Electric Funeral by Black Sabbath

Album: Paranoid (1970)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This song is about a nuclear holocaust. It's one of several songs on the Paranoid album with an apocalyptic tone. >>
Suggestion credit:
Chris - Philly, PA
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi explains that the band would often play any given song in lots of different ways, but once they recorded a version in the studio, any quirks and oddities of the recording dictated how they played it from then on. In his book Iron Man: My Journey through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath, Iommi writes, "When we recorded 'Electric Funeral'... Bill would play it differently every bloody time. He didn't know how many times to come in, and at certain parts he plays three instead of four. [in the studio] we kept the three. And to this day we still play it that way."

Comments: 9

Stoney Cardin from Florida Us Of APearson from Hamm I don't like horror movies .,. So I do not watch them......The world is about to be like this Hope you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior cause I'm riding back with my Savior Jesus Christ and we are gone destroy everything that hasnt accepted the simple salvation of Christ and make holy city of Jerusalem turn into gold, and spend eternity in paradise if you didn't know......like this song alot myself and Iron Man is about present much the same thing. Godbless save yourself.
@cindy from NoIt is my first song learned on gutair!
Thomas Trobaugh from Usa Sioux City IaIt’s great that the meaning is influenced by the band.
Reply: Pearson From Hamm from EverywhereYou don't have to like it but in a way it kind of hypotheses a bunch of events that the most deadly animals ever, us humans, are completely capable of and would not surprise me if this song actually came to fruition
Pearson from HammI don’t like this song
Because it talks about the entire world being destroyed and the sun melting and the moon crashing into earth
And robots walking to an atomic cemetery
And eyes melting into blood and buildings crashing down
Cindy from Pure DeliriumMy first learned Sabbath song on the guitar. Sabbath freakin Rules!!!
Gavin from LouisianaI know one of the big effects used is called "wah wah", if that helps.
Scott from Mdub, TxI thought this was going to tell me what effects are used on the guitar and vox?
Gabe from Borger, Txgod this song is awesome! i walked into my 6th hour class and my teacher was playing this and i heard the end and couldn't bear to not know the beginning

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Joy To The WorldThree Dog Night

Hoyt Axton wrote the Three Dog Night hit "Joy To The World." He said the "Jeremiah was a bullfrog" line just came into his head after having a drink of wine.

Hey Soul SisterTrain

Train's guitarist had to Google an instructional video to learn how to play the ukulele for "Hey Soul Sister."

American PieDon McLean

Don McLean's "American Pie" starts in mono and gradually goes to stereo. It isn't full stereo until the end of the song, which is over 8 minutes long.

Born To Be WildSteppenwolf

The first popular song to use the phrase "Heavy Metal" was "Born To Be Wild" by Steppenwolf, which was featured in the movie Easy Rider.

All StarSmash Mouth

"All Star" was written as a confidence builder for fans who were bullied for liking Smash Mouth.

Puff Daddy didn't get permission to sample the Police song "Every Breath You Take" on his Notorious B.I.G. tribute "I'll Be Missing You," but he later reached an agreement and even performed the song with Sting.