Paranoid
Butler / Iommi / Osbourne / Ward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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 lyrics of Paranoid, written by the members of Black Sabbath - Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward, reflect the melancholy and confusion of the singer who is struggling with his mind. The first line "Finished with my woman 'cause she couldn't help me with my mind" suggests a failed relationship due to the singer's inability to find peace and happiness within himself. The next line "People think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time" depicts the singer's negative disposition and how it is viewed by others.
The following lines further express the singer's inner turmoil as he reveals how he is constantly thinking about things, but nothing seems to satisfy him. He fears that he may lose his mind if he does not find something to pacify him. The lines "Can you help me occupy my brain? Oh yeah" reveal the singer's desperation for someone to help him find peace of mind, and the need to find a way to silence his thoughts.
The chorus of the song reveals the singer's lack of ability to find true happiness or understand what it means. He states "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." The singer's confusion and sadness are apparent in the following lines where he explains that he reacts to jokes with sighs and cries at laughter, adding to his isolation from others. The final lines of the song, "I tell you to enjoy life I wish I could, but it's too late" convey the sense of regret that the singer carries for not being able to find joy in life despite his efforts.
Line by Line Meaning
Finished with my woman 'cause she couldn't help me with my mind
I ended my relationship because my partner was unable to support me mentally
People think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time
Others believe that I am crazy because of my perpetually unhappy appearance
All day long I think of things but nothing seems to satisfy
I am constantly contemplating different ideas, but none of them bring me contentment
Think I'll lose my mind if I don't find something to pacify
I fear that I will go insane if I cannot find something to soothe my thoughts
Can you help me occupy my brain? Oh yeah
Do you have any suggestions to keep my mind busy and occupied?
I need someone to show me the things in life that I can't find
I require guidance to discover the aspects of life that elude me
I can't see the things that make true happiness, I must be blind
I am unable to perceive the elements that constitute genuine happiness, implying that I am blind to them
Make a joke and I will sigh and you will laugh and I will cry
Whenever you crack a joke, I respond by exhaling heavily, and you chuckle while I cry
Happiness I cannot feel and love to me is so unreal
I am incapable of sensing joy, while my understanding of love is so unrealistic
And so as you hear these words telling you now of my state
As you listen to me express my present condition with these lyrics
I tell you to enjoy life I wish I could but it's too late
I encourage you to savor and cherish life, yet I cannot benefit as I feel it is now too late for me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, T.R.O. INC.
Written by: Michael Butler, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, William Ward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind