Man in Black (song)
| "Man in Black" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Johnny Cash | |
| from the album Man in Black | |
| B-side | "Little Bit of Yesterday" |
| Released | March 1971 |
| Format | Vinyl |
| Recorded | 1971 |
| Genre | Country folk |
| Length | 2:52 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Writer(s) | Johnny Cash |
| Producer(s) | Johnny Cash |
"Man in Black" (or "The Man in Black") is a protest song written and recorded by singer-songwriter Johnny Cash, originally released on his 1971 album of the same name. Cash himself was known as "The Man in Black" for his distinctive style of on-stage costuming. The lyrics are an after-the-fact explanation of this with the entire song as a protest statement against racism, the treatment of poor people by wealthy politicians, the condemnation of drug users and prisoners, and the war in Vietnam. In the intro to his first performance of the song, Johnny Cash revealed he had talked to some of the audience members from Vanderbilt University that weekend, and was inspired to write "Man in Black", revising it a few times before the concert on Wednesday. At the end of the song he received a standing ovation.
Chart performance
| Chart (1971) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 2 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 38 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 58 |
References
- Monsen, Lauren (August 28, 2006). "Music Legend Johnny Cash Attracted Worldwide Audience". U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs.
- "Johnny Cash sings "Man In Black" for the first time (with intro)".
