Black Sabbath was an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham, Warwick… Read Full Bio ↴Black Sabbath was an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham, Warwickshire in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. They are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music. The band helped define the genre with releases such as Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970) and Master of Reality (1971). The band had multiple line-up changes following Osbourne's departure in 1979 and Iommi is the only constant member throughout their history.

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)

Born To Lose
Black Sabbath Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'll play your game
But if you lose you're gonna have to pay the price
Broken chains, like a prisoner free at last
The fear inside just up and died
Time will tell if i am wrong
It won't be too long
You thing I'm chasing shadows
In the dark

Well I'm not born to lose
I'm not born to lose
You curse my name, as you turn and walk away, from view
It won't be too long
You don't scare me 'cause you're
Hard to see and it's time
That you were gone
It won't be too long
You think I'm chasing shadows
In the dark
Well I'm not born to lose
You think I'm chasing shadows
In the dark
What you gonna do about it now
What you gonna do about it now
It won't be too long
It won't be too long
It won't be too long
You think I'm chasing shadows
In the dark
What you gonna do about it now

What you gonna do about it now
Ain't nothing I can do about it now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Black Sabbath’s song Born to Lose speak of a protagonist who is unwilling to give up despite the odds stacked against them. The individual is playing a game with an opponent, who threatens them with dire consequences if they lose. However, the singer is not afraid; they are already free from the chains that bound them, and they refuse to submit to their opponent's threats. Even though others may curse them or try to intimidate them, the singer remains resolute and refuses to be defeated. They know that time will tell if they are right or wrong, but they are willing to take the risk.

The chorus of the song repeats the message that the singer is not born to lose. They do not believe that they are chasing shadows in the dark or that they will be defeated. The repetition of the phrase "It won't be too long" suggests that the singer is confident that they will emerge victorious from their struggles. They taunt their opponent, saying that they are hard to see, and it is time for them to go. The repeated question, "What you gonna do about it now," indicates that the singer is not only unafraid but also daring their opponent to try to defeat them.

Overall, Born to Lose is a song about resilience and perseverance. The singer may face challenges, but they refuse to give up, and they believe that they are destined for success. The song's lyrics may resonate with listeners who are facing their own struggles and inspire them to keep fighting for what they believe in.

Line by Line Meaning

I'll play your game
I will go along with your plan or request.

But if you lose you're gonna have to pay the price
If your plan fails, you will have to face the consequences.

Broken chains, like a prisoner free at last
Feeling liberated from restraints, like a prisoner who has just broken free.

The fear inside just up and died
The fear or apprehension previously felt has suddenly vanished.

Time will tell if I am wrong
Only time will reveal if my decisions or actions were incorrect.

It won't be too long
This outcome or revelation will happen relatively soon.

You think I'm chasing shadows In the dark
You believe my efforts or pursuits are futile or misguided.

Well, I'm not born to lose
I am not destined or predisposed towards failure.

You curse my name, as you turn and walk away, from view
As you leave my sight or presence, you express anger or resentment towards me.

You don't scare me 'cause you're Hard to see and it's time That you were gone
You do not intimidate me because you are elusive, and it's best for you to leave or depart.

What you gonna do about it now
What action or response will you take in response to our situation?

It won't be too long
This situation will be resolved shortly.

Ain't nothing I can do about it now
I am unable to alter or affect the current state of affairs.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TONY IOMMI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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