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)
Back Street Kids
Black Sabbath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rock 'n Roll music is the only thing I really dig
Can't stop the music going round inside my head
I'm a rock 'n roll soldier, gonna play it until I'm dead
Nobody I know is gonna take my rock 'n roll away from me
Sitting in the back seat of a shiny limousine
Living in a taxi can't remember where I've been
Writing about the stars and thinking about the hand of doom
Nobody I know is gonna take my rock 'n roll away from me
Living life comes easy if you know which way you're going
Got to see yourself in other's eye's, surprised?
Living like I want to don't come easy, but I'm trying
Sorting out what's true and what are lies, it's wise
Brought up in a back street living with the salt of the land
Seems that now my music's paying off my tax demands
So listen to the music, want to see you get so high
'Cause I'm a back street rocker and I will be till the day I die
Nobody I know is gonna take my rock 'n roll away from me
The song "Back Street Kids" by Black Sabbath is a dedication to the rock 'n roll lifestyle. The singer describes himself as a "back street kid" who loves rock 'n roll music and won't let anyone take it away from him. He's a "rock 'n roll soldier" and he's going to play it until he's dead. He finds himself sitting in the back seat of a limousine, not really remembering where he's been but he knows that playing his music in his hotel room is his true passion. The singer acknowledges that living the life he wants isn't easy, but he's trying his best to sort out what's true and what are lies. He was brought up in a back street living with the salt of the land, but now his music is paying off his tax demands. He wants his audience to listen to his music and get high with him. The song is a celebration of the rock 'n roll lifestyle, with the singer being proud of his roots but also enjoying the fruits of his labor.
One interesting fact about "Back Street Kids" is that it was released in 1978 as part of the "Never Say Die!" album. This was the last album to feature the original lineup of Black Sabbath until they reunited in 1998. Another interesting fact is that the song features a prominent use of synthesizer, which was not a typical instrument used by Black Sabbath in their earlier works. Additionally, the album "Never Say Die!" was not a commercial success, which led to tensions among the band members and ultimately the departure of Ozzy Osbourne. The original title of the song was "Lost In The Crowd," but it was eventually changed to "Back Street Kids." The song has been covered by several other bands, including Split Heaven, Dirty Deeds, and Carcass. Many fans and critics feel that this song is an underrated gem in Black Sabbath's discography.
Chords (not official):
Intro: E5
Verse: E5 A5
Chorus: B5 A5 E5
Bridge: C5 G5 E5 B5 A5
Note: The song is in E minor pentatonic scale.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just another back street kid
I am an ordinary person who grew up in a humble background.
Rock 'n Roll music is the only thing I really dig
I have a deep passion for rock and roll music.
Can't stop the music going round inside my head
My love for music is so intense that I can't stop thinking about it.
I'm a rock 'n roll soldier, gonna play it until I'm dead
I am dedicated to playing rock and roll music for as long as I live.
Nobody I know is gonna take my rock 'n roll away from me
I am determined to hold onto my love for rock and roll music, no matter what anyone else thinks.
Sitting in the back seat of a shiny limousine
Despite my humble beginnings, I am now successful and able to afford luxurious things like limousines.
Living in a taxi can't remember where I've been
My success has had me travelling a lot and sometimes it's hard to keep track of everywhere I have been.
Playing my music, sitting in my hotel room
Even while on the road, I still make time for playing and creating music.
Writing about the stars and thinking about the hand of doom
I find inspiration in the lofty subject of the cosmos, while also acknowledging inevitable negative outcomes.
Living life comes easy if you know which way you're going
Life is easier when you have a clear direction and purpose.
Got to see yourself in other's eye's, surprised?
It is important to see oneself objectively through the eyes of others, it can be surprising and enlightening.
Living like I want to don't come easy, but I'm trying
It's difficult to live life on one's own terms, but I'm making an effort to do so.
Sorting out what's true and what are lies, it's wise
It's important to distinguish between truth and falsehoods, and doing so is wise.
Brought up in a back street living with the salt of the land
I grew up in a working-class neighborhood, with strong ties to my community.
Seems that now my music's paying off my tax demands
My music has made me financially successful, and I am able to pay my taxes with it.
So listen to the music, want to see you get so high
I want people to enjoy my music and be taken to new heights by it.
'Cause I'm a back street rocker and I will be till the day I die
I am a rock and roll musician at heart, and I will always identify as one.
Nobody I know is gonna take my rock 'n roll away from me
I refuse to let anyone take away my love for rock and roll music, it is an integral part of my identity.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Butler Osborne, Iommi Ward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ferenc Zakharides
on Sweet Leaf
black sabbath a legnagyobb kedvenc super music