# Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath were an English heavy metal band, formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. They are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music.

## Song lyrics
### Black Sabbath (1970)

All songs written by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne.
* What is this that stands before me? Figure in black which points at me Turn around quick, and start to run Find out I’m the chosen one – Oh no!
** Black Sabbath
* Visions cupped within a flower Deadly petals with strange power Faces shine a deadly smile Look upon you at your trial
** Behind the Wall of Sleep
* The world today is such a wicked place Fighting going on between the human race People got to work just to earn their bread While people just across the sea are counting their dead
** Wicked World
* Red sun rising in the sky Sleeping village, cock’rel’s cry Soft breeze blowing in the trees Peace of mind, feel at ease
** Sleeping Village

### Paranoid (1970)

All lyrics written by Geezer Butler.
* Generals gathered in their masses Just like witches at black masses Evil minds that plot destruction Sorcerers of death’s construction In the fields the bodies burning As the war machine keeps turning Death and hatred to mankind poisoning their brainwashed minds
** War Pigs
* Make a joke and I will sigh And you will laugh and I will cry Happiness I cannot feel And love to me is so unreal
** Paranoid
* We sail through endless skies Stars shine like eyes The black night sighs The moon in silver dreams Falls down in beams Light of the night The Earth a purple blaze Of sapphire haze In orbit always
** Planet Caravan
* Robot minds of robot slaves Lead them to atomic graves Plastic flowers, melting sun Fading moon falls uponDying world of radiation, Victims of man’s frustration Burning globe of obscene fire Like electric funeral pyre
** Electric Funeral

### Master of Reality (1971)

All lyrics written by Geezer Butler.
* So you children of the world, listen to what I say If you want a better place to live in spread the word today Show the world that love is still alive you must be brave Or you children of today are children of the grave.
** Children of the Grave
* Leave the earth to Satan and his slaves Leave them to their future in their graves Make a home where love is there to stay Peace and happiness in every day.
** Into the Void

### Vol. 4 (1972)

All lyrics written by Geezer Butler.
* I’ve crossed the ocean, turned every bend I found the plastic and the gold at rainbow’s end I’ve seen through magic and through life’s reality I’ve lived a thousand years and never found the key
** Supernaut
* Too much near the truth they say Keep it ’til another day Let them have their little game Delusion helps to keep them saneLet them have their little toys Matchbox cars and mortgaged joys Exciting in their plastic ways Frozen food in a concrete maze
** Cornucopia
* So believe what I tell you, it’s the only way you’ll find in the end Just believe in yourself – you know you really shouldn’t have to pretend Don’t let those empty people try to interfere with your mind Just live your life and leave them all behind
** Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes

### Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)

All songs written by Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.
* Nobody will ever let you know When you ask the reason why They just tell you that you’re on your own Fill your head all full of lies
** Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
* Just remember love is life And hate is living death Treat your life for what it’s worth And live for every breath
** A National Acrobat
* You thought that it would be easy From the very start Now I’ve found you out I don’t think you’re so smart I only have one more question Before my time is through Please I beg you tell me In the name of hell Who are you?
** Who Are You
* Watching eyes of celluloid Tell you how to live Metaphoric motor-replay Give, give, give! Laughter kissing love Is showing me the way Spiral city architect I build, you pay
** Spiral Architect

### Sabotage (1975)

All songs written by Black Sabbath.
* I’ve watched the dogs of war enjoying their feast I’ve seen the western world go down in the east The food of love became the greed of our time But now I’m living on the profits of crime
** Hole in the Sky
* Take me through the centuries to supersonic years Electrifying enemy is drowning in his tears All I have to give you is a love that never dies The symptom of the universe is written in your eyes
** Symptom of the Universe
* Blow on a Jug Everybody come on – blow on a jug Be like me and blow on a jug I want you to blow on a jug Everybody begin – blow on a jug
** Blow on a Jug

### Technical Ecstasy (1976)

All songs written by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne, unless noted.
* I’m just another back street kid Rock ‘n roll music is the only thing I really dig Can’t stop the music going round inside my head I’m a rock ‘n roll soldier, gonna play it until I’m dead Nobody I know is gonna take my rock ‘n roll away from me
** Back Street Kids

### Never Say Die! (1978)

All songs written by Black Sabbath.
* It’s a part of me that tells you Oh, don’t you ever Don’t ever say die Never, never, never say die
** Never Say Die
* And as the seasons turn the days to years She holds her pictures, hears the silent cheers The days grow lonely for the dancing queen And now she dances only in her dreams
** Air Dance

### Heaven and Hell (1980)

All lyrics written by Ronnie James Dio.
* Cry out to legions of the brave Time again to save us from the jackals of the street Ride out, protectors of the realm Captain’s at the helm, sail across the sea of lights
** Neon Knights
* We made the mountains shake with laughter as we played Hiding in our corner of the world Then we did the demon dance and rushed to nevermore Threw away the key and locked the door
** Children of the Sea
* The lover of life’s not a sinner The ending is just a beginner The closer you get to the meaning The sooner you’ll know that you’re dreaming
** Heaven and Hell
* The world is full of Kings and Queens Who blind your eyes and steal your dreams It’s Heaven and Hell
** Heaven and Hell
* Life’s fantasy – to be locked away and still to think you’re free
** Die Young
* So live for today Tomorrow never comes
** Die Young

### Mob Rules (1981)

All lyrics written by Ronnie James Dio.
* Nighttime sorrow, taken like a pain Black will not become a white, it’s all the same Evil lurks in twilight, dances in the dark Makes you need the movement, like a fire needs a spark to burn!
** Turn Up the Night
* If there isn’t light when no one sees Then how can I know what you might believe? A story told that can’t be real Somehow must reflect the truth we feel
** The Sign of the Southern Cross
* From the book, the word is spoken Whispers from forgotten psalms Gather all around the young ones They will make us strong Reach above your dreams of pleasure Given life to those who died Look beyond your own horizons Sail the ship of signs
** The Sign of the Southern Cross
* I should be at the table round A servant of the crown The keeper of the sign To sparkle and to shine
** Falling Off the Edge of the World
* There’s a message inside as we build a new life from the past
** Falling Off the Edge of the World
* Don't live for pleasure, make life your treasure
** The Sign of the Southern Cross

### Born Again (1983)

All songs written by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Ian Gillan, unless noted.
* Good life is contradiction because of the crucifixion If you’re ready and have the need, I will take your soul and plant my seed
** Disturbing the Priest
* The devil and the priest can’t exist if one goes away It’s just like the battle of the sun and the moon and night and day The force of the devil, that’s we’re all told to fear Watch out for religion when he gets too near too near
** Disturbing the Priest
* As you look through my window Deep into my room At the tapestries all faded Their vague and distant glories Concealed in the gloom The icy fingers of forgotten passions Softly brushing my lips At the tips of my primitive soul
** Born Again
* For the thrust of my challenge is aimed At the hearts of mutant gods who think we’re all the same They’re controlling our minds And they use us for fortune and fame
** Born Again

### Seventh Star (1986)

All lyrics written by Tony Iommi, Glenn Hughes, Geoff Nicholls and Jeff Glixman.
* Hear the sound of distant ages It’s the call of the seventh star
** Seventh Star

### The Eternal Idol (1987)

All lyrics written by Tony Iommi.
* In the wisdom of the prophet’s Never-ending tale “Open up the eyes Within your mind,” he says Crowned in his ancient glory There’s a king within us all Some will say it’s all in vain That he doesn’t have a name
** Ancient Warrior
* He’s not one thing, we are his spirit We could save this world from destruction day
** Eternal Idol

### Headless Cross (1989)

All songs written by Black Sabbath.
* How do you feel, when the locks refuse the key and the master is calling your name Does the luck of the charm, really keep you from harm? Does the talisman protect you from pain?
** Headless Cross
* Tell me not fear of the flames means that heaven is closer For I believe Satan lives, in the souls of the dying Misguided mortals, you’ll burn with me Spirit of man, cannot be freed.
** When Death Calls
* Your assassin has cursed every spectre The seal is broken, the oath has been crossed and the house of the dead seeks a master
** Kill in the Spirit World
* Fear of the devil has no place among the brave Faced with pain, there’s a battle to be won All eyes are on you, like a lost Eternal Light
** Call of the Wild

### Tyr (1990)

All lyrics written by Tony Martin.
* Do you follow the path that so many tread? Are you among the blind so easily lead?
** Anno Mundi
* What God is this that stands to hear his people cry? What hand would strike and watch his people die? What life that takes, what future did we earn? It’s our mistakes, take heed the Sabbath Stones
** The Sabbath Stones

### Dehumanizer (1992)

All songs written by Geezer Butler, Ronnie James Dio and Tony Iommi.
* Oh there’s insufficient evidence Of what just might come after But sometimes out of nowhere There’s demented sounds of laughter
** After All (The Dead)
* Looking for the world When you’ve opened up your eyes You’ll see you’ve got invisible chains They’re only lies Not what it seems I hear your silent screams
** Time Machine

### Cross Purposes (1994)

All songs written by Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Tony Martin, unless noted.
* You better run from the holy man, the eyes that Will are set upon you, Listen not to verse and prayer, songs that thrill And voices tempt you The inner flame has fear of death, never, has Light ever seemed so dark. Pilgrims of sabbocracy, hear the hounds of Heaven, as they bark
** I Witness
* Can you hear, the people sing their song To tunes of glory, they move as one. Refugees of liberation marching on. Sing your songs, rock the nation, write of wrongs.
** Dying for Love
* What’s the use of power When the battle isn’t equal And we’re all too scared to use it anywayWhat’s the point of reason When no one wants to listen Deliverance is all too far away
** What's the Use?

### Forbidden (1995)

All lyrics written by Tony Martin, unless noted.
* Fool, you’re caught in a complex catacomb of your own inadequcies and pitiful weaknesses, Your soul secretes insecurity. So you live on the reflection side of the mirror; you’re terrified of true power. You Fear
** The Illusion of Power, written by Tony Martin and Ice-T
* All of your life, they try to take your cover, Turn you into another, and make you change your name. When you fall, it’s up to you to recover, You can’t depend on another, to help you with the pain
** Shaking Off the Chains

### 13 (2013)

All lyrics written by Geezer Butler, unless noted.
* Regeneration of your Cyber sonic soul, transformed in time and space beyond control. Rise up resist and be the master of your fate. Don’t look back, live for today, tomorrow is too late.
** End of the Beginning
* To safeguard my philosophy Until my dying breath I transfer from reality Into a living dead I empathize with enemies until the time is right With God and Satan at my side, from darkness will come light I watch the rain as it turns red Give me more wine I don’t need bread These riddles that live inside my head
** God Is Dead?
* Politics, religion, love of money too. It’s what the world was built for but not for me and you
** Age of Reason
* Guess we’re all running out of time So live your own life and let me live mine To each their own to question why We’re all just links that forge the chain of life
** Naïveté in Black

### Other

* There are whispers between the screams That this deed can be done Even sinners must dream And I can be the one to make the Devil cry
** The Devil Cried, from the 2007 compilation album The Dio Years

## Quotes about Black Sabbath

* Quite simply, metal music would not exist if it wasn’t for the Birmingham legends, Black Sabbath. After taking blues and early rock music to darker and more aggressive sonic territory, Black Sabbath invented heavy metal music with their pioneering and master-crafted albums throughout the 1970s. [...] the band’s first six albums are some of most influential records in all of metal and they’ve single handedly paved the path for every band and sub-genre under the metal umbrella.
** Quentin Thane Singer of Forbes
* It's generally acknowledged that the first true heavy metal band was Black Sabbath. [...] Iommi's memorable riffs and Osbourne's distinctive voice spewing generally dark lyrics made Sabbath turn the rock world in its ears — and we're still grateful for it all.
* Black Sabbath will forever be one of the first bands any guitar player hears as a recommendation to begin with, and for good reason. A song such as “Paranoid” offers some simplistic but fun guitar riffs to play while teaching the fundamentals you’re going to need to progress past the first stage of playing.
* I think of rock 'n' roll as a bitch... and I nursed at the teat of Black Sabbath. - Krist Novoselic of Nirvana
** Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970–1978)
* Black Sabbath will always be the standard for every alienated, dirthead kid who's trying to figure out the answer to, "What is this that stands before me?" - Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day
** Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970–1978), page 2
* I brought melody and classicalness and a great amount of musicality to this band. Ozzy began it, and he deserves all the accolades he can get because he helped invent this kind of music. What he did was absolutely right for what it was, but music grew at that point, and I think it grew beyond what Ozzy was capable of giving an audience from a musical standpoint.
** Ronnie James Dio, as quoted in "Black Is Really White" by Andrew Miller, Orlando Weekly (13 September 2007)
* Ronnie was so enthusiastic, and he could play instruments which Ozzy couldn't play, so it was easy to communicate with him, and for him to communicate musically with us. That enthusiasm gives us all a kick up the bum.
** Geezer Butler, as quoted in "BLACK SABBATH's Geezer Butler Talks DIO Era - 'I Was So Pissed Off Writing Lyrics Towards The End Of The OZZY Era'" by Tim Henderson, Brave Words (29 March 2021)

## External links

* Official website