Why the man would wear black

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,  (Care for the poor and less fortunate that outnumber you)
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime, (Police state, private prisons, no felony vote, welfare 
But is there because he's a victim of the times.                  gutting, animals over human care, cutting elderly,

I wear the black for those who never read,                        benefits)
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 lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front, there ought 'a 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,
Believe' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believe' 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 'til 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 OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black

Songwriters: Johnny R. Cash

Man In Black lyrics © BMG Rights Management US, LLC