Nightmare

Album: The Eternal Idol (1987)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi wrote "Nightmare" when he was asked to write a song for the soundtrack to the horror movie A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, which explains the lyric about meeting the devil in a dream within a dream. Tony wanted to be involved with the film, but his management held out for more money and the filmmakers backed off. Black Sabbath ended up using it on their album The Eternal Idol.
  • The Eternal Idol was Black Sabbath's 13th studio album, and their first with lead singer Tony Martin, who was with the band for five albums, leaving in 1997 when Ozzy Osbourne returned to the fold. Bass player Bob Daisley wrote most of the lyrics on the album, as Iommi wasn't impressed with what Martin came up with. "He assumed, oh, Black Sabbath, it's all about the Devil, so his lyrics were full of the Devil and Satan," he explained in his book Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven And Hell With Black Sabbath. "It was too much in your face."

    Martin did more writing on their next album, Headless Cross.
  • Dokken ended up contributing the title song to A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. The song was called "Dream Warriors" per directive of the movie studio.

Comments: 1

  • Paul Phillips from ScotlandTony Martin didn’t write the lyrics for The Eternal Idol that was Bob Daisley. Tony Martin was brought in at the last minute when the original vocalist on the album Ray Gillen left and re-recorded all the vocals making no lyrical changes.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.