The first known public appearance of the Osborne Brothers was in 1951. They joined the cast at WCYB Bristol, Virginia, to perform on a program called "Farm and Fun Time", along with other Bluegrass bands, such as, The Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin, Carl Story and his Rambling Mountainers. Other members of "Farm and Fun Time" included, Jim & Jesse, Little Robert Van Winkle, Curly King and the Tennessee Hilltoppers, and country recording artist Red Kirk. The live program aired five days a week, Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm on WCYB Radio, and covered five states.
Upon their breakout into the bluegrass scene, the Osborne Brothers quickly became noted for their virtuosic instrumentation and tight, melodic vocal harmonies. Their first country chart appearance was "Once More", a 1958 trio with Red Allen, with a then-novel inverted stacked harmony: Bobby singing the lead line highest, then Sonny singing baritone, and finally the third singer (in this case Red Allen) singing the tenor as the lowest part. This placed Bobby's distinctive voice as the lead, and made the third voice a somewhat interchangeable part. As a result, the brothers could hire a series of guitarist/singers without changing their overall sound. This "high lead" vocal trio became their signature sound, used to great effect in the country market, with songs like "Blame Me", "Sweethearts Again", and a remake of the Carter Family's "Fair and Tender Ladies".
During their breakout period of the mid 1950s, Sonny's banjo and Bobby's mandolin styles became distinctive and easily-identifiable with their overall sound. The band was inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry on August 8, 1964.
The Osborne Brothers have the distinction of having recorded two songs that would go on to be officially voted as "state songs." The first, "Rocky Top," was named a Tennessee state song in 1982. The other, "Kentucky," was named a state song for the brothers' home state of Kentucky.
In 1994, The Osborne Brothers were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association's Hall of Honor. The induction is considered bluegrass music's highest honor.
The Black Sheep Returned To The Fold
The Osborne Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, long is the night I have travelled
The way was so bitter and cold
I long for the day when my shepard will say
The black sheep returned to the fold.
Forever my dreams are of heaven
The church bells will ring and the angels will sing
The black sheep returned to the fold.
--- Instrumental ---
My mission on earth now is ended
My body is weary and cold
The words have been blessed in this heacen of rest
The black sheep returned to the fold.
So bury me there in the churchyard
The story of life has been told
And let it be known by the words on the stone
The black sheep returned to the fold...
The Osborne Brothers' song "The Black Sheep Returned to the Fold," written by Fred Rose, is a poignant and reflective tune about a person who feels lost and disconnected from their spiritual home. The lyrics suggest that, for some reason, the singer has been absent from their church community for a long period of time, perhaps due to personal struggles or doubts about their faith. However, the singer longs to return and be welcomed back into the fold by their "shepherd," representing the church or a higher power.
The first verse sets the stage for the singer's journey, describing the long and bitter night they have traveled. This line could be interpreted in a literal sense, with the person undertaking a difficult physical journey, or as a metaphorical journey of the soul, where the person has felt lost and alone for an extended period. The second verse describes the singer's dreams of heaven as a treasure more precious than gold, emphasizing the importance of faith and the hope of redemption. The third verse speaks to the end of the singer's earthly journey, where they are ready to be received back into the fold and reunited with their spiritual community. The final line is a clear signal of the singer's hope for redemption - they want to be remembered as the black sheep who finally returned to the fold, a symbol of their renewed faith and commitment.
Overall, “The Black Sheep Returned to the Fold” is a powerful ode to the longing for spiritual renewal, and the idea that it’s never too late to return to one’s faith, even after a period of wandering.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, long is the night I have travelled
I have endured a long and difficult journey
The way was so bitter and cold
The path was harsh and unforgiving
I long for the day when my shepard will say
I eagerly await the moment when my spiritual guide accepts me back
The black sheep returned to the fold.
I, the lost and wayward sheep, have come back to the flock
Forever my dreams are of heaven
My ultimate aspiration is to reach the celestial realm
A treasure more precious then gold
Something more valuable than earthly riches
The church bells will ring and the angels will sing
The spiritual realm will joyfully celebrate my return
The black sheep returned to the fold.
I am welcomed back into the spiritual community
--- Instrumental ---
My mission on earth now is ended
My task and purpose on this earthly plane is complete
My body is weary and cold
My physical body is tired and lifeless
The words have been blessed in this heaven of rest
My words and actions have been deemed worthy in the afterlife
The black sheep returned to the fold.
I have successfully returned to the spiritual community
So bury me there in the churchyard
Lay my remains to rest in a sacred place
The story of life has been told
My life journey has come to an end
And let it be known by the words on the stone
May it be memorialized on my grave marker
The black sheep returned to the fold.
I, the lost sheep, have found my way home
Writer(s): Fred Rose
Contributed by Zachary J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.