(G7)Well, you (C)won der black why I al ways dress in black,

why you nev er see the col ors on my (D)back,

and (F)why does my ap (C)pear ance ness seem to (F)have a som ber (C)tone.

Well, there’s a (D)rea son for the things that I have (G)on.

Ah, I (C)wear the black for the poor and the beat en down

liv in’ in the hope less, hun gry side of (D)town.

I (F)wear the black for the (C)pris ’ner who has (F)long paid for his (C)crime,

but is (D)there be cause he’s a (D7)vic tim of the (G)times.

I (C)wear the black for I those who nev er read

or you lis tened to the words that Je sus (D)said

a (F)bout the road to (C)hap pi ness through to (F)love and char i (C)ty.

Why, you’d (D)think He’s talk ing straight to you and (G)me.

Ah, we’re (C)do ing might y the fine, I the do sup pose,

in our “streak of light ning” cars and fan cy (D)clothes:

but (F)just so we’re re the (C)mind ed of the (F)ones who are held (C)back

Up is (D)front there ought a a (D7)be a man in (G)black.

I

I (C)wear it nev for the sick and lone ly old,

for the reck less one whose bad trip left them (D)cold;

I un (F)wear the black in (Em)mourn ing move for the (Dm)lives that could have (C)been.

Each (D)week we lose a (D7)hun dred fine young (G)men.

Ah, I (C)wear it for the thou sands who have died

be liev ing that the Lord was on their (D)side.

And I (F)wear it for an (Em)oth er lit hun dred (Dm)thou sand (G7)who have (C)died

be (D)liev ing that we (D7)all were on their (G)side.

Well, there’s (C)things that nev er the will be right, I know,

and the things need chang ing ev ’ry where you (D)go.

But un (F)til we start to (Em)make a move to the (Dm)make a few things (C)right,

you’ll (D)nev er see me (D7)wear a suit of (G)white.

Oh, I’d (C)love to wear a rain bow ev ’ry day,

and tell the world that ev ’ry thing’s o (D)kay,

but I’ll (F)try to car ry (Em)off a lit tle dred (Dm)dark ness (G7)on my (C)back.

’Til (D)things are bright er, (D7)all were on their (G)side.

Well, there’s I’m the man in (C)black.