Well, you G wonder why I always dress in black
Why you G never see bright colors on my A back
And C why does my ap-G pearance seem to C have a somber G tone
Well, there’s a A7 reason for the things that I have D7 on

I G wear the black for the poor and the beaten down
G Living in the hopeless, hungry side of A town
I C wear it for the G prisoner who has C long paid for his G crime
But is A7 there because he’s a victim of the D7 times.

I G wear the black for those who never read
Or G listened to the words that Jesus A said
C About the road to hG appiness through C love and chari-G ty,
Why, you’d A7 think He’s talking straight to you and D7 me

Well, we’re G doin’ mighty fine, I do suppose
In our G streak of lightnin’ cars and fancy A clothes,
But C just so we’re re-G minded of the C ones who are held G back,
Up A7 front there oughta be a man in D7 black

I G wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the G reckless ones whose bad trip left them A cold,
I C wear the black in G mournin’ for the C lives that could have G been,
Each A7 week we lose a hundred fine young D7 men

And, I G wear it for the thousands who have died,
Be-G lieven’ that the Lord is on their A side
C I wear it for a-G nother hundred C thousand who have G died,
Be-A7 lieven’ that we all were on their D7 side

Well, there’s G things that never will be right I know,
And G things need changin’ everywhere you A go
But C ‘til we start to G make a move to C make a few things G right,
You’ll A7 never see me wear a suit of D7 white

Oh, I’d G love to wear a rainbow every day
And G tell the world that everything’s A ok
But I’ll C try to carry G off a little C darkness on my G back,
Till things are A7 brighter, D7 I’m the man in G black