This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Sittin' in this lonely town wonderin' when things are gonna change
Dreamin' my life away and it seems them dreams they turned into a bunch of dust clouds
Gettin' my nerve up but my past is pullin' me down
wonderin' how long this black sheep can stick around
Somebody told me once before
you can never go home again once you leave
say anything just to steer me away from the truth of what I who I am and what I believe
So I thanked him for his two cents
with a shake and some sympathy
and I packed up my blue jeans and I headed for the big prize
of my freedom
Bye bye black sheep
black sheep of the family
Bye bye black sheep how that means so much to me
Bye bye to my friends and to my family
bye bye black sheep goin' off and set my soul set it free
Times they were changin' I did just a little re-arrangin'
take a couple chances my progress it advances
to that prize of my freedom
It's written in the stars that steel bars never will a prison cell make
once I find that sweet home or a place I like to call home anyway
some people will say I'm crazy singin out loud like I do here on the street
when I got A song I sing it out loud and if you don't like that my friend
well I'm gonna say to you
Bye bye black sheep
black sheep of the family
Bye bye black sheep how that means so much to me
Bye bye to my friends and to my family
bye bye black sheep goin' off and set my soul set it free
Dreamin' my life away and it seems them dreams they turned into a bunch of dust clouds
Gettin' my nerve up but my past is pullin' me down
wonderin' how long this black sheep can stick around
Somebody told me once before
you can never go home again once you leave
say anything just to steer me away from the truth of what I who I am and what I believe
So I thanked him for his two cents
with a shake and some sympathy
and I packed up my blue jeans and I headed for the big prize
of my freedom
Bye bye black sheep
black sheep of the family
Bye bye black sheep how that means so much to me
Bye bye to my friends and to my family
bye bye black sheep goin' off and set my soul set it free
Times they were changin' I did just a little re-arrangin'
take a couple chances my progress it advances
to that prize of my freedom
It's written in the stars that steel bars never will a prison cell make
once I find that sweet home or a place I like to call home anyway
some people will say I'm crazy singin out loud like I do here on the street
when I got A song I sing it out loud and if you don't like that my friend
well I'm gonna say to you
Bye bye black sheep
black sheep of the family
Bye bye black sheep how that means so much to me
Bye bye to my friends and to my family
bye bye black sheep goin' off and set my soul set it free
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First off, Martin Sexton is one of the most amazing musicians ever born. If you do one thing in your life, it should be to go see him in concert!
The very best version of this song is on "Live Wide Open" and it is completely beautiful. Martin's voice is incredible and this song showcases it like no other.
Having said that, I think its pretty obvious what the song is about. Martin seems to write alot of songs dealing with a struggle one way or another, and moving on in life.
Obvious what the song is about??? But provide no explanation? I think it's obvious you have not thought about what the song means.