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 of town.

I wear it for the pris'ner 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 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 of 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 who's bad trips 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

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.

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

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

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

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