Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Paranoid
Black Sabbath Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

Finished with my woman 'cause
She couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane because
I am frowning all the time

All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind
If I don't find something to pacify

Can you help me
Occupy my brain?
Oh yeah

I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make
True happiness, I must be blind

Make a joke and I will sigh
And you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel
And love to me is so unreal

And so as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it's too late

Overall Meaning

The first verse of "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath describes the narrator's break up with his girlfriend because she couldn't help with his mental state. He's constantly frowning and people think he's insane for it. The second verse explains that the narrator can't find satisfaction through anything and worries he'll lose his mind if he doesn't find something to soothe him. The chorus introduces the plea for help in occupying his brain and finding happiness in life. The third verse talks about how the narrator is blind to what makes true happiness and love seems unreal to him. The final verse reflects on the narrator's state and how he urges others to enjoy life despite not being able to himself.


The song describes the feeling of a person who's lost in their own thoughts and can't seem to find a way out. It speaks to the struggles of mental health and the hopelessness that comes with feeling like there's no escape. It's a cry for help from someone who's been pushed over the edge and needs someone to help them find their way back.


Line by Line Meaning

Finished with my woman 'cause
My relationship was causing more harm than good for my mental health, so I had to end it.


She couldn't help me with my mind
My partner wasn't able to provide me with the support and comfort I needed for my troubled thoughts.


People think I'm insane because
Due to my constant frowning and troubled thoughts, others perceive me as crazy.


I am frowning all the time
My worrisome and disturbed mental state causes me to wear a perpetual scowl.


All day long I think of things
My mind is continuously preoccupied with various thoughts and worries throughout the day.


But nothing seems to satisfy
Despite my constant thinking, I cannot seem to find any peace or contentment.


Think I'll lose my mind
I fear that if I cannot find a way to calm my troubled thoughts, I may go insane.


If I don't find something to pacify
I need to find some source of comfort or relief for my mental anguish.


Can you help me
I am reaching out to someone for assistance in finding peace and comfort.


Occupy my brain?
Can you provide me with something to occupy my mind and distract me from my worrisome thoughts?


I need someone to show me
I require guidance and direction from someone to help me find purpose and happiness.


The things in life that I can't find
I am unable to discover any meaning, fulfillment or purpose in my life.


I can't see the things that make
I am blind to the things in life that bring true happiness and joy.


True happiness, I must be blind
I am so lost in my own mental state that I am unable to recognize the things that bring happiness and fulfillment to others.


Make a joke and I will sigh
Even if someone tries to cheer me up or make me laugh, I cannot help but feel sad and disappointed.


And you will laugh and I will cry
You will enjoy the humor that I cannot see, and I will remain in a state of sadness.


Happiness I cannot feel
I am unable to experience any happiness or joy in my life.


And love to me is so unreal
Love seems impossible and unattainable to me due to my mental state.


And so as you hear these words
As you listen to my lament, I want you to understand the gravity of my thoughts and feelings.


Telling you now of my state
I'm sharing the current condition of my mental health with you.


I tell you to enjoy life
Despite my own struggles, I encourage you to find joy and fulfillment in your life.


I wish I could but it's too late
However, I cannot find that same enjoyment in life anymore due to my overwhelming mental anguish.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael Butler, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, William Ward

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Redstone Monster

Lyrics
Finished with my woman 'cause
She couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane because
I am frowning all the time
All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind
If I don't find something to pacify
Can you help me
Occupy my brain?
Oh yeah
I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make
True happiness, I must be blind
Make a joke and I will sigh
And you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel
And love to me is so unreal
And so as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it's too late



Сократ Мирный

Lyrics:
Finished with my woman cause
She couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane because
I am frowning all the time

All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind
If I don't find something to pacify

Can you help me
Occupy my brain?
Oh yeah!

I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make
True happiness, I must be blind

Make a joke and I will sigh
And you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel
And love to me is so unreal

And so as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it's too late.



kshitij waghmare

LYRICS:

Finished with my woman
'Cause she couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane
Because I am frowning all the time (come on out)
All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind
If I don't find something to pacify
Can you help me?
Occupy my brain
Oh, yeah (let me see your hands)
I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make true happiness
I must be blind
Alright, let me hear you, come on
Alright, show it then, come on
Louder, come on
You ain't fucking loud enough, come on
Come on
Now I've heard
Louder, come on, put your fucking balls into it
Alright
Make a joke and I will sigh
And you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel
And love to me is so unreal
And so as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could, but it's too late
Thank you, good night
You are the fuckin' coolest, man
I love you all
We love you, good night, God bless you



Allison S

@Juan Garces really? is it the tempo? I figure there are a few songs in every genre that almost everyone can't help but enjoy even if they generally don't like the genre, when it's a masterpiece, genre falls away.
Wrt Iron Maiden, I haven't heard any songs in particular that are immediately enjoyable. From what I recall, it is more so about thrashing and heavy drumming than anything else.

Yup. I just searched: "Iron Maiden's best song", and it gave me: "Hallowed Be Thy Name."
Pros
I like the concept and subject matter.
The beginning reminds me of Avenged Sevenfold, but then the song goes (for the non-genre aficionado) out of enjoyable bounds.
Cons
For example. the voice is super echo-y, it's an intended effect I realize, but to me, it doesn't feel as though the song had built up to that yet, and it's competing losing to the sound of the band.
If the prior can be forgiven, this is the part, which I first recalled about the genre as a barrier to mass enjoyment, 3 mins and 30 seconds of only guitar and drum features that don't follow a melody or any particular connection to the first half of the song.

tl;dr It sounds like instead of complimenting each other's sound and blending together to create a piece that is greater than the sum of its individual parts, the music of heavy metal is a competition between the band members, and vocals is in last place... (hmm maybe that's why he added the echo?) Perhaps if i played the guitar, I'd enjoy it more idk 🤷



All comments from YouTube:

leokimvideo

The birth of METAL

Niklas Eriksson

Metal had already been around a while when this came out. Metal started with their first album "Black Sabbath".

ryyyan

Dude, you’re everywhere

Herman Aksom

actually, it's a typical hard rock) - the same thing Zeppelin, Purple, Hedrix, Krimson, Who or Blue Cheer already practiced. That these first two albums inspired those guys who would develop hard rock into HM later in the second half of the 1970s - definitely maybe.

Herman Aksom

dayRman there was no such precise terminology that days: everybody called typical hard rock bands like Zeppelin, Purple, Sabbath or even Scorpions - heavy metal bands. Just like anything provocative like Kiss, Motley Crue, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Venom or Mercyful Fate were called black metalists and even satanists. People were so susceptible and unprepared back then.

Kenny Hall

No it's not!

459 More Replies...

Daffyboy

53 years old and still better than modern music

Igor Zalejski

True...

El Peluca

Music is subjective. There is no "better" or "worse"

Dario Lippi

@El Peluca True. But there is a reason why music from 60s and 70s is listened by millions today..

More Comments

More Videos