Well you wonder why I'm always dressed in black
Why you never see bright colors on the back
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone
There's a reason for the things that I have own
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down
Living in the hopeless hungry side of town
I wear it for the prisoner for his long
Paid for his crime
But it's there because he's a victim of the time
I wear the black for those who never read
Or listen to the words that jesus said
About the road to happiness through love and charity
Why you think he's talking straight to you and me
Well we're doing mighty fine do you suppose
And our streak of lightning 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
And I wear it for the sick and lonely old
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left and cold
I wear the black in mournful
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 whacked 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 kill a little darkness on my back
Till things are brighter I'm the man in black