Johnny Cash on why he wore black
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black;
Why you never see bright colours 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;
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'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 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 to 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,
Believin' that the Lord was on their side.
I wear it 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 '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,
'Til things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.
Written by John R. Cash.
(© Bug Music/Songs of Cash/Bughouse.)
From "A Man In Black", © 1971, Columbia Records.
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No, I am not greedy, just agree on what you said!
an American treasure and a real one.
