Black Sheep Boy: Tim Hardin

The apparent depth of Okkervil River's Black Sheep Boy still finds me diving amongst the wrecks of castles and stones and darkly horned figures, uncovering new images and connections with every listen. It's a fascinating, often terrifying world centered around Will Sheff's Black Sheep Boy, a defiant and destructively unsettled figure wanting only to be left alone. "If you love me let me live in peace, please understand/ That the black sheep can wear the golden fleece and hold the winning hand," pleads the Boy directly in the faces of his tormentors and lovers, all hot and violent breath. What was this harrowing, magnificent, fascinating figure? It seemed to have quite a grasp on its creator (which in turn enthralled me), driving Sheff to write an album and a half's worth of material centered around his tormented Boy.

I was aware of the Tim Hardin connection only vaguely before, foolishly regarding Sheff's Black Sheep Boy as nothing more than a character based on another fantastical character, nothing more than a masterful storyteller's device. Finally I listened to Hardin's "Black Sheep Boy" and read up on the man's history, and uncovered the thing most fundamental to Sheff's story.

Perhaps it's saddest that Hardin seemed aware of his ill-omened path, the way he sings of his eventual destructor with a subtle, heartbreaking abandon: "We met as friends and you were so easy to get to know/ But will we ever see each other again? Oh... I hope so," sings Hardin of heroin on "Red Balloon." This is him, your most treacherous friend you don't dare imagine what will become of, for it's all too real, too possible. This is the black sheep boy, not a storybook character but a man with a beautiful voice and problems difficult to fathom. Hence Sheff's fascination taking him beyond fandom and simple homage, his Black Sheep Boy taking on a life of its own and allowing his concern and captivation to come to the forefront in all its vitriolic fervor.

Tim Hardin - Black Sheep Boy [mp3]

Tim Hardin - Red Balloon [mp3]

Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy [mp3]

Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy (demo) [mp3]

I highly suggest picking up Tim Hardin's Hang On To A Dream: The Verve Recordings and Okkervil River's Black Sheep Boy + Appendix

Also, read Will Sheff's Said the Guests feature at Said the Gramophone for a wonderfully thorough and fascinating look at Tim Hardin and his relation to Okkervil River's album.

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I got the new Neko Case album today, and it's everything I hoped for.


I also got Jenny Lewis' new single for "Rise Up With Fists!!!" and it's hot.

Enjoy.