Aug 07 2009
Johnny Cash and leadership
A few days ago I was trudging up the mountain on my road bike. I had my head down, sweat was in my eyes, I was out of water and was fighting the urge to turn around and coast home, but this song from the great theologian Johnny Cash came on my ipod and it fired me up and got me to the top. It’s a great ballad of how leaders should wear the color of their people and lead through identification. Not quite as scary as “Ring of Fire” but still inspiring. Enjoy!
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.
Good reminder Hugh from the Man in Black.
Thanks for sharing these words from good old Johnny. I’m half way through your book TK and there a lot of the things I’ve been thinking through this past year or so (actually longer than that). Also being challenged in ways that maybe haven’t crossed my mind and heart.
Peace,
Jonathan
Ever hear the group, “One Bad Pig”? They did a punk rawk version of this and Johnny actually participated in it. It’s great. Don’t know where you could find it now… but it would be worth the hunt.