Capo 2nd fret

Standard (EADGBE)

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 sombre tone

Well there's a reason for the things that I have on

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 who has long paid for his crime

But who is still in there as a victim of the time

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 doing 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 ought to be a man in black

I wear it for the sick and the lonely old

For the reckless ones whose bad trips left them cold

I wear the black in mourning 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

Believing that the Lord was on their side

I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died

Believing that we all were on their side

Well, there're things that never will be right I know

And things need changing 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

And I'd love to wear a rainbow everyday

And tell the world that everything's okay

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

Till things are brighter I'm the man in black