Key: C
Introduction:
C
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black.
D
Why you never see bright colors on my back, and
F C F C
Why does my appearance, seem to have a sombre tone,
D G7
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.
C
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
D
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town.
F C F C
I wear it for the prisoner, who has long paid for his crime.
D G7
But is there because he's a victim of the times.
C
I wear the black for those, who've never read,
D
Or listened to the words, that Jesus said,
F C F C
About the road to happiness, through love and charity,
D G7
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.
C
Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
D
In our streak-of-lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
F C F C
But just so we're reminded, of, the ones who are held back,
D G7
Up front there oughta be a man in black.
C
I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
D
For the reckless ones, whose bad trip left them cold,
F C F C
I wear the black in mournin', for the lives that could have been,
D G7
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men. and
C
I wear it for the thousands who have died,
D
Believin' that the Lord was on their side,
F C F C
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
D G7
Believin' that we all were on their side.
C
Well, there's things that never will be right, I know
D
and things need changin' everywhere you go,
F C F C
But 'til we start to make a move, to make a few things right,
D G7
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.
C
Aw! I'd love to wear a rainbow every day, and
D
Tell the world that ev'rything's OK
F C F C
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
D G7 C
'Til things are brighter, I'm the man in black.