those 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 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, believing that the Lord was on their side

I wear for another hundred thousand who have died believing that we all were on their side

Well there are things that never will be right I know

And things need changing everywhere you go

But until we start to make a move to make a few things right

You'll never see me wear a suit of white

Ahhh! I'd love to wear a rainbow everyday

And tell the world that everything'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

                                                                                                     Johnny Cash, 1972
 

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