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)
Wishing Well
Black Sabbath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You find that life's not always what it seems, no no
Then think of a rainbow and I'll make it come real
Roll me, I'm a never ending wheel
I'll give you a star
So you know just where you are
Don't you know that I might be
Your wishing well
Look in the water, tell me what do you see
Reflections of the love you give to me
Love isn't money, it's not something you buy
So let me fill myself with tears you cry and why?
Time is a never ending journey
Love is a never ending smile
Give me a sign to build a dream on
Dream on
Dream on, dream on, dream on, dream on
Yeah, throw me a penny and I'll make you a dream
You find that life's not always what it seems, no no
Love isn't money, it's not something you buy
Let me fill myself with tears you cry
I'll give you a star
So you know just where you are
Someday, some way, you'll feel the things I say
Dream for a while
Of the things that make you smile
'Cause you know
Don't you know
Oh, you know
That I'm your wishing well
Your wishing well
Your wishing well
I wish you well
I'm your wishing well
The lyrics to Black Sabbath's "Wishing Well" explore the idea of hope and finding comfort in difficult times. The song presents an image of the singer as a wishing well, able to grant the listener's wishes and provide a sense of optimism. The opening lines, "Throw me a penny and I'll make you a dream / You find that life's not always what it seems," suggest that life can be difficult, but the singer is there to offer a glimmer of hope.
The next stanza continues this theme, telling the listener to "think of a rainbow and I'll make it come real." The idea of a rainbow symbolizes hope and positivity after a storm or difficult time. The image of a "never-ending wheel" and the repeated lines "dream on" reinforce the idea that hope and positivity are ongoing and never-ending.
The rest of the song explores the idea of love and its ability to bring joy to life. The lines "Look in the water, tell me what do you see / Reflections of the love you give to me" suggest that one's actions and love can be reflected back to them in a positive way. The song concludes with the repeated line, "I'm your wishing well" which reinforces the idea that hope and positivity can be found within oneself.
Overall, "Wishing Well" is a song that encourages listeners to find hope and optimism in difficult times through love and positivity.
Line by Line Meaning
Throw me a penny and I'll make you a dream
Invest in me and I will make your dreams come true
You find that life's not always what it seems, no no
Reality can be different from what you expect or perceive
Then think of a rainbow and I'll make it come real
Imagining something good and I'll make it happen
Roll me, I'm a never ending wheel
I'm always there for you, never stopping
I'll give you a star
I'll give you direction to find yourself
So you know just where you are
So you can navigate your life well with purpose
Don't you know that I might be
I could be
Your wishing well
The solution to your problems and the provider of your dreams
Look in the water, tell me what do you see
Look at your own reflection and think of me
Reflections of the love you give to me
An image of the love you give to me
Love isn't money, it's not something you buy
Love is not a commodity that can be bought
So let me fill myself with the tears you cry and why?
Let me share your pain and understand it
Time is a never ending journey
Time always moves on without any lingering
Love is a never ending smile
Love always brings happiness that doesn't fade away
Give me a sign to build a dream on
Show me a hint and I'll create something wonderful with it
Dream on, dream on, dream on, dream on
Never stop dreaming and visualizing great things
Someday, some way, you'll feel the things I say
One day you will understand and perceive what I mean
Dream for a while
Take time to dream of the things that make you happy
Of the things that make you smile
Of things that bring joy to your life
'Cause you know
Because you do realize
Don't you know
Don't you recognize
Oh, you know
Ah, you comprehend
That I'm your wishing well
That I'm your savior and your dream maker
Your wishing well
Your soulmate who wishes you well
Your wishing well
The one who would make all your wishes true
I wish you well
My best wishes and prayers for your well-being
I'm your wishing well
I'm your hero and your good fortune
Lyrics © JIM CENTORINO MUSIC
Written by: RONNIE JAMES DIO, TERRENCE BUTLER, TONY IOMMI, WILLIAM T. WARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Limits98
Lyrics
Throw me a penny and
I'll make you a dream
You find that life's not
Always what it seems,
No no
Then think of a rainbow and
I'll make it come real
Roll me,
I'm a never ending wheel
I'll give you a star
So you know just
Where you are
Don't you know that
I might be your wishing well?
Your wishing well!
Look in the water,
Tell me what do you see
Reflections of the love
You give to me
Love isn't money,
It's not something you buy
So let me fill myself
With tears you cry,
And why?
Time is a never ending journey
Love is a never ending smile
Give me a sign to build a
Dream on,
Dream on
[Guitar Solo]
(Dream on,
Dream on)
(Dream on,
Dream on)
Yeah,
Throw me a penny and
I'll make you a dream
You find that life's not
Always what it seems,
No no
Love isn't money,
It's not something you buy
Let me fill myself
With tears you cry
I'll give you a star
So you know just
Where you are
Someday,
Some way,
You'll feel the things I say
Dream for a while of the
Things that make you smile
Cause you know,
Don't you know?
Oh,
You know that
I'm your wishing well
Your wishing well,
Your wishing well
I wish you well,
I'm your wishing well
silvia camilletti
My cousin died some month ago and left his wife and two daughters. When I heard about his death, I was driving and listening to this song. Since that moment, when I listen this I always think about him. The the final part, then, “ I’ll give you a star, so you know just where you are: someday, someway, you’ll feel the things I say; dream for a while of the things that make you smile”, is what makes me cry the most.
Alessandro Rossetti
so sorry to hear that...your comment really made me feel sad for you...hope you have passed thru all of that already...
Ryan d Lion
Man you couldn't have picked a better sing for that!
Larry Gallaway
Time is a never ending journey. Love is a never ending smile. Thinking of you and your cousin....
Mustafa Şatıroğlu
Condolences dear man. May the time be merciful on you and his family.
browneyes nashville
my favourite song on this album. the bassline is crazy-good
Christopher Curtis
I was JUST wow-ing over the bass line. Geezer RULES!!!!
TheJetfighter666
That shows me you have love in your heart. This is one of the most beautiful songs ever written in a fast paced heavy style. Only the early Scorpions of the ‘70s could ever achieve this. A big thumbs up to you brother.
TheJetfighter666
I mean sister! A double thumbs up to you. Where can I find a woman that feels music like you do??
Randall Camburn
@TheJetfighter666 excellent comment I agree.