Byron's Babbles

The lyrics from Dorothy’s great song “Black Sheep” convey a powerful message of resilience, individuality, and unwavering self-acceptance. The first verse in “Black Sheep” goes like this: “Call me an outcast, call me a freak; Watch those bullets ricochet straight off of me; ‘Cause I belong; Where right is wrong; No lost cause like the good book say; Don’t give a damn what people think; I march alone; To a different song.” As a person who relates to being a black sheep at times, I was intrigued to dig in on the lyrics.

The song embraces the identity of an outcast or “freak,” rejecting societal judgments and criticisms symbolized by the “bullets” that bounce off them. I love that line because in my education policy life I have joked at times that it was time to put on the Kevlar jacket.

The lines “I belong where right is wrong” suggest a defiance of conventional norms and an affirmation of personal truth. By stating “No lost cause like the good book say,” they acknowledge the biblical notion that hope and redemption are always possible, reinforcing that even those perceived as outsiders can find their place and purpose.

As a Christian I did a little digging on exactly what the Bible has to say. So, the Bible doesn’t explicitly say “there is no lost cause,” but it does contain themes that suggest hope and redemption are always possible, regardless of how dire a situation may seem. Here are three of those themes:

• Luke 15:4-7 (The Parable of the Lost Sheep), in the NIV version it goes like this:
  ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Jesus emphasizes that there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, indicating that no one is beyond God’s mercy.
• In Romans 8:38-39, Paul writes that nothing can separate us from God’s love, reinforcing the idea that hope remains even in difficult circumstances. The NIV version says,
  ³⁸ “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• Jeremiah 29:11 says,
  ¹¹ “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.God declares plans to give hope and a future, reassuring believers that hope persists despite setbacks.” Here, God declares plans to give hope and a future, reassuring believers that hope persists despite setbacks.

While the phrase “no lost cause” isn’t directly in the Bible, these passages reflect a core biblical principle that redemption, hope, and restoration are always within reach for those who seek them.

This all reminded me of the great show from the 1970’s, Black Sheep Squadron. I loved that show because it was inspired by a highly effective South Pacific World War II fighter squadron led by Gregory  “Pappy” Boyington, played by Robert Conrad. Boyington was an outcast and unconventional, but effective leader who, along with his squadron were known as “black sheep.” Kind of interesting how any time we don’t fit the conventional and societal norms (who gets to pick those, anyway?) we are considered a “freak” or “black sheep.”

Finally, the last line of the first verse of “Black Sheep,” “I march alone; to a different song” emphasizes independence and the courage to follow one’s unique path despite opposition. Overall, the verse celebrates strength, individuality, and the idea that standing firm in oneself aligns with a deeper sense of hope and personal sovereignty.