Capo 3rd fret 

G                                            
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black.   
                                      A    
Why you never see bright colors on my back, and   
C                G             C               G   
Why does my appearance, seem to have a sombre tone,   
                A                                 D               
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.   
   

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

  G                                                       
I wear the black for those, who've never read,   
                                       A   
Or listened to the words, that Jesus said,   
     C                G               C         G   
About the road to happiness, through love and charity,   
             A                                    D         
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.   
   

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


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

  G                                        
I wear it for the thousands who have died,   
                                      A   
Believin' that the Lord was on their side,   
  C             G               C                G    
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,   
   A                                 D      
Believin' that we all were on their side.   


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

   G                                         
Aw! I'd love to wear a rainbow every day, and   
                                 A   
Tell the world that ev'rything's OK  
      C                G            C               G   
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,   
      A                    D             G   
'Til things are brighter, I'm the man in black.