Iron Man (song)

original song written, composed, and performed by Black Sabbath

"Iron Man" is the name of a song by Black Sabbath. It was on their second album, Paranoid (1970). The song is one of Black Sabbath's greatest hits. "Iron Man" appears to be about a man who travels to the future and witnesses the Apocalypse. On his way back, he is caught in Earth's magnetic field, and turned to steel. When he comes back, he tries to warn the people about the Apocalypse, but they do not believe him, and shun him, so he takes his revenge by killing them all, thus bringing about the Apocalypse he saw. It would appear that he died and came back to life, for "vengeance from the grave kills the people he once saved" is a line from the song.

"Iron Man" has been used many times, and is frequently performed at events. Its riff has become one of the most easily recognizable riffs in music.

The 2008 movie Iron Man features portions of this song at the end of the movie.

The title of the song was conceived by Ozzy Osbourne.[1] Geezer Butler took to writing the lyrics around the title. The song was originally entitled "Iron Bloke". Upon hearing the main guitar riff for the first time, Osbourne remarked that it sounded "like a big iron bloke walking about".[2] The title was later changed to "Iron Man".


Covers change

References change

  1. "Tony Iommi & Geezer Butler Interview - May 1994". Black Sabbath Online. Archived from the original on 2012-01-13. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  2. Classic Albums - Paranoid, by Isis Productions/Eagle Rock Entertainment
  3. Bush, John. "Review: First Band on the Moon". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  4. Collar, Matt. "Review: Give". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  5. "Metallica - Iron Man (Black Sabbath cover)". YouTube. 2009-01-28. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  6. "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  7. "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Samples)". Hypetrak.com. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-11-14. Retrieved 2023-02-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)