Perry Mason by Ozzy Osbourne

Album: Ozzmosis (1995)

Charted: 23

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This song is about the fictional lawyer Perry Mason. The character was introduced in a book series written in the 1930s by Erle Stanley Gardner, and was made into a TV series that ran from 1957 to 1966 starring Raymond Burr.
Ozzy's guitarist Zakk Wylde and keyboard player John Sinclair wrote the music. In a Songfacts interview with Wylde, he explained how it came together: "John was just jamming on it. It's like, 'John, what's that, man, that's cool?' So, I started playing along with him. We started with that and then and said, 'Let's do something like that.' And then we did the climb up and then I took on doing the climb and then I had that riff. Then Ozzy was like, 'Oh, cool, man, let me sing something on that,' and then Oz just started singing. That's pretty much how they all come about."

Comments: 12

Tfiagkua from CaliforniaBest song ever. Zak rules!
Cavin Walker from Living RoomCome on, you people need to get out more often. If you’d quit trying to analyze, you would enjoy it so much more.
PeachSplat-It is Geezer playing bass on it.
Tombotombo from UkWhen the Ozzmosis album came out, Ozzy said in some interviews this song was about watching Perry Mason reruns in rehab, as the rehab he stayed in had it playing on TV every day.
John From Delaware from DelawareLol, at someone cherry picking a couple lines that sound like they might be something else, and saying "drugs", which is the laziest song meaning answer given on sites like this.

But ignoring the part about the gun, and about needing Perry Mason on the case.

The song is about Perry Mason. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Will from Montreal, Qc@Splat, based on the Wikipedia page, it seems that Mike Inez initially played the bass line, but it was re-recorded by Geezer after the line-up change. When they went on tour Butler played bass, but left before the end. Inez cames back to fill in until Robert Trujillo joined near the end of the tour.
Ken from CaliforniaDoes anyone know who the little girl is in the video? is it Kelly Osbourne?
Scott from ArizonaIt's not about drugs. The "painted horses" refer to the horses on a carousel, which kids love to ride. The song was written for the Perry Mason (fictional lawyer) movie. I don't know about the rest of the commenters but I was alive when it came out.
Jodie from XxThis song is about drugs and drug addiction. Just listen to the lyrics.

Riding painted horses,
How they love the wind to blow
Draw me a line
Feelin fine

All references to cocaine.

Wake me when it's over
Tell me it's alright
Just keep on talking baby
I've been doing this all night.
How much did you give me?
Tell me it'll be alright.

He is clearly overdosing at this part.
Jg from Joppa, MdThis song is not about the fictional lawyer.
The lyrics indicate drug addiction.
Jorge from Bronx, NyI love this song from beggining to end,awesome sound!
Splat from Williamsville, DeThe synthesized strings play the Perry Mason theme at the beginning of the song. The bass riff during the chorus is amazing! (Is that Geezer Butler or Mike Inez playing bass?)

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Eyes Without A FaceBilly Idol

Billy Idol's "Eyes Without A Face" has a gruesome inspiration. It's based on a 1959 French movie about a surgeon who abducts young women and removes their facial features.

Talkin' Hawkin'Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd's "Talkin' Hawkin'" uses a sample of Stephen Hawking's synthesized voice taken from a speech he made for a 1994 British Telecom commercial.

Man In The BoxAlice in Chains

Jerry Cantrell used a talkbox to create the warbling vocal effect on the Alice in Chains song "Man In The Box."

Gangnam StylePsy

The K-pop hit "Gangnam Style" became the most-viewed video in YouTube history months after it was released in 2012, a title it held until "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa overtook it in 2017.