Best Black Sabbath lyric from the first six albums?

[KickTheBobo]

Hi.

for the past few months, I have started to re-educate myself in regards to Classic Rock & Roll. I have started by listening and studying the first six (or "essential") Black Sabbath albums. I have pretty much only been listening to these works in my car and feel that I am gaining a pretty good understanding of their importance vis-à-vis the Rock canon.

One thing I have noticed (and Auntie Christina's recent call with Matt Fraction reinforced) is how BAD ASS young Ozzy's voice is. This leads me to wonder: is there a quintessential Sabbath lyric?



So far, I can think of three that come to mind:

from Sabbra Cadabra - "Lovlaay Laaay-yaaaadaaaaay"

from The Wizard - "Twinka-laayn Bel-uh"

from Electric Funeral Hand of Doom- "Vi-et-nayum Nay-palyum"

any thoughts?

[masterofsparks]

Something from "Snowblind," probably. Or else "Supernaut," which is their best song (IMO).

Just for the record, Ozzy didn't write the Sabbath lyrics. Geezer Butler wrote most of them.

[Chris L]

"Cuz smokin' and trippin' is all that you do/YYYEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!'

[Stupornaut]

Something from "Snowblind," probably. Or else "Supernaut," which is their best song (IMO).

"I've seen the future and I've left it behind" is a hell of a line. (Of course, now I'm going to have to claim bias based on a half-thought-out messageboard handle, but still.)

[Wes]

I would really like to explore the narrative of Iron Man - the motivations of the Iron Man, the attitude of the people he once saved, the relative merits of heavy boots of lead in a campaign of violence and terror. And to finally answer the cyborg/robot question regarding the Iron Man himself.

But I'm willing to wait until the primary topic has been discussed a bit more. And I will add "The sun is shining, the clouds have gone by/All the people give a happy sigh." Funny clothes aside, The Wizard seems like a pretty good dude.

[Kid Pain]

from Electric Funeral - "Vi-et-nayum Nay-palyum"

any thoughts?

That lyric is from Hand of Doom.


Signed,

Mr Nitpicky

[mackro]

Ozzy's singing is amazing, no doubt.

But the best Ozzy lyrics were written by Geezer. </SemiSabbathSnob>

[mackro]

Not sure if it was Geezer, Ozzy, or someone else who wrote the lyrics to "Spiral Architect" (from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath), but this is my favorite Sabbath song for many reasons.  The lyrics being one of them.. An excerpt:

Watching eyes of celluloid
Tell you hoooow to live
Metaphoric motor-replay
Give, give, giiiiiiive!
Laughter kissing love is showing
meeee the waaaay
Spiral city architect
I build, yoooUUUu paaaay

Of all the things I value most of all
I look upon my earth
And feel their warmth
And know that it is good
YOU KNOW THAT I SHOULD!

EDIT: Listening just now, I think part of the reason "Spiral Architect" does it for me is because it's Sabbath doing The Who in their Sabbath way.  The beginning progression is totally Who, but then Iommi's timbres start to seer and you know it's Sabbath running the show. The song shows off the best qualities of Who, Sabbath, and perhaps Rush.

[KickTheBobo]

from Electric Funeral - "Vi-et-nayum Nay-palyum"

any thoughts?

That lyric is from Hand of Doom.


Signed,

Mr Nitpicky

thank you for the correction, really. I am still very much green when it comes to this band, but want to keep studying up for the next few months.

[masterofsparks]

from Electric Funeral - "Vi-et-nayum Nay-palyum"

any thoughts?

That lyric is from Hand of Doom.


Signed,

Mr Nitpicky

thank you for the correction, really. I am still very much green when it comes to this band, but want to keep studying up for the next few months.

Although the first six LPs are the best ones, I think all 8 Ozzy LPs are worth hearing. Never Say Die in particular is underrated.

[mackro]

btw, this is a must for FOT Sabbathers:



Note: this will make you cry

[Christina]

I dunno, I sort of enjoy the dumber lyrics, the more simplistic the worldview the better - like "Lord of this World" on MoR -

Your world was made for you by someone above
but you chose evil ways instead of love.
You made me master of the world where you exist
the soul I took from you was not even missed.

They're like these weird metal homilies or something, which seems to fit Ozzy's singing style, which isn't so much singing as it is sing-song reciting.

IT'S LIKE HE'S ADMONISHING US TO BE GOOD .... LEST WE END UP LIKE HIM-IN HELL!!!!

[ChrisRawk]

Ahhhh Sabbath lyrics.  What I love about 'War Pigs' is that they rhyme "masses" with "masses".

[Christina]

Ahhhh Sabbath lyrics.  What I love about 'War Pigs' is that they rhyme "masses" with "masses".

I hate hate HATE when musicians/poets/whoever rhyme the same words in a rhyme scheme. That drives me effing crazy.

[buffcoat]

No one ever mentions "Faeries Wear Boots."





Wes, between the "heavy boots of lead" and being "turned to steel in the grave magnetic field" (there's a rhyme for you, AC), Iron Man was even more ungainly than Ozzy himself. 

Lost lyrics:

"He was galvanized / by the Lo-ord of the Flies" 
"Tempered by the flame / Iron Man has come up lame"
"Melted in a pot / Iron Man is very hot"


Or something.