Black Sabbath – “Paranoid”

Black Sabbath’s Biggest Hit Yet!

It’s hard to even begin to scratch the depths of classic rock without mentioning the ever-iconic Black Sabbath. Released in 1970, their first major hit ‘Paranoid’ marked their rather loud entrance into rock royalty, and paved the way for hard rock and heavy metal acts to follow decades later.

A Crowd Favorite Across The Globe!

In Finland, ‘Paranoid’ has the same status as “Freebird” in the US or “Stairway to Heaven” in the UK, regardless of the band or the type of music they play, at least once during every show, someone will shout “Soittakaa Paranoid!” (Play “Paranoid”).

I love this song! In fact, when I was just getting into metal as a pre-teen, Black Sabbath’s ‘Paranoid’ was one of the first that I fell in love with. It’s fast without being unintelligible, but it’s got a rhythm and melody that seem to fit together quite seamlessly. As far as musical skill goes, Tony Iommi is one of the best guitarists in his genre, if not rock music in general – that solo gets me every single time!

Lyrics? What Lyrics?

Black Sabbath left the lyrics to bassist Geezer Butler; they considered him the intelligent one.

+ Paranoid 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