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

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."