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)
Am I Going Insane
Black Sabbath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feeling paranoid inside
When I step outside I'll feel free
Think I'll find a place to hide
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
Every day I sit and wonder
How my life it used to be
Now I feel I'm going under
Now my life is hard to see
So tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
So I'm telling all you people
Listen while I sing again
If I don't sound very cheerful
I think that I'm a schizophrenic
So, tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
The lyrics to Black Sabbath's "Am I Going Insane" reflect the feeling of paranoia and uncertainty that can come with mental illness. The singer of the song is experiencing a sense of detachment from the world around them and feels like they are losing their grip on reality. The lines "Every day I sit and wonder, how my life it used to be, now I feel I'm going under, now my life is hard to see" convey a sense of loss and confusion, as if the singer is struggling to keep their head above water.
The repeated refrain of "tell me people, am I going insane?" highlights the anxieties that come with not knowing whether one's experiences are rooted in reality or not. Even the title of the song refers to the fear of losing one's mind. The singer seems to be asking for reassurance, but the fact that they are posing the question to a group of people suggests that they are not confident in their own perceptions.
The final lines of the song, "If I don't sound very cheerful, I think that I'm a schizophrenic," provide a possible diagnosis for the singer's inner turmoil. However, the ambiguity of the lyrics leaves it up to the listener to decide whether the singer is actually experiencing mental illness or simply feeling overwhelmed and lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's looking at me
I feel as though everyone is watching me
Feeling paranoid inside
I have an intense feeling of anxiety and suspicion
When I step outside I'll feel free
Leaving my current place makes me feel less anxious
Think I'll find a place to hide
I plan on finding a secluded place where I can be alone
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
I am seeking validation from others about my mental state
Every day I sit and wonder
I am constantly contemplating my existence
How my life it used to be
I am reminiscing about my life before my mental state deteriorated
Now I feel I'm going under
I feel as though I am losing control of my mind
Now my life is hard to see
My current mental state is making it difficult to understand my own life
So I'm telling all you people
I am addressing others about my mental state
Listen while I sing again
I am using music as an avenue to express my struggles
If I don't sound very cheerful
My music may not reflect a happy demeanor
I think that I'm a schizophrenic
I believe I may be suffering from schizophrenia
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
I am still looking for affirmation regarding my mental state
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
I am still seeking validation about whether or not I am losing my mind
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
I am repeating my plea for validation, indicating my deep concern about my mental state
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
I am feeling unsure and scared about the state of my mind
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL BUTLER, OZZY OSBOURNE, TONY IOMMI, WILLIAM WARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@niceto_meet_you2528
Everybody's looking at me
Feeling paranoid inside
When I step outside I'll feel free
Think I'll find a place to hide
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
Every day I sit and wonder
How my life it used to be
Now I feel I'm going under
Now my life is hard to see
So tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
So I'm telling all you people
Listen while I sing again
If I don't sound very cheerful
I think that I'm a schizophrenic
So, tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?
@davidrubio9753
I became a fan of Black Sabbath when I bought Master of Reality. After that I bought every album they recorded. This album is epic.
@lisaparsons4124
Yes I agree 💯 a awesome group and album
@Fortwentt
became a fan in 1970 with 1st album, they are the godfathera to me
@Cjnw
Epic 🍓 eper!
@clay_book
Real! I love many its music. I writer part my book listen song last now. Black Sabbath are nice!
@karenglenn6707
One of the first albums I bought with my own money as a teenager. Still have it under my bed in my treasure box. This is my favourite song.
@MetalMan2k
Mine Too. My Favorite Black Sabbath song..It relates to me so much.
@gargaroththedevourer917
karen glenn
@bernhardherrmann6430
Hi Karen! VERY GOOD !! O:-)
@moiraclark7862
Yes - it's very good.