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)
Master Of Insanity
Black Sabbath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't you open your eyes
Voices are calling
Killing rain falling down from the sky
Crying with nightmare tears
Out on the street
Cities are burning
Feeling the pain cutting right to your soul
Goodbye now
You're caught in his spell
Your freedom is gone
He's taken everything
You ever had
But if you're strong you'll survive
You've got to hold on
Open your eyes
[Chorus]
Behind the lies you will see
The master of insanity
Under the mask there will be
The master of insanity
Innocent minds
They're the victims of shame
Staring in sorrow
Promises lying there
Broken and crushed
Confusion-just disappear
What can you give
To be left all alone
When there's nothing at all
Your freedom is gone
He's taken everything
You ever had
But if you're strong you'll survive
You've got to hold on
Open your eyes
[Chorus]
Behind the lies you will find
He's trying to get inside you
Just open your eyes and you will see
The master of insanity
[Chorus]
Between the lies you will find
that he's trying to get inside you
Out of the night into your mind
He's always right beside you
Yeah, between the lies you will see
The master of insanity
Open your eyes or you will be
The master of insanity
The song "Master of Insanity" by Black Sabbath is a warning against falling victim to the tricks and manipulations of a master manipulator. In the verse, the lyrics describe the destruction and chaos that this person causes, from the cities that burn to the blood on the ground. The chorus serves as a warning to those who may be taken in by their lies and false promises- that they will become a victim of the master of insanity. The bridge then warns that this person is always trying to get inside your mind, but if you open your eyes, you will be able to see the truth.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of feeling helpless and having your freedom taken away. It acknowledges that this person has taken everything you ever had, but if you are strong enough, you can survive. The overall theme is one of caution against being manipulated and taken advantage of by those who may present themselves as powerful or trustworthy.
Line by Line Meaning
Look all around
Observe your surroundings
Can't you open your eyes
Are you blind to what's happening?
Voices are calling
You hear the cries of the oppressed
Killing rain falling down from the sky
Violent destruction is happening all around you
Crying with nightmare tears
The sorrow is overwhelming
Out on the street
In public, for all to see
You'll see blood on the ground
Witness the brutality and violence
Cities are burning
The world is in chaos
Feeling the pain cutting right to your soul
The suffering is visceral and deeply affecting
Goodbye now
You're lost and alone
You're caught in his spell
You're under the influence and control of the Master of Insanity
Your freedom is gone
You've lost all independence
He's taken everything
The Master of Insanity has deprived you of all you had
You ever had
All your possessions, your identity, your sanity
But if you're strong you'll survive
If you're resilient, you can endure
You've got to hold on
You must cling to hope and not give up
Open your eyes
See reality, do not be deceived
[Chorus]
Refrain that highlights the theme of the song
Behind the lies you will see
The truth is hidden from view
The master of insanity
A mysterious figure that brings chaos and disorder
Under the mask there will be
The true identity is concealed
Innocent minds
The vulnerable and unsuspecting
They're the victims of shame
They suffer the consequences of the Master's maleficent actions
Staring in sorrow
They can barely contain the anguish they feel
Promises lying there
The Master is deceptive and has misled many
Broken and crushed
Their spirits are shattered
Confusion-just disappear
The chaos brought by the Master has created confusion and disorientation
What can you give
What do you still have to offer?
To be left all alone
Even your companions have abandoned you
When there's nothing at all
You're left with nothing, stripped of all you had
Behind the lies you will find
Deception clogs your senses, obscuring the truth
He's trying to get inside you
The Master is attempting to control your thoughts and actions
Just open your eyes and you will see
See through the deception and resist the influence of the Master
Between the lies you will find
The truth is concealed beneath layers of falsehood
Out of the night into your mind
The Master's influence is pervasive and insidious
He's always right beside you
The Master is ever-present, ever-menacing
The master of insanity
A powerful, malevolent figure that corrupts all in its path
Open your eyes or you will be
Your ignorance and naivete will be your undoing
The master of insanity
A force that must be resisted, lest it destroy everything
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RONNIE JAMES DIO, TERRENCE BUTLER, TONY IOMMI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pleasurablepainII
one of the best albums ever
@TamerlanOfficial
Yet it's so underrated, it hurts....
@papabillydeth4723
Pleasurable Pain dude dio is on two other albums, this is just the underrated one
@danieldeacan8882
Pleasurable Pain II this shit isn'nt right
@a7xfanben
Love it. Guitar riff reminds me of The Wanton Song by Led Zeppelin.
@leandrodasilvaborges1768
Yes sure. The main riff sounds like The Wanton Song.
@MrCBTman
Also sounds a lot like Touch of Evil by Priest.
@GestapoPussyRanch
Man, they were so on top of their game on this recording.
@SuperJS1974
Excellent song. True musicians. Glad to have discovered them as a young teen.
@w-drums5971
Dehumanizer is my favourite Sabbath album at the moment, no fillers on it.