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About This Track
“Black Sabbath” is a song by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, written in 1969 and released on the band’s debut album, Black Sabbath.
According to the band, the song was inspired by an experience that Geezer Butler had related to Ozzy Osbourne. In the days of Earth, Butler painted his apartment matte black and placed several inverted crucifixes on the walls. Osbourne gave Butler a book about witchcraft. He read the book and placed the book on a shelf before going to sleep. When he woke up, he claims he saw a large black figure standing at the end of his bed. The figure disappeared and Butler went to get the book, only to find that the book was gone. He then told Osbourne, who wrote the lyrics to the song.
A version of this song from Black Sabbath’s first demo exists on the Ozzy Osbourne compilation album The Ozzman Cometh. The song has an extra verse with additional vocals from Osbourne, right before the bridge into the fast part of the song.
The main riff is constructed with a harmonic progression including a diminished fifth. This particular interval is often known as ‘diabolus in musica’, for it has musical qualities which are often used to suggest satanic connotations in Western music. The song “Black Sabbath” was one of the earliest examples in heavy metal to make use of this interval, and since then, the genre has made extensive use of diabolus in musica.
According to the band, the song was inspired by an experience that Geezer Butler had related to Ozzy Osbourne. In the days of Earth, Butler painted his apartment matte black and placed several inverted crucifixes on the walls. Osbourne gave Butler a book about witchcraft. He read the book and placed the book on a shelf before going to sleep. When he woke up, he claims he saw a large black figure standing at the end of his bed. The figure disappeared and Butler went to get the book, only to find that the book was gone. He then told Osbourne, who wrote the lyrics to the song.
A version of this song from Black Sabbath’s first demo exists on the Ozzy Osbourne compilation album The Ozzman Cometh. The song has an extra verse with additional vocals from Osbourne, right before the bridge into the fast part of the song.
The main riff is constructed with a harmonic progression including a diminished fifth. This particular interval is often known as ‘diabolus in musica’, for it has musical qualities which are often used to suggest satanic connotations in Western music. The song “Black Sabbath” was one of the earliest examples in heavy metal to make use of this interval, and since then, the genre has made extensive use of diabolus in musica.
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Albums featuring this track
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Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
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We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll
Black Sabbath Buy- Download Album
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Past Lives
Black Sabbath Buy- Download Album
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Greatest Hits
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New
Shouts
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gleeh0rt0n wrote:
ALL BOW BEFORE THE EVIL AND MIGHTY TRI-TONE DUUUUM DUUUH DOOOOOOO
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virus_found wrote:
The heaviest song of the 1970 year.
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Robert161989 wrote:
noo please noo
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octopuss22 wrote:
I can't describe with simple words how awesome this song is.
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BlackLTD401 wrote:
See You In Hell
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Braderlies wrote:
Hell yes! The album and song that made me love metal!
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David_J1973 wrote:
Yo dawg, we heard you like Black Sabbath, so we, Black Sabbath, have made a song called Black Sabbath and put it on an album called Black Sabbath, so you can Satan while you Satan while you Satan. [3] best... comment.. ever... [2]
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juanbrujox wrote:
Yo dawg, we heard you like Black Sabbath, so we, Black Sabbath, have made a song called Black Sabbath and put it on an album called Black Sabbath, so you can Satan while you Satan while you Satan. [3] best... comment.. ever...
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MarkusMi wrote:
das allererste stück da muss ich nicht viel sagen,das gehört natürlich zu einen guten metaller,
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chefsam57 wrote:
self titled Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath can be no other name
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ClassyMusicSnob wrote:
Mmm the birth of metal with that evil, sexy bluesy sound!
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xtwntraphq wrote:
The band that started it all. Electrified me from the first note from the very beginning !
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oldiesfanjohn wrote:
twist one up
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clokc wrote:
epic twist of fate. middle finger get loped off.... so down tune the guitar. metal is born in its truest form!
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liquorsetmefree wrote:
Yo dawg, we heard you like Black Sabbath, so we, Black Sabbath, have made a song called Black Sabbath and put it on an album called Black Sabbath, so you can Satan while you Satan while you Satan. [2]
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FKNA1 wrote:
all hail indeed the might tri-tone. It was once banned by the catholic church! {2} SPOKEN TRUTH BROTHERS & SISTERS; THOU SHALL NOT PLAY THE TRI-TONE OF SEDUCTION.
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paranoid001 wrote:
U JUST HAVE TOLOVE THE MAN OZZY.............
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OneHappychappy wrote:
Greatest band of all time, probably the greatest album by them and what an epic song!
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BIG-D313 wrote:
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath __________________ Big Black shape with eyes of FIRE... Telling people their DESIRE. Satan's sitting there, he's smiling. Watch those flames get higher and HIGHER!! Check out this cover >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcn8Wor9f0I -__ \m/.(><).\m/ __- WRAITH OF THE ROPES - BLACK SABBATH -__ \m/.(><).\m/ __-
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Makiki69 wrote:
HAIL TO BLACK SABBATH
Track Stats
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