Natalie Anne Merchant (born October 26, 1963 in Jamestown, New York) is an … Read Full Bio ↴Natalie Anne Merchant (born October 26, 1963 in Jamestown, New York) is an American alternative rock singer-songwriter. After rising to fame at the helm of the popular folk-rock band 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie Merchant enjoyed even greater success as a solo artist during the mid-'90s. Her literate, socially conscious songs established her among the preeminent women in pop music, while her solo debut -- 1995's Tigerlily -- helped pave the way for a number of female performers in a pre-Lilith Fair market. She continued releasing albums well into the 2000s, often examining specific genres or subjects, although Tigerlily remained her biggest-selling record.
In My Tribe. Merchant joined 10,000 Maniacs at the age of 17 and became the band's driving artistic force. After a pair of successful independent releases, they signed to Elektra in 1985 and briefly became one of the most popular acts in alternative rock, shooting into the Top 40 with 1987's In My Tribe and charting even higher with their follow-up effort, Blind Man's Zoo. Merchant's desire to launch a solo career increased alongside the band's growing reputation, however, and by the time the group sat down to record 1992's Our Time in Eden, she gave her bandmates two years' notice. Following the release of MTV Unplugged in 1994, she publicly announced she was leaving the group's ranks.
OpheliaMerchant made her solo debut with 1995's Tigerlily, a self-produced album that debuted at number 13 and scored a Top Ten single with "Carnival." Two additional singles, "Wonder" and "Jealousy," also cracked the Top 40, prompting Tigerlily to sell over five million copies in the U.S. alone. It was followed in 1998 by Ophelia, another platinum-selling effort that was supported by Merchant's inclusion in the second Lilith Fair tour. Live in Concert, recorded at New York's Neil Simon Theatre, appeared a year later. A prominent social activist, Merchant also drew notice by campaigning in the name of such hot-button issues as animal rights, domestic violence, and homelessness.
MotherlandMerchant launched a folk tour in 2000, with members of progressive folk band the Horse Flies joining her on the road. She then returned to her solo career with Motherland. Two years later, Merchant left Elektra's roster and formed her own independent label, Myth America, in order to issue House Carpenter's Daughter, a collection of traditional and contemporary folk music inspired by the 2000 tour. A long period of silence followed, during which a pair of greatest-hits releases -- the 10,000 Maniacs collection Campfire Songs and Merchant's own Retrospective: 1995-2005 -- kept fans relatively sated. As the decade drew to a close, though, Merchant signed with Nonesuch Records and began making plans for a new album, which eventually arrived in the form of the ambitious, double-disc neo-children's album, 2010's Leave Your Sleep. Merchant returned to straight-ahead pop music with a self-titled album in May 2014.

Black Sheep
Natalie Merchant Lyrics

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Oh, it's no secret
You know my every weakness
Oh, haven't the strength now
Not enough to waste tonight

Oh, spark the fire
Tinder blocks of desire (?)
Oh, Lord have mercy

The first to feel tonight (?)

I can see that you can see my eyes

Black sheep up on the fence
You're a naughty little boy and you make me tense
Prodigal son, won't you come on home?
Door's open wide, take a look inside
Take a look inside
Take a look inside

Oh, my hands are tied now
So you gotta decide now
See, I just can't take it
Can't you see that I'm breaking tonight?

I can see

Black sheep up on the fence
You make me tense
Prodigal son, won't you come on home?
Door's open wide, take a look inside
Take a look inside
Take a look inside

Baa baa black sheep up on the fence
You're a naughty little boy and you make me tense
Prodigal son, won't you come on home?
For the door's open wide, take a look inside
Take a look inside
Oh, take a look inside

Take a look inside
Just take a look inside

Overall Meaning

In Natalie Merchant's song "Black Sheep" the lyrics describe a relationship with someone who knows every weakness, but the singer doesn't feel like she has the strength to deal with it. It seems like she's looking for a spark of desire or passion, but isn't sure if she's capable of handling it. She's at a breaking point and her hands are tied, but she's hopeful that the other person will come home and take a look inside. The repeated imagery of the black sheep on the fence symbolizes the tension and discomfort in the relationship, as well as the hope for redemption and a fresh start.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, it's no secret
It is a fact that everyone knows

You know my every weakness
You are familiar with all of my vulnerabilities

Oh, haven't the strength now
I do not have the energy at the moment

Not enough to waste tonight
I do not have enough to expend this evening

Oh, spark the fire
Ignite the flames

Tinder blocks of desire (?)
small pieces of fuel for want or fervent hope

Oh, Lord have mercy
Oh, God, show some compassion

The first to feel tonight (?)
The first to begin this particular feeling

I can see that you can see my eyes
I notice that you are observing me looking into your eyes

Black sheep up on the fence
Rebellious and unwelcome member of the group

You're a naughty little boy and you make me tense
You act mischievously and cause me anxiety