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)
What's The Use
Black Sabbath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They spend and learn in Heaven, sin in Hell
What's the point of children
When evil got before them?
They learn in every tale we tell
There's no point in being kind
Oh Yeah!
What's the use of power
When the battle isn't equal
And we're all too Scared to use it anyway?
What's the point of reason
When no one wants to listen?
Deliverance is all too far away
Oh what's the use?
Oh what's the use?
Tell me, oh, what's the use?
What's the use?
Love becomes an evil of the mind
What's the use?
What's the use?..
The lyrics to Black Sabbath's "What's the Use" reveal the band's questioning of the meaning of life and the point of human existence. The song explores the concept of good and evil, arguing that they coexist and that it can be difficult to distinguish them. The chorus repeats the question of "what's the use," suggesting a sense of hopelessness in trying to make sense of the world.
The opening lines of the song ask about the point of paradise or living every day since people spend time in heaven and sin in hell. This suggests that even the afterlife may not provide answers or refuge from the duality of good and evil. The lyrics go on to ask about the purpose of children when evil exists in the world. While children may learn from stories and tales, it can be difficult for them to discern between right and wrong in a world that showcases both.
The song offers criticism of the idea of being kind or loving when love can turn into an evil of the mind. This suggests that love and kindness can be twisted into something malevolent, rendering their positive qualities insignificant. The lyrics question power when the battle isn't equal, indicating an awareness of the fact that those with power may use it unjustly or oppressively. The song concludes with the question of what's the point of reason when nobody wants to listen.
Overall, "What's the Use" is a song that questions the human condition and examines the difficulties of trying to make sense of a world that is both beautiful and evil.
Line by Line Meaning
What's the use of paradise or everyday of livin'?
Why bother with the pleasures of life, or even just getting through each day?
They spend and learn in Heaven, sin in Hell
People are taught to be good in heaven, but end up being bad in hell.
What's the point of children / When evil got before them?
Why bring children into a world that is full of evil and suffering?
They learn in every tale we tell
Children learn about the world and its dangers through stories and myths.
There's no point in being kind / What's the use when love becomes an evil of the mind?
There is no reason to be good or kind when love can be distorted and turn into something evil in the mind.
What's the use of power / When the battle isn't equal / And we're all too Scared to use it anyway?
What good is having power when the odds are not in your favor and when people are too afraid to use it?
What's the point of reason / When no one wants to listen? / Deliverance is all too far away
Why bother with logic and rationality when people refuse to listen and when there seems to be no way out of our problems?
Oh what's the use? / Oh what's the use? / Tell me, oh, what's the use? / What's the use?
Repeatedly questioning the point of everything and feeling hopeless about finding any answers or purpose.
Love becomes an evil of the mind / What's the use?
Once again, questioning why love can turn into a negative force and why anything is worth the effort.
What's the use?
Continuing to ask this question with a sense of desperation and resignation.
Contributed by Hudson I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
serena blackcat
This is my favorite Black Sabbath album, very underrated in my opinion
A Quest Full Of Rarities
Same.
John Furnish
Sure is. And to think I didn't like it when I first heard it, and I've been a Sabbath fan since '70. I love it and it's STILL growing on me.
Benedict Donald
Stellar album.
SonnyGTA
STOP SAYING UNDERRATED!!!!!!!!!!!!
husq48
Good track, should have been on the album.
Beverly Bassitt
Love this band, bloody Awesome 😎🎸😎
huskerdonut
Thanks, I had no idea this track existed; Cross Purposes probably my second favorite Tony Martin BS record. Too bad they didn't make this track readily commercially available.
Alex CAD Hdz
To me a Bonus track is a Great Gift 1st. Time hearing this great song
SonnyGTA
Me too!! Just now!!