One In Black

So, you ask me 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,
Living in the hopeless, hungry part 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 doing mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightning cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought to be someone 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 mourning 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,
Believeng that their god was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believeng that we all were on their side.

Well, there are things that never will be right I know,
And things need changing everywhere I go,
But until we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a dress 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 One In Black



Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Johnny Cash