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 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 lightnin' cars and fancy clothes

But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back

Up front there ought 'a 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 mournin' 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

Believen' that the Lord was on their side

I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died

Believen' 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 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right

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

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day

And tell the world that everything's OK

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

'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.