Paul Weller (born 25 May 1958) is an English singer / songwriter, leader of… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Weller (born 25 May 1958) is an English singer / songwriter, leader of two successful bands: The Jam and The Style Council. In England, he is recognised as something of a national institution yet, because much of his songwriting is rooted in English culture, he has remained essentially a national rather than an international star.

Weller's eleventh studio album, Sonik Kicks, was released on 19 March 2012. The Green Songfacts reports that it was recorded in Weller’s own Black Barn Studios in Ripley, Surrey, with co-producer Simon Dine and engineer Charles Rees.

Born John William Weller in Stanley Road, Woking, he was also a central figure in the Mod revival. As the leader of the Jam, Paul Weller fronted the most popular British band of the punk era, influencing legions of English rockers that ranged from his mod-revival contemporaries to the Smiths in the '80s and Oasis in the '90s. During the final days of the Jam, he developed a fascination with Motown and soul, which led him to form the sophisti-pop group the Style Council in 1983. As the Style Council's career progressed, Weller's interest in soul developed into an infatuation with jazz-pop and house music, which eventually led to gradual erosion of his audience — by 1990, he couldn't get a record contract in the UK, where he had previously been worshipped as a demi-god. As a solo artist, Weller returned to soul music as an inspiration, cutting it with the progressive, hippie tendencies of Traffic. Weller's solo records were more organic and rootsier than the Style Council, which helped him regain his popularity within Britain. By the mid-'90s, he had released three successful albums which were both critically-acclaimed and massively popular in England, where contemporary bands like Ocean Colour Scene were citing him as an influence. Just as importantly, many observers, while occasionally criticizing the trad-rock nature of his music, acknowledged that Weller was one of the few rock veterans that had managed to stay vital within the second decade of his career.

Black Sheep Boy
Paul Weller Lyrics

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Here I am back home again
And I'm here to rest
All they ask is where I've been
Knowing I've been west -

I'm the family's unknown boy
Golden curls and envy hair
Pretty girls with faces fair

See the shine in the black sheep boy -

If you love me let me live in peace
And please understand

That the black sheep can wear the golden fleece
And hold the winning hand

Overall Meaning

The song "Black Sheep Boy" by Paul Weller tells the story of a man who has returned home after being away in the west. The people in his hometown are curious about where he has been, but the singer is more interested in finding peace and acceptance. He's tired of being viewed as the outsider, the black sheep of the family.

The lyrics describe the singer as an "unknown boy" with "golden curls and envy hair," who attracts the attention of pretty girls. However, despite his good looks, he feels like an outsider, the "black sheep boy" who is different from his family and community. He pleads with his loved ones to accept him for who he is and to allow him to live his life in peace.

The song's message is one of acceptance and understanding. The singer is trying to break free from the expectations of his family and community and find his own path in life. He wants to be loved and accepted for who he is, not judged for his differences. It's an anthem for anyone who feels like they don't fit in or who is struggling to find acceptance in a world that values conformity.

Line by Line Meaning

Here I am back home again
I have returned to my hometown

And I'm here to rest
I have come back to rest

All they ask is where I've been
Everyone is curious about where I have been

Knowing I've been west -
They know that I have gone to the west

I'm the family's unknown boy
I am the unrecognized member of my family

Golden curls and envy hair
I have beautiful golden hair that others envy

Pretty girls with faces fair
Attractive girls with fair skin are drawn to me

See the shine in the black sheep boy -
Despite being the black sheep of the family, I have something special that shines

If you love me let me live in peace
If you truly love me, allow me to live in peace

And please understand
Please try to comprehend

That the black sheep can wear the golden fleece
Despite being the outcast, I can still attain greatness