Song MIB

Man In Black
Recorded February 16, 1971

Number 3 - Country Charts;

Number 58 - Pop Charts

"We were right in the middle of the Vietnam War, and I found myself with a social conscience. I'd toured and traveled all over Europe, and then we went to the Orient. Then we went to Taiwan and I saw the men that had been shot up and burnt in the Vietnam War. I came back and, I don't know, people had been asking me why I wear black all the time, and I just decided I'd answer them by pointing up some problems and some things that needed doing ;some changes that needed to be made in our country; and pointed the finger at myself as one of those responsible for doing it. I wasn't pointing at others; I was pointing at me, too. I tried to answer why I wear black in that way, by pointing up ;I wear it, you know, because I'm concerned, and I care."

JRC 1980

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.