"Black Sabbath" is the opening track on Black Sabbath's self-titled 1970 debut album and is widely recognized as one of the most influential songs in heavy metal history12. Written in 1969 by the band—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—the song set a new standard for dark, heavy music and is often credited with defining the sound and atmosphere of heavy metal1.
Inspiration and Lyrics
The song's lyrics were inspired by a chilling personal experience of bassist Geezer Butler. At the time, Butler was deeply interested in the occult, decorating his apartment with inverted crucifixes and images of Satan. After Ozzy Osbourne gave him a mysterious occult book, Butler claims he awoke one night to see a black figure at the end of his bed, which vanished along with the book. This experience became the basis for the song, with Osbourne crafting lyrics that evoke terror and supernatural dread12.
"What is this that stands before me?
Figure in black which points at me.
Turn around quick, and start to run,
Find out I’m the chosen one – Oh no!"3
The lyrics continue to describe visions of Satan, fire, and doom, culminating in a warning to listeners about the presence of evil.
Musical Composition and Innovation
"Black Sabbath" is renowned for its ominous, slow tempo and its use of the tritone interval—also known as diabolus in musica or "the devil's interval"—which creates a sense of unease and darkness. The main riff, built around a G5 power chord and a tritone (G to C♯), was inspired by a fragment of Gustav Holst's "Mars" from The Planets suite, as played by Butler and then developed by Iommi12. This use of the tritone became a hallmark of the metal genre.
The song's atmosphere is enhanced by the sound of tolling bells, thunder, and rain, setting a foreboding tone that was unprecedented in rock music at the time. Classic Rock Magazine described the track as "ominous, claustrophobic, overwhelming, mournful [and] pacey," and it has been called the very definition of heavy metal1.
Legacy and Influence
"Black Sabbath" is not only a foundational track for the band but also for the entire genre of heavy metal and especially the doom metal subgenre. Its dark themes, heavy riffs, and haunting atmosphere have inspired countless bands and defined a "shadowy corner" of metal that persists to this day1. Critics and musicians alike point to "Black Sabbath" as the song that drew a clear line between heavy rock and the new, more sinister sound of metal.
As Classic Rock Magazine put it:
"If you ever come across anyone who’s never heard a note of metal music, and they ask you to explain it to them, just sit them down, turn up the volume and play the song 'Black Sabbath,' because this is the definition of the genre. Nothing else need be said or added. The whole of metal is contained in this one remarkable track. Everything since has been based on what Black Sabbath did here."1
Album and Track Details
- Album: Black Sabbath (1970)
- Track Length: Approximately 6:20
- Band Members: Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass), Bill Ward (drums)52
- Notable Features: Use of tritone, slow tempo, dark lyrics, atmospheric effects
"Black Sabbath" remains a cornerstone of heavy metal, encapsulating the genre's essence through its sound, imagery, and enduring influence12.
