“Paranoid” is a seminal song by the English rock band Black Sabbath, released in 1970 as the title trail of their second studio album, “Paranoid.” The song was written by the band’s lead crooner Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. It is universally respected as one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time and a defining anthem of the genre.
The formation of “Paranoid” stemmed from a jam session through the recording sessions for the album. The band had already recorded multiple tail for the album, but they needed one more song to complete it. Tony Iommi started playing a riff, which the rest of the band joined in on. Ozzy Osbourne improvisational the lyrics on the spot, sketch from his own feelings of concern and paranoia, and the song came together rapidly.
“Paranoid” was released as a lonely in August 1970 and became Black Sabbath’s first major knock, reaching the top 10 in the UK Singles Chart. Its success helped move the “Paranoid” album to advertisement success, eventually becoming one of the best-selling heavy metal albums of all time.
The song’s lyrics fluctuate with themes of estrangement, mental inconstant, and societal paranoia, consider the anxieties of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The powerful riff, operate rhythm, and Osbourne’s raw spoken consignment give to its immortal popularity and affect in the heavy metal genre.
Over the years, “Paranoid” has become a chief of Black Sabbath’s live achievement and a cultural touchstone, often cited as one of the most iconic songs in rock music history. Its impact on the development of heavy metal cannot be overblown, and it continues to encourage new generations of musicians and fans alike.
Lyrics
Finished with my woman ’cause
She couldn’t help me with my mind
People think I’m insane because
I am frowning all the time
All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
Think I’ll lose my mind
If I don’t find something to pacify
Can you help me
Occupy my brain?
Oh yeah
I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can’t find
I can’t see the things that make
True happiness, I must be blind
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
And so as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it’s too late