Black Sheep
Metric Lyrics

Black sheep, come home
The singer is calling out to someone who has long been considered an outcast or rebel, urging them to return home and reintegrate into society.

Hello again, friend of a friend, I knew you when
The singer is addressing someone they once knew well, but through their rebellious ways, they've grown apart and become mere acquaintances through common friends.

Our common goal was waiting for the world to end
Both the singer and this person once shared a nihilistic outlook on life and felt that they were just living life until it inevitably ended.

Now that the truth is just a rule that you can bend
The idea of objective truth has been eroded or eliminated in favor of subjective interpretations by society as a whole.

You crack the whip, shape-shift and trick the past again
Addressing the person they're calling out to specifically, the artist accuses them of using the malleability of the truth to manipulate the memories and events of their past to better suit their present goals.

I'll send you my love on a wire
The singer, despite their calling out, still harbors affection for the person they're addressing and wants to help support them through their struggles.

Lift you up, every time, everyone, ooh, pulls away, ooh
The singer is willing to provide emotional support when everyone else refuses to, or they feel abandoned.

Got balls of steel, got an automobile, for a minimum wage
The subject of the song (likely the person being addressed) is a person of strong will, even though they may be destitute or unremarkable on the surface.

Got real estate, I'm buying it all up in outer space
The subject, despite their humble position, has ambitions and accomplishments beyond what most people would consider feasible or practical, like buying property in space.

It's a mechanical bull, the number one
The metaphorical ride of life can be unpredictable and requires strength and skill to overcome and conquer, compared to riding a mechanical bull, which is itself a tougher feat than it appears at first glance.

You'll take a ride from anyone
The person being addressed is so desperate and self-destructive that they will take help and guidance from anyone, regardless of the motives or ethics of the person offering it.

Everyone wants a ride, pulls away, ooh, from you
Despite the subject's admirable qualities (ambition, resourcefulness), others still refuse to associate with them or support them, likely due to their rebellious and controversial outlook on life, as well as their desperation and erratic behavior.