Man In Black Lyrics by Johnny Cash

(from the album The Essential Johnny Cash)

Man In Black Lyrics

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 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

Download Man In Black Lyrics

Download TXT Download PDF

Post a comment

Other Lyrics from The Essential Johnny Cash

1. (Ghost) Riders in the Sky Lyrics
2. A Boy Named Sue Lyrics
3. All Over Again Lyrics
4. Ballad Of A Teenage Queen Lyrics
5. Cry, Cry, Cry Lyrics
6. Daddy Sang Bass Lyrics
7. Don't Take Your Guns To Town Lyrics
8. Five Feet High And Rising Lyrics
9. Flesh And Blood Lyrics
10. Folsom Prison Blues [live] Lyrics
11. Get Rhythm Lyrics
12. Girl From The North Country Lyrics
13. Guess Things Happen That Way Lyrics
14. Hey Porter Lyrics
15. Highwayman Lyrics
16. I Still Miss Someone Lyrics
17. I Walk The Line Lyrics
18. If I Were A Carpenter Lyrics
19. It Ain't Me, Babe Lyrics
20. Jackson Lyrics
21. One Piece At A Time Lyrics
22. Orange Blossom Special Lyrics
23. Ragged Old Flag Lyrics
24. Ring Of Fire Lyrics
25. Song Of The Patriot Lyrics
26. Sunday Morning Coming Down Lyrics
27. Tennessee Flat-Top Box Lyrics
28. The Night Hank Williams Came To Town Lyrics
29. The One On The Right Is On The Left Lyrics
30. The Rebel-Johnny Yuma Lyrics
31. The Wanderer Lyrics
32. There You Go Lyrics
33. Were You There (when They Crucified My Lord) Lyrics

Other Johnny Cash Albums

• Cash: Ultimate Gospel Lyrics
• Johnny Cash With His Hot And Blue Guitar Lyrics
• The Fabulous Johnny Cash Lyrics
• Songs Of Our Soil Lyrics
• Hymns By Johnny Cash Lyrics
• Ride This Train Lyrics
• The Sound Of Johnny Cash Lyrics
• Ring Of Fire (The Best Of Johnny Cash) Lyrics
• The Christmas Spirit Lyrics
• Blood, Sweat, And Tears Lyrics
• Bitter Tears (Ballads Of The American Indian) Lyrics
• I Walk The Line Lyrics
• Sunday Morning Coming Down Lyrics
• Johnny 99 Lyrics
• Unchained Lyrics
• American Recordings Lyrics
• Just As I Am Lyrics
• 16 Biggest Hits Lyrics
• At Folsom Prison Lyrics
• American 3: Solitary Man Lyrics
• At San Quentin Lyrics
• American IV: The Man Comes Around Lyrics
• Unearthed Lyrics
• American V: A Hundred Highways Lyrics
• Personal File Lyrics

Johnny Cash News

• 'ring Of Fire' Pays Homage To Johnny Cash - Beaumont Enterprise
  "The fact that it's Johnny Cash music made the decision easy." Benoit grew up listening to his grandfather and uncles play Cash numbers in his northern
  southeasttexaslive.com
• 'control' A Vibrant Saga Of Joy Division Lead Singer - San Jose Mercury News
  It's one of the best music biopics in years, as good as the Johnny Cash film "Walk the Line" and the Ray Charles saga "Ray." Of course, the movie isn't
  mercurynews.com
• Sam Baker: 'pretty World' - Npr
  His songs reflect some of the great American folk artists such as Woody Guthrie and Johnny Cash, with honest storytelling. In 1986, Sam Baker lost his
  npr.org
• ‘ring Of Fire' Comes To The Delta - Delta Democrat Times (subscription)
  CLEVELAND - Direct from Broadway comes the all new first national tour of “Ring of Fire - The Music of Johnny Cash.” The music of the Man in Black will
  ddtonline.com
• Old Road, Well Traveled - Modesto Bee
  Along the way, he earned the respect and friendship of such such musical icons as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and Willie Nelson.
  modbee.com
• (credit: Dolphin Music) - Cnet Crave Blog
  (A baritone is tuned a fifth lower than a standard guitar and  is often used on old country recordings...think Johnny  Cash walking along the train tracks and
  crave.cnet.com
• Mighty Cash Cats Concert - Read It Here
  “Michael J’s stories about Johnny and the history behind the songs helps make the music even more exciting. If you are not a Cash fan before their Show,
  readitnews.com
• Relive Music Of The Man In Black - News-leader.com
  "Ring of Fire" is all about the music and times of the late Johnny Cash, but it's not truly about the Man in Black himself. "Ring of Fire" is not strictly
  news-leader.com
• Kevin Max And Joanne Cash To Perform At Johnny Cash Flower Pickin ... - Cmspin
  ... November 4th at 10:00am, featuring performances by Kevin Max and Johnny Cash’s sister, Joanne Cash, singing gospel music that Johnny Cash enjoyed.
  cmspin.com
• • 10 Years Ago, Music Icon Johnny Cash Came To Whiting To Perform ... - Mlive.com
  By Doug Pullen Something wasn't right with Johnny Cash on the night of Oct. 25, 1997, when he performed at Whiting Auditorium. Nobody knew then what we know
  mlive.com