Black Sabbath - War Pigs

Paranoid is the second album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath. It was released in the United Kingdom during September 1970, and contains some of their most famous work, including the songs "Iron Man", "War Pigs" and the title track.

The album is regarded as a classic of the heavy metal genre and one of the most influental heavy metal albums. It has been certified 4x Platinum, having sold over four million copies in the US alone, making it Black Sabbath's best-selling album.

After the release of their debut album in February 1970, Black Sabbath returned to the studio in June that year, again with producer Rodger Bain, to record their second album. The album was recorded at Regent Sound Studios and Island Studios in London, England. The album's eponymous single "Paranoid" was written in the studio at the last minute. As drummer Bill Ward explains: "We didn't have enough songs for the album, and Tony just played the [Paranoid] guitar lick and that was it. It took twenty, twenty-five minutes from top to bottom."

In comparison with their previous album, the songs on Paranoid were given more focus and direction, with less improvisation. However the lyrical content is equally as dark, exploring themes such as war, mental illness, drug abuse and sci-fi horror. Much of the album could be viewed as a kind of social commentary. Spin magazine wrote that the band "saw heavy rock as a way to emulate the horrors of a fallen world."

The lyrics of the opening song, "War Pigs", discuss war and the absurdities of those who make war without regard for those forced to fight it. It is often viewed as a protest song. Similarly, the lyrics of "Electric Funeral" discuss the bleak aftermath of nuclear warfare. These songs were written in the midst of the Vietnam War and the Cold War, and could be seen as quite representative of the political situation at the time.

The song "Paranoid" is uncharacteristically fast and simplistic for Black Sabbath in their early days. Supposedly the band members intended it only as an interlude or as "filler". Its lyrics concern the stigma of mental illness. In a related way, "Iron Man" is about a time traveller from the future who has been turned to steel. He is outcast by society but eventually takes his revenge on humanity.

The "Paranoid" single, released before the album, reached number four in the UK. Pushed by its success, the album hit number one in the UK, and is the only Black Sabbath album to have done so. The US release was held until January 1971, as the Black Sabbath album was still on the charts at the time of Paranoid's UK release. The album broke into the top ten in the US in March 1971, and would go on to sell four million copies in the US alone, with virtually no radio airplay.[5] Paranoid's chart success in the US allowed the band to tour there for the first time in December 1970. This spawned the release of the album's second single "Iron Man", and although failed to reach the top 100, "Iron Man" remains one of Black Sabbath's most popular songs.

Lyrics: Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerers of deaths construction
In the fields the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds, oh lord yeah!

Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to the poor

Time will tell on their power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating people just like pawns in chess
Wait till their judgement day comes, yeah!

Now in darkness, world stops turning
As the war machine keeps burning
No more war pigs of the power
Hand of God has sturck the hour
Day of judgement, God is calling
On their knees, the war pigs crawling
Begging mercy for their sins
Satan, laughing, spreads his wings
All right now!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Black
• Sabbath
• Heavy
• Metal
• Paranoid
• Ozzy
• Osbourne
• Geezer
• Butler
• Tony
• Iommi
• Bill
• Ward
• 1970

[DakotaCrews]

Awesome song. Thanks for the lyrics, I wanted to tell my friend the lyrics to the song.

[JudgeGTi]

5.45 in this songs starts to fucking rip!! One of my favourite sabbath songs next to sweet leaf!!

[joshua1auhsoj]

GOOGLE RON PAUL!

[EMERALDanimations]

@GoldenBearA -sigh-

[GoldenBearA]

gow 3

[gatormclusky1]

awesome song..hope my neighbors like it too...

[debtbully3]

The war pigs are still dancing on our graves.Watch Dr. Doug Rokke D.U. now!

[ItsWesleyRyan]

ozzy is so much better than dio

[TheGator1972]

Thahuntalee you do know Emo was created by the comedian Emo Philips back in 1969 as a stage performance and back in the day I had this on cassest back in late 70's at 8 yrs old.

[quintero22405]

hey men son las canciones de adolecencia. for hever rock roll yea.

[probrojeffro]

@Megatravian At the School of Rock it certainly is. Bite your tongue.

[probrojeffro]

Pretty much just the eternal heavy metal anthem. Not much more, really. OZZZZZIIIEEE!!!!