Por fin me he animado con esta entrada que tenía pendiente hace mucho tiempo, y es que en cierta manera quería rendirle un pequeño tributo a una de las figuras clave de la música americana de todos los tiempos y último de los forajidos. La extensa obra de Johnny Cash es conocida por todos y cada uno de los mortales pero hoy solo quiero centrarme en este viejo tema que supuso un punto de inflexión en su carrera, "The Man In Black". Cuanta mala ostia y sabiduría poseía el gran Johnny cuando compuso esta canción, cuanta verdad y honestidad desprende toda su letra, pero sobre todo, cuanta actualidad aun vigente en ella tras más de 40 años desde que fuera escrita. Y es que en estos días de incipiente alegría y felicidad las palabras del Hombre de Negro están más presentes que nunca, el paso del tiempo no ha hecho más que acrecentar estas verdades como puños incitándonos, al menos, a meditar sobre ellas, y en consecuencia, a replantearnos muchas de nuestras actitudes frente a la vida... gracias Johnny!.
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.
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.
