[Cash]
Hello, I'm Johnny Cash

[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 sombre tone
There's a reason for the things that I have on

[Womack]
I wear the black for the poor and beaten down
Livin' on 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'm the man...

[Cash]
Well 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 do you think He's talkin' straight to you and me

[Womack]
We're doing mighty fine I do suppose
In our streak-o'-lightnin' cars and fancy clothes
But, just so were reminded of the ones who are held back
Up front there ought to be a man in black
I'm the man, I'm the man in black
I'm the man, I'm the man in black

[Cash]
I wear it for the sick and lonely old
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold
[Womack]
I wear the black in mourning for the lives that could have been
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men

[Cash]
Well, there's things that never will be right, I know
[Womack]
And things need changin' everywhere we go
But 'til we start to make a move, to make a few things right
[Cash]
You'll never see me wear a suite of white

[Both]
Oh, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day
And tell the world that everything's O.K
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back
[Cash]
'Til things are brighter
[Womack]
I'm the man in black
[Cash]
Yeah...
I'm the man, the man in black
I'm the man, the man in black
I'm the man, the man in black
I'm the man, Oh I am, I am, I am the man in black
I'm the man, because I care
I'm the man, because I believe
I'm the man, I said
I'm the man, 'til things are brighter...
I'm the man in black

...in black
Oh yeah, I'm the man, in black
I'm the man, yeah, I'm the man in black
Oh excuse me, Johnny, I guess that's you
It's all right, we're all in this together if we're in this at all