Man in Black
Johnny Cash
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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
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12 facts about this song
Song Identity"Man in Black" is a song written and performed by the American country musician Johnny Cash.
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Album IdentificationReleased in 1971, it is the title track from his album "Man in Black".
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Social CommentaryThe song is one of Cash's defining tracks, where he explains his choice in always wearing black to his performances.
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Lyrics MeaningThe lyrics attribute his dark clothing choice as a symbol of solidarity with the poor and the imprisoned, the elderly who have been neglected, and the victims of unfair wars.
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Historical ContextThe song makes direct references to the Vietnam War, portraying Cash's stance against it, marking "Man in Black" as one of the significant protest songs of the era.
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Social ImpactCash's performance of "Man in Black" for President Nixon at the White House was a bold move given the political climate, and initiated discussions around the issues Cash highlighted.
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Unique Public ImageThe song solidified Cash's image as an advocate for downtrodden and marginalized populations, lending them a voice in the mainstream through his music.
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Chart Performance"Man in Black" peaked at number 3 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart and number 58 on the Pop chart.
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Lasting LegacyCash continued to wear black for the majority of his career (and life) becoming affectionally known as the "Man in Black", this song is often considered as his theme song.
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Concert TraditionCash often performed "Man in Black" towards the beginning of his concerts, setting the tone for the messages he wished to impart through his music.
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TriviaAlthough Cash liked to project the image of always wearing black, in real life, he didn't always strictly adhere to it. His wardrobe contained colors other than black, but he chose to wear black specifically for public appearances and performances.
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Popular CultureThe song and its message have entered popular culture to the point where references to Cash's "Man in Black" persona appear in various forms of media, ranging from music to television to literature.
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Citation
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"Man in Black Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/8237655/Johnny+Cash/Man+in+Black>.
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