"Paranoid" by Black Sabbath

Feel the frantic energy of Paranoid! Black Sabbath's 1970 lightning bolt of heavy metal is an instantly recognizable anthem of anxiety and unease. With its blistering pace, iconic riff, and Ozzy's urgent vocals, this track from the album of the same name is a timeless explosion of raw power and relatable inner turmoil.

Paranoid, the title track of Black Sabbath's groundbreaking 1970 album, is arguably their most famous and enduring song. Its incredibly catchy and energetic guitar riff, penned by Tony Iommi as a last-minute addition to the album, propelled the track to international success. The song's concise structure and relentless pace, coupled with Bill Ward's driving drums and Geezer Butler's solid bassline, created a template for countless heavy metal anthems that followed.

Released in 1970, Paranoid captured the anxieties and uncertainties of the era with its direct and relatable lyrics. Despite its upbeat tempo, the song delves into feelings of isolation, mental distress, and the fear of losing one's mind. Ozzy Osbourne's raw and urgent vocal delivery perfectly conveys this sense of inner turmoil, making the song a powerful and enduring expression of human vulnerability beneath a heavy metal exterior.

SONG MEANING: The lyrics of Paranoid explore the feeling of intense anxiety and the fear of mental instability. The narrator expresses a sense of unease and isolation, questioning their own sanity and fearing a complete mental breakdown. Despite the song's driving and energetic music, the lyrics paint a picture of inner turmoil and the struggle to maintain control in the face of overwhelming feelings of paranoia and despair.