Scherr was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He played with … Read Full Bio ↴Biography
Scherr was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He played with Woody Herman as a teenager, and moved to New York City in the late-1980s, where he became a prolific session musician, working with artists such as Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Norah Jones, and Ana Egge. He has been a member of a number of bands, such as The Lounge Lizards, Sex Mob, Jesse Harris and the Ferdinandos, and Chris Brown and the Citizen Band. Scherr owns a recording studio and has worked as record producer for many of the artists he performs with.
In 2002, Tony Scherr released his first solo album, Come Around, on Smells Like Records. His song "Sacramento" was later covered by Leslie Feist on her album Let It Die, with alternate lyrics and a new title, "Lonely Lonely".
Tony Scherr's second album, Twist in the Wind, was released March 17, 2008.
Black Sheep
Tony Scherr Lyrics
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Go to sleep
Smoke that last one down to the little
Ready or not, you were born in the middle
Small plums in their progressions
Shiny cars and a yard like a jungle
You were not yet made for this puzzle
Tall bones, fancy scones
Don't rattle yourself about mothers own rebel
Old tell
Living hell
Lose the shoes carry to the elevator
There'd be nothing much new coming later
You make yourself, you make yourself only better
It doesn't matter what you say in that letter
You make yourself better
Black sheep
This is ours to keep
We both know what love can do
And nothing else could cut anyone that meets you
The song "Black Sheep" by Tony Scherr is a melancholic and introspective ballad that deals with themes of identity, fitting in, and self-improvement. The first stanza begins with the repetition of "black sheep, go to sleep" which could be interpreted as a call to retreat or disconnect from the world. Scherr sings about smoking the last cigarette down to the little, seemingly using it as a metaphor for the end of something. Throughout the lyrics, he emphasizes the idea of being born in the middle, suggesting a sense of ambiguity, not quite fitting in either side.
Scherr then describes a world of small plums in their progressions, which could represent the small steps or achievements one takes in life. He juxtaposes this with the image of shiny cars and a yard like a jungle, hinting at consumerism and materialism. The lines "you were not yet made for this puzzle" and "don't rattle yourself about mothers own rebel" perhaps suggest the difficulty in figuring out one's identity and the pressure to conform.
In the second stanza, Scherr shifts his focus to the idea of self-improvement. He mentions "tall bones and fancy scones" as if to say, no matter how much we have, or how much we try to make ourselves appear perfect, there will always be something beyond our control that we cannot fix. The line, "you make yourself, you make yourself better" could be interpreted as a call to take responsibility for our actions and strive towards self-improvement. The song ends with Scherr speaking directly to the listener, saying "we both know what love can do, and nothing else could cut anyone that meets you," suggesting that love and connection are things that make us stand out rather than conforming.
Line by Line Meaning
Black sheep
Addressing someone as the odd one out or the unique one in a given group
Go to sleep
Telling the listener to calm down or forget their worries
Smoke that last one down to the little
Finish the leftover work in hand before moving to something else
Ready or not, you were born in the middle
Acknowledging the fact that life is not always fair and one is not always ahead of everyone else
Small plums in their progressions
Referring to people with small ambitions who are slow to progress
Shiny cars and a yard like a jungle
Describing the materialistic world of people who prioritize possessions over relationships
You were not yet made for this puzzle
Implying that the listener doesn't fit in with the rest of the crowd
Tall bones, fancy scones
Referencing the luxurious way of living life that some people choose to follow
You can find it all in the battle
Encouraging the listener to push out of their comfort zone to find their purpose
Don't rattle yourself about mothers own rebel
Advising the listener not to worry about what others think of them
Old tell
Referring to the wisdom of the past
Living hell
Acknowledging the challenges of life
Lose the shoes carry to the elevator
Bringing the attention to superficial details that people stress over
There'd be nothing much new coming later
Advising the listener to not linger on the past or what is not meant to be
You make yourself, you make yourself only better
Encouraging the listener to focus on self-improvement and not compare themselves to others
It doesn't matter what you say in that letter
Reassuring the listener that words don't hold as much weight as actions
You make yourself better
Reiterating the importance of self-improvement
Black sheep
Addressing someone as the odd one out or the unique one in a given group
This is ours to keep
Reminding the listener that they have a special place in the world
We both know what love can do
Addressing the idea of the power of love
And nothing else could cut anyone that meets you
Implying that the listener is unique and cannot be replicated by anyone else
Contributed by Dominic E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SirArturia
Two years late but I found this on another comment but hear are the lyrics for you. ^_^
black sheep
go to sleep
smoke that last one down to the little
ready or not you were born in the middle
small plums
and their progressions
the shiny cars and a yard like a jungle
you were not yet made for this puzzle
tall bones
fancy scones
you could find it all in a battle
don’t rattle yourself about mothers unraveled
hotel
living hell
she’d lose her shoes carried to the elevator
there’ll be nothing much new coming later
you make yourself
better
make yourself better
better
better
black sheep
this is ours to keep
we both know what love can do
nothing else could occur to anyone who meets you
@aapje1988
+Milán Szakonyi
black sheep
go to sleep
smoke that last one down to the little
ready or not you were born in the middle
small plums
and their progressions
the shiny cars and a yard like a jungle
you were not yet made for this puzzle
tall bones
fancy scones
you could find it all in a battle
don’t rattle yourself about mothers unraveled
hotel
living hell
she’d lose her shoes carried to the elevator
there’ll be nothing much new coming later
you make yourself
better
make yourself better
better
better
black sheep
this is ours to keep
we both know what love can do
nothing else could occur to anyone who meets you
From: http://snarkypuppy.tumblr.com/post/67286180066/black-sheep
@paqman78
Thats the sweetest and most delicate tone ive ever heard coming out of a slightly overdriven humbucker. He made it sound almost as dynamic as a strat.
@brandenburg05
This guy is seriously good. And the band puts him on a very sharp edge.
@geoffreypiccolina7142
Snarky Puppy....the band with NO boundaries!
@goupilirmomacloud4655
Amazing track. Gives me the chills. Tony with that roaring solo is amazing.
@calebeeumesmo
i can't hear this without feeling...
@Stripesjasso
Same feeling, almost more than 6 years listening to this Masterpiece and i always cry on the climax of the guitar solo. It's so beautiful
@crazydale1000
A great slide player. A beautiful tone.
@msd53184
wow! made that thing cry
@PaultheJones
Amazing!!!
@guidemeChrist
This guy makes me think of Neil Young. Amazing performance.