Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler to Guitar World magazine, March 2004:
"A lot of the Paranoid album was written around the time of our first album, Black Sabbath. We recorded the whole thing in about 2 or 3 days, live in the studio. The song "Paranoid" was written as an afterthought. We basically needed a 3 minute filler for the album, and Tony Iommi came up with the riff. I quickly did the lyrics, and Ozzy was reading them as he was singing. .
Originally, the band had wanted to call the album War Pigs after the song of the same name, but the record company persuaded them to use "Paranoid" as it was deemed less offensive.
"Paranoid" was released as a single and received regular airplay on mainstream radio. The single, with "The Wizard" on the B-side, was released in the UK in July 1970 and it reached the number 4 there and #61 in the US.
Lead singer Ozzy Osbourne continued to play this song in concert during his career as a solo artist.
"Paranoid" was ranked #34 on VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs. In March 2005, Q magazine placed it at number 11 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. Rolling Stone ranked it #250 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is #1 in the book, "The Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs of All Time".
Paranoid
Black Sabbath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane because
I am frowning all the time
All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mindIf I don't find something to pacify
Can you help me
Occupy my brain?
Oh yeah
I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make
True happiness, I must be blind
Make a joke and I will sigh
And you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel
And love to me is so unreal
And so as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it's too late
The first verse of "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath describes the singer's break up with his girlfriend because she couldn't help with his mental state. He's constantly frowning and people think he's insane for it. The second verse explains that the singer can't find satisfaction through anything and worries he'll lose his mind if he doesn't find something to soothe him. The chorus introduces the plea for help in occupying his brain and finding happiness in life. The third verse talks about how the singer is blind to what makes true happiness and love seems unreal to him. The final verse reflects on the singer's state and how he urges others to enjoy life despite not being able to himself.
The song describes the feeling of a person who's lost in their own thoughts and can't seem to find a way out. It speaks to the struggles of mental health and the hopelessness that comes with feeling like there's no escape. It's a cry for help from someone who's been pushed over the edge and needs someone to help them find their way back.
Line by Line Meaning
Finished with my woman 'cause
My relationship was causing more harm than good for my mental health, so I had to end it.
She couldn't help me with my mind
My partner wasn't able to provide me with the support and comfort I needed for my troubled thoughts.
People think I'm insane because
Due to my constant frowning and troubled thoughts, others perceive me as crazy.
I am frowning all the time
My worrisome and disturbed mental state causes me to wear a perpetual scowl.
All day long I think of things
My mind is continuously preoccupied with various thoughts and worries throughout the day.
But nothing seems to satisfy
Despite my constant thinking, I cannot seem to find any peace or contentment.
Think I'll lose my mind
I fear that if I cannot find a way to calm my troubled thoughts, I may go insane.
If I don't find something to pacify
I need to find some source of comfort or relief for my mental anguish.
Can you help me
I am reaching out to someone for assistance in finding peace and comfort.
Occupy my brain?
Can you provide me with something to occupy my mind and distract me from my worrisome thoughts?
I need someone to show me
I require guidance and direction from someone to help me find purpose and happiness.
The things in life that I can't find
I am unable to discover any meaning, fulfillment or purpose in my life.
I can't see the things that make
I am blind to the things in life that bring true happiness and joy.
True happiness, I must be blind
I am so lost in my own mental state that I am unable to recognize the things that bring happiness and fulfillment to others.
Make a joke and I will sigh
Even if someone tries to cheer me up or make me laugh, I cannot help but feel sad and disappointed.
And you will laugh and I will cry
You will enjoy the humor that I cannot see, and I will remain in a state of sadness.
Happiness I cannot feel
I am unable to experience any happiness or joy in my life.
And love to me is so unreal
Love seems impossible and unattainable to me due to my mental state.
And so as you hear these words
As you listen to my lament, I want you to understand the gravity of my thoughts and feelings.
Telling you now of my state
I'm sharing the current condition of my mental health with you.
I tell you to enjoy life
Despite my own struggles, I encourage you to find joy and fulfillment in your life.
I wish I could but it's too late
However, I cannot find that same enjoyment in life anymore due to my overwhelming mental anguish.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, T.R.O. INC.
