Supernaut

Album: Vol. 4 (1972)

Songfacts®:

  • A track on Black Sabbath's conveniently named fourth album, Vol. 4, this one is popular with several famous musicians: Beck and Frank Zappa have both mentioned "Supernaut" for its awesome guitar riff written by Tony Iommi.
  • Ozzy Osbourne was Black Sabbath's vocalist at this time, but their lyricist was their bass player, Geezer Butler. On "Supernaut," the theme is escapism, with a touch of fantasy. The character in the song been through magic and lived a thousand years.
  • The title doesn't show up in the lyric, and the song doesn't have a chorus - it doesn't need one with Tony Iommi's guitar riff clearing the path.
  • In a Songfacts interview with Tony Iommi, he talked about writing this song. "I had a wah-wah going and started playing this riff, which was 'Supernaut,'" he said. "Everybody liked it, and we made it into the song."

    "That's how we always went about the Sabbath stuff," he added. "I always played something and the others would have to go, 'Oh, I like that.' If nobody said anything about it, we'd just carry on and do something else. It always had to be somebody going, 'Oh, I really like that,' because I can keep playing riffs."
  • Sometime (no one knows when) and someplace (nobody knows where), this song became seed for one of rock's great unrecorded, mythical events - a Black Sabbath/Led Zeppelin jam session. Memories conflict as to the details, but all agree that the jam happened. Sabbath drummer Bill Ward recalls that it came together because Zeppelin drummer John Bonham loved "Supernaut," so the groups met while Sabbath were in studio working on an album (no one can recall which album) and jammed on it. Nothing was recorded, no notes were taken, but the moment lives on in the realm of rock and roll legend.

Comments: 4

  • Bmh from ConnecticutOne of their best songs, the guitar after the break just rips. Hard to explain why this song is so great to pop listeners, but if you get it, you get it.
  • Slayerdude6977 from Elkhart, In UsaThis is Sabbath at their finest! Bills powerful drums...Geezers pounding hypnotic bass line...Lord Iommis guitar riff and Ozzys vox! What's not to love!?
  • Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganC'mon man! Only one comment on this awesome song? Personally, it's my favorite Sabbath song it's high-energy, unlike most of their other songs (although I do love their slow, dirge-y stuff, too), and it's basically about being a free spirit, living life the way you want to and not letting anyone tell you what to do. I also love the drums! The album and tour was when Bill first added that second bass drum to his kit, and he'd do an awesome drum solo during live performances of this song. I think Bill Ward is way underrated and his skills were overlooked among the John Bonhams and Keith Moons of the era.
  • Jason from Aurora, CoI love the riff for this song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.