Man in Black
1971 · Columbia 4-45339 · New York City, New York
- Artist
- Johnny Cash
- Title
- Man in Black
- Release
- Man in Black
- Year
- 1971
- Label
- Columbia # 4-45339
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- New York City, New York, USA
- Songwriter
- Johnny Cash
- Genre
- Country · Country Folk
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation
Johnny Cash (1932-2003), a key country singer, and one of the most influential musicians in the 20th century, released in 1966 the anti-protest single "The One on the Right Is on the Left" (Columbia Records # 4-43496), which called on folk singers to keep politics out of their songs. It also referenced the draft. Several years later his views had changed, releasing in March 1971 the track "Man in Black" (Columbia Records # 4-45339) in which he explained that "I wear the black...for the thousands who have died", which displayed support for the anti-war movement. He followed this up in May 1971 with the song "Singin' in Vietnam Talkin' Blues" (Columbia # 4-45393), discussed below. Both of these songs featured on the 1971 album Man in Black (Columbia # 30550). Note that he also released the 1974 Vietnam-related song Ragged Old Flag which took a patriotic position - see the 1973–1975 section.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: 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
Notes
"I wear the black...for the thousands who have died" Columbia 4-45339, JZSS 154161, "Stereo Version", blue label marked "Not for Resale - Radio Station Copy"; "Man in Black" (J. Cash), intro :06, 2:53, publisher House of Cash (BMI), "Produced by Johnny Cash". [From the record sleeve and labels]
About the artist
Born 26 February 1932, Kingsland, Arkansas, USA. Died 12 September 2003, Nashville, Tennessee, USA