Black Sheep

Album: Gravel & Wine (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • New Zealand singer-songwriter Gin Wigmore titled her sophomore album after a lyric in this song: "Making my own road out of gravel and some wine."

    She explained to Artist Direct: "It was during the final hours, and everyone was like, 'Gin, you need a title for your bloody album!' It was a cool lyric that popped out. As much as Gravel & Wine is a weird partnership, It's fitting for the record because there's a duality. You can have the roughness when you think of gravel. When you think of wine, It's soft, sentimental, passionate, and romantic and it puts you in a lounge room."
  • Wigmore describes "Black Sheep" as "a song about doing things your own way, not following suit. Having at your own path and being unique."
  • In our interview with Gin Wigmore, we asked if she has always been the nonconformist she sings about on this track. Her reply: "I can say that I have always been very independent and staunch in my life choices and decisions, even to my own detriment at times! But, at least I can only have myself to blame if it doesn't pan out the way I want, right?!"
  • The Australian director Sean Gilligan did the music video. He also did Wigmore's videos for "Man Like That" and "If Only."
  • In 2017, this was used in a commercial for the Nissan Rogue Midnight Edition where a child - the black sheep - rides a tricked-out tricycle.

Comments: 1

  • AnonymousHi Gin I truly love your song black sheep!!! I play it all the time. Excellent. Excellent song. And ye I like what it’s about . Because that’s me Do things as I please . Again thank You so much !!! And keep on Rocking Love you And your great band God Bless be safe.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."