Man in Black was written and performed by Johnny Cash in 1971. The song discusses why Cash always dressed in black, touching on themes such as poverty, prison, and social injustice, demonstrating Cashs sympathy for those living on the fringes of society. The song became one of his career landmarks, serving as a statement of his social and political concerns.
Key: A
Introduction:
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A
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black
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Why you never see bright colors on my back
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D
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And why does my appearance seem to have a sombre tone
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E7
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on
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I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down
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Living in the hopeless hungry side of town
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D
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I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime
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E7
But is there because he's a victim of the times
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I wear the black for those who've never read
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Or listened to the words that Jesus said
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About the road to happiness through love and charity
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E7
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me
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Well, we're doing mighty fine I do suppose
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In our streak of lightning cars and fancy clothes
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D
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But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back
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E7
Up front there ought to be a man in black
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I wear it for the sick and lonely old
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For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold
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D
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I wear the black in mourning for the lives that could have been
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E7
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men
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And I wear it for the thousands who have died
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Believing that the Lord was on their side
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D
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I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died
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E7
Believing that we all were on their side
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Well, there's things that never will be right I know
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And things need changing everywhere you go
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D
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But till we start to make a move to make a few things right
B
E7
You'll never see me wear a suit of white
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Oh, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day
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And tell the world that everything's o-kay
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D
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But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back