Capo 3rd fret

Intro:

|     G     |     G     |     G     |     G     |     G     |

                G

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,

                                                               A7

Why you never see bright colors on my       back,

        C                               G                    C                          G

And why does my appear - ance seem to have a somber tone.

                       A7                                              D7

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

  G

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,

                                                                  A7

Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town.

   C                          G                     C                       G

I wear it for the pris - 'ner who has long paid for his crime,

          A7                                                       D7

But is there because he's a victim of the times.

  G

I wear the black for those who never read,

                                                      A7

Or listened to the words that Jesus said

    C                                  G                 C                     G

A-bout the road to happi-ness through love and chari-ty.

                   A7                                                     D7

Why you'd think He's talkin' straight to you and me.

                   G

Well, we're doin' mighty fine I do suppose,

                                                               A7

In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes.

       C                      G                   C                           G

But just so we're re-minded of the ones who are held back,

       A7                                             D7

Up front there ought to be a man in           black.

  G

I wear it for the sick and lonely old,

                                                                        A7

For the reckless ones who's bad trips left them cold.

   C                         G                        C                              G

I wear the black in mourning for the lives that could have been.

         A7                                                    D7

Each week we lose a hundred fine young        men.

          G

And I wear it for the thousands who have died

                                                      A7

Believin' that the lord was on their        side.

  C                    G                   C                              G

I wear it for an-other hundred thousand who have died

           A7                                           D7

Believ -   in' that we all were on their         side.

                    G

Well, there's        things that never will be right, I know,

                                                                   A7

And things need changin' ev'rywhere you go.

      C                    G                        C                          G

But till we start to make a move to make a few things right,

           A7                                       D7

You'll never see me wear a suit of white.

              G

Aw, I'd love to wear a rainbow ev'ry day

                                                          A7

And tell the world that ev'rything's O.     K.

             C                G            C                      G

But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back.

                       A7         D7                  G           D     G

Till things are brighter, I'm the man in black.