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 prisoner 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've 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 talking straight to you and me
Well we're doin' mighty fine I do suppose In our streak of lightning cars and fancy clothes But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back Up front there oughta 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 morning 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' everywhere 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
Oh I'd love to wear a rainbow every day And tell the world that everything's okay But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back Till things're brighter I'm the man in black
