Key: G
Introduction:
G
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black.
A
Why you never see bright colors on my back, and
C G C G
Why does my appearance, seem to have a sombre tone,
A D
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.
G
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
A
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town.
C G C G
I wear it for the prisoner, who has long paid for his crime.
A D
But is there because he's a victim of the times.
G
I wear the black for those, who've never read,
A
Or listened to the words, that Jesus said,
C G C G
About the road to happiness, through love and charity,
A D
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.
G
Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
A
In our streak-of-lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
C G C G
But just so we're reminded, of, the ones who are held back,
A D
Up front there oughta be a man in black.
G
I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
A
For the reckless ones, whose bad trip left them cold,
C G C G
I wear the black in mournin', for the lives that could have been,
A D
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men. and
G
I wear it for the thousands who have died,
A
Believin' that the Lord was on their side,
C G C G
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
A D
Believin' that we all were on their side.
G
Well, there's things that never will be right, I know
A
and things need changin' everywhere you go,
C G C G
But 'til we start to make a move, to make a few things right,
A D
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.
G
Aw! I'd love to wear a rainbow every day, and
A
Tell the world that ev'rything's OK
C G C G
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
A D G
'Til things are brighter, I'm the man in black.