"The Wizard" is the second track of Black Sabbath's 1970 debut album Black … Read Full Bio ↴"The Wizard" is the second track of Black Sabbath's 1970 debut album Black Sabbath.

Sources claim it is about the band's drug dealer at the time (and may be partly true), but bassist Geezer Butler claims the character Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings as his inspiration.

"The Wizard" was a favorite of the band, and was later included on compilation albums We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll and Symptom of the Universe. Zakk Wylde, the guitarist for Ozzy's solo band made a cover of it on the Japanese import and reissue prints of his Pride & Glory album, and Cypress Hill sampled some harmonica notes in "We Ain't Going Out Like That". Enigma sampled the harmonica notes on track 4, "I Love You ... I'll Kill You" on the album The Cross of Changes. In 1994 it also formed part of the popular album, Nativity in Black, which was a tribute to Black Sabbath. This slightly altered version was performed by the Bullring Brummies, which was made up of Geezer Butler & Bill Ward of Black Sabbath, Rob Halford of Judas Priest, Brian Tilse of Fight and Scott Weinrich of The Obsessed.

This song was covered by New Zealand band Shihad on their Devolve EP.

It also served as the inspiration for the song "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll", by Blue Öyster Cult.

Despite its apparent popularity, the song was never played live until the tour of 1994, supporting the album Cross Purposes, with the harmonica part played by vocalist Tony Martin. It had been played subsequently during several shows after the reunion of the original lineup. The song is also notable for displaying Ozzy's harmonica skills.

The Wizard
Black Sabbath Lyrics

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Misty morning, clouds in the sky
Without warning, a wizard walks by
Casting his shadow, weaving his spell
Long grey cloak, twinkling bell

Never talking
Just keeps walking
Spreading his magic

Evil power disappears
Demons worry when the wizard is near
He turns tears into joy
Everyone's happy when the wizard walks by

Never talking
Just keeps walking
Spreading his magic

Sun is shining, clouds have gone by
All the people give a happy sigh
He has passed by, giving his sign
Left all the people feeling so fine

Never talking

Just keeps walking
Spreading his magic

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Black Sabbath's song "The Wizard" tell the story of a mystical figure who appears out of nowhere, without warning. The wizard casts a spell over the land, his long grey cloak and twinkling bell adding an air of mystery to his presence. The wizard does not speak, but his actions create a sense of magic around him. As he walks, he spreads his power, dispelling evil and making demons worry. His mere presence can turn tears into joy, leaving everyone he passes feeling happy and content. The sun shines and the clouds clear away, as if the wizard's magic has brought about a new sense of hope and joy to the land.

The wizard in the song can be interpreted in many ways. Some listeners might see the lyrics as a metaphor for the power of faith, which has the ability to bring happiness and positivity to people's lives. Others might view the wizard as a symbol of creativity or artistic inspiration, with his magical presence inspiring all those around him. Regardless of the interpretation, the lyrics to "The Wizard" are filled with a sense of wonder and mystery, evoking the image of a powerful figure who can change the world around him with a single step.

Line by Line Meaning

Misty morning, clouds in the sky
The start of a new day with a cloudy atmosphere.

Without warning, a wizard walks by
Surprise encounter with a wizard.

Casting his shadow, weaving his spell
The wizard using magic spells.

Long grey cloak, twinkling bell
Description of the wizard's attire.

Never talking
The wizard doesn't communicate verbally.

Just keeps walking
The wizard keeps moving forward on his journey.

Spreading his magic
The wizard's magic has a wide influence.

Evil power disappears
The wizard's magic can ward off evil.

Demons worry when the wizard is near
The wizard's reputation is known even amongst demons.

He turns tears into joy
The wizard can change sadness into happiness.

Everyone's happy when the wizard walks by
The wizard brings joy to people that he encounters.