Cat. #0611 (MFH #52) - As sung by Paralee Weddington, Busch, Arkansas on February 8, 1968
VERSE 1
In a quiet village
Not so very far away
There dwelled a rich an' aged man
Whose hair was few an' gray
He had three sons, his only ones
Both Tom an' Jack was shy
But Ted was honest as could be
An' would not tell a lie
VERSE 2
They planned the best to ruin Ted,
In the ole mans eyes
Th poison soon begin its work
Till Ted was much dispised
One day the old man said, begone
Your heartless to th core
These were th words th black sheep said
As he stood by the door
CHORUS:
Don't be angry with me Dad
Don't turn me from your door
I know that I were wayward
But I won't be anymore
It's give to me another chance
And put me to th test
You'll find th black sheep loves his Dad
For better than th rest
VERSE 3
Year, by years, speed quickly by
The old man's now grown ole
He called both Tom an' Jack to him
And give to them his gold,
I only need a little room
A place at your fireside
One night on Jack's returning home
He brought with him a bride
VERSE 4
The bride began to hate th Father
More an' more each day
One night he heard th three declare,
The old fools in th way
Then they agreed to send him to
A poorhouse that was near
Then like a flash these black sheeps words
Came ringing to his ears
CHORUS:
A wagon drived up to a door
It was th poorhouse bound
Th boys they point towards their Dad
An' says, there is your man
Just then a manly form appeared
An' pushes through th crowd
Here, stop you brutes, th man then said
This will not be allowed
VERSE 5
You've sold this ole mans property
An' all that he had saved
You've even stole th little glass
Containing his wifes ring
I am his son, but not your kin
From now till Judgement day
The ole man clasped th black sheeps hand
Th crowd then heard 'im say
VERSE 6
Don't be angry with me lad
I turned you from my door
I know that I was foolish
I repented o'er an' o'er
I wish I'd give to you my gold
For you have stood th test
An' I found th black sheep loves his Dad
For better than th rest