Iron Man
Bill Ward/Ozzy Osbourne/Terence Butler/Tony Iommi Lyrics


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I am Iron Man

Come on let's go fuck you up
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh

Has he lost his mind?
Can he see or is he blind?
Can he walk at all?
Or if he moves will he fall?
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Is he alive or dead?
Has he thoughts within his head?
We'll just pass him there
Why should we even care?

Come on you fuckers

God bless you all
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh

He was turned to steel
In the great magnetic field
Where he traveled time
For the future of mankind

Nobody wants him
They just turn their head

Nobody helps him
Now he waits in regret
I wanna hear everybody now, come on

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh

Now the time is here
For Iron Man to spread fear
Vengeance from the grave
Kills the people he once saved

Nobody wants him
They just turn their head

Nobody helps him
So he waits in regret

Alright let's see a fucking wild call
Come on




Come on
Go fucking crazy

Overall Meaning

The song "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath, is a bleak tale of a man who has been abandoned by society and turned into a machine, devoid of emotions and purpose. The lyrics ponder on whether he is still alive or dead, and whether he even has thoughts in his head. The singer is perceived as a freak by the society around him, and he struggles to find acceptance or understanding. The lyrics reflect on the nature of humanity, and the potential for society to ostracize individuals who do not conform to societal norms.


The song was a political statement on the Vietnam War, and it was written from the perspective of a soldier who returns home from the war, only to find himself rejected and unwanted. The character in the song is a metaphor for the disillusionment and alienation that veterans experienced after the war. The lyrics are also a commentary on how society marginalizes those who are different or do not fit its standards. They reflect the isolation and horror that the character experiences, as he is left to wander alone in a world that has no place for him.


"Iron Man" was a hit for Black Sabbath, and it is still one of their most famous songs. It has been covered by numerous bands, and it has become a staple of classic rock radio. The song's distinctive riff, which was created by guitarist Tony Iommi, has been recognized as one of the greatest riffs of all time. The song's lyrics have inspired numerous interpretations, and they continue to resonate with audiences today.


Line by Line Meaning

I am Iron Man
I am the singer of the song and I take pride in my identity as Iron Man.


Come on let's go fuck you up
I challenge you to a battle or competition, and I am confident that I will emerge victorious.


Oh, oh, oh, oh
These are background vocals that emphasize the mood of the song.


Has he lost his mind?
There is concern that Iron Man has gone crazy or become delusional.


Can he see or is he blind?
There is uncertainty about Iron Man's ability to perceive his environment.


Can he walk at all?
It is unclear whether Iron Man can walk or move normally.


Or if he moves will he fall?
There is speculation that Iron Man is unstable and may fall or collapse if he tries to move.


Is he alive or dead?
There is a question about whether Iron Man is still alive or has died.


Has he thoughts within his head?
It is unknown whether Iron Man is capable of thought or reasoning.


We'll just pass him there
Other people have no interest in helping or engaging with Iron Man and may ignore him altogether.


Why should we even care?
There may be little motivation for people to care about or assist Iron Man in his endeavors.


God bless you all
These are words of gratitude or well-wishes from Iron Man to the people who support him.


He was turned to steel
Iron Man has become a figure of strength, resilience, and toughness due to some transformation or augmentation.


In the great magnetic field
The transformation that turned Iron Man to steel may have involved exposure to a magnetic field.


Where he traveled time
Iron Man may have experienced some kind of time travel or dimensional shift in his transformation.


For the future of mankind
Iron Man's transformation may represent a sacrifice or commitment on his part to benefit humanity as a whole.


Nobody wants him
Despite his transformation, Iron Man may be seen as an outcast or reject by society.


They just turn their head
People may ignore or shun Iron Man because he is different or intimidating.


Nobody helps him
Iron Man may struggle to find allies or support in his mission.


Now the time is here
Iron Man believes that the current moment is crucial or opportune for him to act or execute his plans.


For Iron Man to spread fear
Iron Man may want to assert his dominance or influence by instilling fear in his adversaries.


Vengeance from the grave
Iron Man may be seeking revenge on those who wronged him in the past or who pose a threat to him now.


Kills the people he once saved
Iron Man may have a conflicted relationship with his legacy as a hero or protector, and he may turn against those he previously helped.


Alright let's see a fucking wild call
Iron Man is encouraging his fans or supporters to demonstrate their enthusiasm and passion for his mission.


Come on
This is an exhortation to take action or engage in a certain behavior or activity.


Go fucking crazy
Iron Man wants people to act with abandon or intensity in support of his goals.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Terence Michael Butler, Anthony Frank Iommi, John Michael Osbourne, William Ward

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@jgc2398

Lyrics:
I am iron man
Has he lost his mind?
Can he see or is he blind?
Can he walk at all
Or if he moves will he fall?
Is he alive or dead?
Has he thoughts within his head?
We'll just pass him there
Why should we even care?
He was turned to steel
In the great magnetic field
Where he traveled time
For the future of mankind
Nobody wants him
He just stares at the world
Planning his vengeance
That he will soon unfold
Now the time is here
For iron man to spread fear
Vengeance from the grave
Kills the people he once saved
Nobody wants him
They just turn their heads
Nobody helps him
Now he has his revenge
Heavy boots of lead
Fills his victims full of dread
Running as fast as they can
Iron man lives again



All comments from YouTube:

@sebastianfitzptraick7395

Geezer Butler’s bass sounds absolutely massive on this version.

@RandyRhoadsRules3

One of the greatest bassists of all time.

@pbassman99

Best tremolo picker ever. No ones changing my mind on that

@ofhg1902

@Oscar Fox ???

@derekhodge2289

I was just about to comment on how much that subtle fuzz tone is getting to me right now.

@paulrichardson3932

Yeah, for once I can hear it. I feel like it’s always way too low when i listen to the albums

2 More Replies...

@doctormanhattan7346

I love the fact that Sabbath in the early days pretty much dressed like hippies with all that flower power image only to play this intense and heavy music almost unheard of at the time which was also a stark contrast to their "make love not war" image.

@johnnynick3621

Take a listen to Blue Cheer. Some might say they were the first real heavy Metal Band. Deep Purple is also one of the contenders for that title.

@scootinand

They were called "Earth" at one point but there was another band with that name and someone hired Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill expecting something a bit less intense and people fled in fear upon hearing what must have legit sounded like the devil back in the day.

@samairth8662

War pigs is a total hippie song

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