Album: Paranoid (1970)

License This Song 

• Whatcha gonna do?
  Time's caught up with you
  Now you wait your turn
  You know there's no return
  
  Take your written rules
  You join the other fools
  Turn to something new
  Now it's killing you
  
  First it was the bomb
  Vietnam napalm
  Disillusioning
  You push the needle in
  
  From life you escape
  Reality's that way
  Colors in your mind
  Satisfy your time
  
  Oh you, you know you must be blind
  To do something like this
  To take the sleep that you don't know
  You're giving death a kiss, oh, little fool now
  
  Your mind is full of pleasure
  Your body's looking ill
  To you it's shallow leisure
  So drop the acid pill,
  
  Don't stop to think now
  
  You're having a good time baby
  But that won't last
  Your mind's all full of things
  You're living too fast
  
  Go out enjoy yourself
  Don't bottle it in
  You need someone to help you
  To stick the needle in, yeah
  
  Now you know the scene
  Your skin starts turning green
  Your eyes no longer seeing
  Life's reality
  
  Push the needle in,
  Face death's sickly grin
  Holes are in your skin,
  Caused by deadly pin
  
  Head starts spinning 'round
  You fall down to the ground
  Feel your body heave
  Death's hands starts to weave
  
  It's too late to turn
  You don't want to learn
  Price of life you cry
  Now you're gonna die Writer/s: Michael Butler, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, William Ward
  Publisher: Audiam, Inc., BMG Rights Management, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., T.R.O. INC.
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 11

• Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganI always thought it was, "From life you escape, reality's black pain."? IDK...
• Daniel from Buenos Aires,argentinaA stoned man can not do much an less make music (John Lennon said once). And it is a great piece of music. I think it is not about drugs apology but about a Vietnam veteran drama.
• Loretta Carleton from Ontario, Canada I fell in love with Black Sabbath when I started to really listen to the lyrics and how they effected my life. I'm also impressed with the bands attitude towards all the corruption and evil that's being forced on the people!! They r like our protectors and rebels who automatically have r backs by exposing the idiots responsible for this mess!! They have the stage and the voice to make a difference.
• Rob from San Antonio, TexasDoes everyone appreciate the irony of Ozzy singing an anti-drug song?
  
  And yes, the song is about the rampant drug addiction of Vietnam vets. “First it was the bombs, Vietnam napalm”
• Jason from Aurora, CoI heard that the song was about drug use by soldiers during the Vietnam war.
• Rob from Amsterdam, Nydoes anyone realize the drumming in this song i mean this is 1970 one of the first hip hop beats...sick
• Christian from Oslo, Norwayagree with you all, this is an anti-drug song... and yes, it's about vietnam veterans, though it might be inspired by needles found after concerts...
  anyway, awesome song!
• Craig Lee from Valdosta, Ga"Hand of Doom" is about drug use effects on VietNam veterans. It mentions both herion and LSD.
• Lydia from Auckland, New Zealandsomeone actually thought this song was promoting drug use?
  just listen to the mocking tone Ozzy sings it in - I think it's sad
• Neil from Liverpool, U.k., EnglandI agree with the above comments entirely, and the idiots of the world thought this song was promoting smack use....fools...this and 'fairies wear boots' simply have to be warnings against excessive drug use....cretins who thought they were adverts for drugs were just simply justifying their own sad habits. And..if you have to be on drugs in order to enjoy Sabbath's music.....as Ozzy sings on 'Snowblind'....you're the one thats really the loser!
• Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesCited by Jello Biafra along with "The Pusher" as one of the most anti-drug songs ever recorded.

More Songfacts:

Freak On A LeashKorn

Korn's most popular song, "Freak On A Leash," is about their predatory record label making huge profits off the band. It was quite profitable, helping the Follow The Leader album sell over 5 million copies.

Shot In The DarkOzzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne's "Shot In The Dark" is titled after a Pink Panther movie.

The WeightThe Band

In The Band song "The Weight," Nazareth ("Went down to Nazareth") refers to a town in Pennsylvania where the Martin Guitar company was located.

VoodooGodsmack

The line, "I feel the snakebite enter my veins," led many to believe the Godsmack song "Voodoo" is about drugs, but it's really about Wiccan ritual, inspired in part by the Wes Craven movie The Serpent and the Rainbow.

Right RoundFlo Rida

An unknown Kesha (known then as Ke$ha) sang on Flo-Rida's #1 hit "Right Round," but refused to appear in the video because she wanted to make a name for herself.

SOSRihanna

A section of verse lyrics in Rihanna's "SOS" is made up of titles from '80s hits - check out the part that starts, "Take me on, I could just die up in your arms tonight."

Editor's Picks

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

Grateful Dead CharactersMusic Quiz

Many unusual folks appear in Grateful Dead songs. Can you identify them?

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."