[Verse 1]
Sinner on the mainland, he's a sinner on the sea
He looks for absolution, not accountability
How many destinations, oh God, he's seen them all
He collects his precious pittance in every port of call
[Chorus]
Remittance man, black sheep of the family clan
Broke too many rules along the way
Remittance man, so far away from home
No, they'll never understand the remittance man
[Verse 2]
A man of empty pockets from jingling his change
The idleness and grieving are all that he retains
By the harbor lights of Sydney or the Bora Bora moon
He recites his sad confession to the seagulls and the loons
[Chorus]
Remittance man, black sheep of the family clan
Broke too many rules along the way
Remittance man, so far away from home
No, they'll never understand the remittance man
[Bridge]
Well, you could claim that you were born a prince
But you're the only one you can convince
Survivor with no livelihood that you could ever make it good
But still you dream of what you can pretend
[Verse 3]
An unexpected passenger boarded in Marseilles
An angel full of tenderness, she gave her heart away
She was but a gypsy, he was just a stray
They almost made a miracle, but it slowly slipped away
[Verse 4]
So he follows the equator with a wish to run aground
It's a very vicious circle, going round and round and round
And he watches from the fantail as the mainland disappears
Just like the Flying Dutchman, he's a prisoner of his fears
[Chorus]
Remittance man, black sheep of the family clan
Broke too many rules along the way
Remittance man, so far away from home
No, they'll never understand
No, they'll never understand
No, they'll never understand the remittance man