After previous iterations of the group – the Polka Tulk Blues Band and Earth – the band settled on the name Black Sabbath in 1969. They distinguished themselves through occult themes with horror-inspired lyrics and down-tuned guitars. Signing to Philips Records in November 1969, they released their first single, "Evil Woman", in January 1970, and their debut album, Black Sabbath, was released the following month. Though it received a negative critical response, the album was a commercial success, leading to a follow-up record, Paranoid, later that year. The band's popularity grew, and by 1973's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, critics were starting to respond favourably.
Osbourne's excessive substance abuse led to his firing in 1979. He was replaced by former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Following two albums with Dio, Black Sabbath endured many personnel changes in the 1980s and 1990s that included vocalists Ian Gillan, Glenn Hughes, Ray Gillen and Tony Martin, as well as several drummers and bassists. Martin, who replaced Gillan in 1987, was the second-longest serving vocalist and recorded three albums with Black Sabbath before his dismissal in 1991. That same year, Iommi and Butler were rejoined by Dio and drummer Vinny Appice to record Dehumanizer (1992). After two more studio albums with Martin, who replaced Dio in 1993, the band's original line-up reunited in 1997 and released a live album, Reunion, the following year; they continued to tour occasionally until 2005. Other than various back catalogue reissues and compilation albums, as well as the Mob Rules-era line-up reunited as Heaven & Hell, there was no further activity under the Black Sabbath until 2011 with the release of their final studio album and 19th overall, 13, in 2013, which features all of the original members except Ward. During their farewell tour, the band played their final concert in their home city of Birmingham on 4 February 2017. Occasional partial reunions have happened since, most recently when Osbourne and Iommi performed together at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Black Sabbath have sold over 70 million records worldwide as of 2013, making them one of the most commercially successful heavy metal bands. Black Sabbath, together with Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, have been referred to as the "unholy trinity of British hard rock and heavy metal in the early to mid-seventies". They were ranked by MTV as the "Greatest Metal Band of All Time" and placed second on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" list. Rolling Stone magazine ranked them number 85 on their "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Black Sabbath were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. They have also won two Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance, and in 2019 the band were presented a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sabbath
Studio albums
Black Sabbath (1970)
Paranoid (1970)
Master of Reality (1971)
Vol. 4 (1972)
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)
Sabotage (1975)
Technical Ecstasy (1976)
Never Say Die! (1978)
Heaven and Hell (1980)
Mob Rules (1981)
Born Again (1983)
Seventh Star (1986)
The Eternal Idol (1987)
Headless Cross (1989)
Tyr (1990)
Dehumanizer (1992)
Cross Purposes (1994)
Forbidden (1995)
13 (2013)
A Hard Road
Black Sabbath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
World still turns as Father Time looks on
On and on
Children playing, dreamers praying
Laughter turns to tear as love has gone
Has it gone?
Oh, it's a hard road
Oh, it's a hard road
Whirlwind churning, lovers learning
On this path of life we can't back down
Is it wrong?
Widows weeping, babies sleeping
Life becomes the singer and the song
Sing along
Oh, it's a hard road
Carry your own load
Why make the hard road?
Why can't we be friends?
No need to hurry
We'll meet in the end
Why make the hard road?
Why can't we be friends?
No need to worry
Let's sing it again
Brother's sharing, mother's caring
Nightime falling victim to the dawn
Shadows small
Days are crawling, time is calling
To the Earth that not that life has gone
Love line drawn
Oh, it's a hard road
Carry your own load
Oh, it's a hard road
Oh, it's a hard road...
We're living in sorrow, we're living the best
And look to the future, `cause life goes together now
We're living in sorrow, we're living the best
And look to the future, `cause life goes together now
We're living in sorrow, we're living the best
And look to the future, `cause life goes together now...
The lyrics to Black Sabbath's song A Hard Road certainly explore the difficult journey of life, as well as the various emotions and experiences that often accompany it. The opening lines of the song seem to suggest a sense of sadness and loss, with old men crying and young men dying while the world keeps turning. The repetition of "on and on" gives a sense of endlessness to this cycle of life and death. Children playing and dreamers praying may bring some joy, but ultimately love can slip away, leaving tears in its wake.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the hard road we must all travel in life, with a whirlwind of experiences that we must weather. Lovers may learn some difficult lessons along the way, as may widows weeping and babies sleeping peacefully in the face of tragedy. However, the singer urges us to carry our own load, even as life becomes both the singer and the song of our existence.
The final verse of the song suggests that there may be hope for connection and caring in the face of life's challenges. Brotherhood, motherhood, and even the daily transition from night to day can all bring moments of small comfort. And while the love line may be drawn and even erased through life's ups and downs, we can still carry on and look to the future with the knowledge that we all share this hard road together.
Line by Line Meaning
Old men crying, young men dying
As time passes, older people are heartbroken by the loss of their loved ones while younger people die before they can fully experience life.
World still turns as Father Time looks on
The world keeps moving despite the hardships and pain experienced by people, as they age and time continues to pass.
On and on
Life goes on, with or without us.
Children playing, dreamers praying
Amidst life's troubles, children are still innocent and dreamers are still trying to find hope and inspiration for a better future.
Laughter turns to tear as love has gone
The joy and happiness of love can quickly turn to sadness and tears when it is lost.
Has it gone?
The singer questions whether love has truly left or if there is still a chance for it to return.
Oh, it's a hard road
Life is difficult and full of challenges.
Whirlwind churning, lovers learning
Life's tumultuous nature can be a learning experience for those in love, as they navigate the ups and downs of their relationship.
On this path of life we can't back down
Life is a journey that must be continued, and there's no going back once we have started on this path.
Is it wrong?
The singer questions the morality of persevering through life's struggles and hardships.
Widows weeping, babies sleeping
Amidst life's sorrows, there are still moments of peace and tranquility, such as when babies are sleeping.
Life becomes the singer and the song
Life is full of experiences and emotions that can be expressed through music and become a part of our stories and memories.
Sing along
The singer invites the listeners to join in and experience life together, through its joys and sorrows.
Carry your own load
Each person must take responsibility for their own life and struggles, and find a way to persevere and carry on.
Why make the hard road?
The singer questions why life must be so difficult and full of challenges.
Why can't we be friends?
The singer wonders why people can't come together and support each other, despite their differences and struggles.
No need to hurry
There's no need to rush through life or to feel like we must have everything figured out right away.
We'll meet in the end
Eventually, we will all come to the end of our journey, and hopefully find peace and closure.
Brother's sharing, mother's caring
Amidst life's difficulties, family members can still support and care for each other, creating a sense of community and love.
Nighttime falling victim to the dawn
Dark times and struggles will eventually give way to brighter days and new opportunities.
Shadows small
Even in the darkest moments, there is still hope and light.
Days are crawling, time is calling
As we age and time passes, life seems to slow down while we are constantly reminded that our time on this Earth is limited.
To the Earth that not that life has gone
In the end, our lives and struggles will return to the Earth, but hopefully we will have made a positive impact and left behind a legacy of love and kindness.
Love line drawn
Love is a powerful force that connects all of us, and can even transcend life and death.
We're living in sorrow, we're living the best
Despite life's difficulties and sorrows, we must still try to make the most of every day and appreciate the good things in life.
And look to the future, `cause life goes together now
We must keep moving forward and face the future with optimism and hope, knowing that life is meant to be lived together.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANTHONY IOMMI, JOHN OSBOURNE, TERENCE BUTLER, WILLIAM WARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ferenc Zakharides
on Sweet Leaf
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