Written by: Michael Butler, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, William Ward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ash-khiru6729
LYRICS
Finished with my woman 'cause
She couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane because
I am frowning all the time
All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind
If I don't find something to pacify
Can you help me
Occupy my brain?
Oh yeah
I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make
True happiness, I must be blind
Make a joke and I will sigh
And you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel
And love to me is so unreal
And so as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it's too late
@ghebalouhacene7422
[Intro]
[Verse 1]
Finished with my woman
'Cause she couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane
Because I am frowning all the time
[Verse 2]
All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind
If I don't find something to pacify
[Bridge]
Can you help me
Occupy my brain?
Oh yeah
[Verse 3]
I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make true happiness
I must be blind
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 4]
Make a joke and I will sigh
And you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness, I cannot feel
And love to me is so unreal
[Verse 5]
And so, as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it's too late
@sugarhoneyicetea3578
Lyrics:
Finished with my woman
'Cause she couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane
Because I am frowning all the time
All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind
If I don't find something to pacify
Can you help me occupy my brain?
Oh yeah
I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make true happiness
I must be blind
Make a joke and I will sigh
And you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel
And love to me is so unreal
And so as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it's too late
@samvereecke3213
Finished with my woman 'cause
She couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane because
I am frowning all the time
All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind
If I don't find something to pacify
Can you help me
Occupy my brain?
Oh yeah
I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make
True happiness, I must be blind
Make a joke and I will sigh
And you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel
And love to me is so unreal
And so as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it's too late
@djwucuejaix5684
[Intro]
[Verse 1]
Finished with my woman 'cause she couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time
All day long, I think of things but nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind if I don't find something to pacify
[Chorus]
Can you help me occupy my brain?
Whoa, yeah
[Verse 2]
I need someone to show me the things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make true happiness, I must be blind
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
Make a joke and I will sigh and you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness, I cannot feel and love to me is so unreal
And so, as you hear these words telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life, I wish I could, but it's too late
@qq84
BLACK SABBATH - "Paranoid"
[Verse 1]
Finished with my woman 'cause she couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time
All day long, I think of things but nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind if I don't find something to pacify
[Chorus]
Can you help me occupy my brain?
Whoa, yeah
[Verse 2]
I need someone to show me the things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make true happiness, I must be blind
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
Make a joke and I will sigh and you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness, I cannot feel and love to me is so unreal
And so, as you hear these words telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life, I wish I could, but it's too late
@ktrikaliotis
Lyrics
Finished with my woman
'Cause she couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane
Because I am frowning all the time
All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind
If I don't find something to pacify
Can you help me occupy my brain?
Oh yeah
I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make true happiness
I must be blind
Make a joke and I will sigh
And you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel
And love to me is so unreal
And so as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it's too late
@michelcastellanoss
Lyrics:
Finished with my woman 'cause she couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time
All day long I think of things but nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind if I don't find something to pacify
Can you help me, occupy my brain?
Oh yeah
I need someone to show me the things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make true happiness, I must be blind
Make a joke and I will sigh and you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel and love to me is so unreal
And so as you hear these words telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life I wish I could but it's too late
@theanglian4110
Imagine hearing this for the first time in 1970.
Absolutely mind blowing.
@frankburns8871
No doubt. But I always imagine the flower children hearing the first song, "Black Sabbath," from their debut album "Black Sabbath" while tripping on acid. Fucking traumatic, it must have been. 😈
@СергейНефедов-ы3ь
The bassist has got very cool hair
@СергейНефедов-ы3ь
I can imagine. Reminds me of the Animals video of the 1960s. Everyone stands on their places
@Dragon-lb6ky
How
it feels now?The the the best...
@seansands4833
Remember my older brother playing this on the record player, i was 9 at the time
@angelinas.6266
can you believe that they wrote this song within 20 minutes just to fill the 3 empty minutes on their album ? and now its one of the greatest pieces of heavy metal history ?i've read this on ozzy's biography
@Bond-uh6yj
Wow did not know that, thanx!
@yajnaamakusa8786
Right people in the right place at the right time. What went wrong? I'm looking into it.
@girlspooptoo8567
AngieS.
Holy fuck
I have never heard of this
Thanks