MAN IN BLACK

When I was 13 I was introduced to the music that would change my life. Punk Rock. It started my social and political consciousness, moved me to action and gave me a soundtrack for my life. Back then I started wearing black. Here I am all these years later and I still wear black almost all the time.

A woman I met in China last year asked me why I wear black all the time. I told her is its the look that suited my mind. Well, these lyrics tell the whole story of why I wear black better than I could have ever put it. In fact these lyrics give you a direct line to my soul, way of thinking and consciousness. Even the part about Jesus, for as much as I dislike fundamentalists, I do believe in the pre-Constantinian precepts of Christianity, love, charity and acceptance.

From one of my heroes. Johnny Cash.

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