Black Sheep Boy Lyrics
I'm here to rest
All they ask is where I've been
Knowing I've been West
Golden curls of envied hair
Pretty girls with faces fair
See the shine in the Black Sheep Boy
Please understand
That the black sheep can wear the golden fleece
And hold a winning hand
Golden curls of envied hair
Pretty girls with faces fair
See the shine in the Black Sheep Boy
Golden curls of envied hair
Pretty girls with faces fair
See the shine in the Black Sheep Boy
Note, that this song is a cover, the original version is by singer/songwriter Tim Hardin. William of Okkervil River says about the circumstances this song was written in: "I already loved Hardin's music but I didn't know much about his life, so I started flipping through the liner notes for the box set and I learned that Hardin had written "Black Sheep Boy" while visiting his family back in his hometown of Eugene, OR. During the visit, an old friend offered heroin to Hardin, an ex-junkie who had been clean for several years. Hardin started using again and, as I understand it, didn't really stop until 1980, when he died of an overdose." To put things into perspective I recommend reading: http://www.jound.com/okkervil/blacksheepboystory.html or even more: http://www.saidthegramophone.com/archives/said_the_guests_will.php
I'm pretty sure it's "I'm the family's unowned boy," but I could be wrong.
Regardless, this is about being known as the family outcast, clearly, but returning home after having finally found some measure of success and trying to communicate that to your loved ones. My two cents, anyway. Pretty brlliant metaphor, if you ask me.
hmm thats interesting
the album is named after a song they didnt write?
lovely song
The song (and obviously, the whole album) is about being a total fuck up, but you can still be a beautiful person no matter of your hide ("And theres plenty of ways to wear his hide, tonight" and "...the black sheep can wear the golden fleece, And hold a winning hand").
lovely indeed
Okkervil River has a thing for writing incredible opening tracks to their albums. The concept to this whole album is genious worthy.
Yeah, this is a great opening song.
Absolutely beautiful cover of a beautiful song...I love what they did expanding this singular song into an entire album.
Absolutely beautiful cover of a beautiful song...I love what they did expanding this singular song into an entire album.
Yeah I didn't know it was a cover until just now. It's absolutely amazing though and sets the tone perfectly for the album