Black Sabbath - Iron Man - Meaning of the song
"Iron man" is about a man who travels through time and sees the end of the world. On his way back to Earth to warn the human race, he goes through a magnetic storm and is turned to iron. Nobody believes him about the end of the world and he gets mad, taking his rage out on the human race, thus bringing about the end of the world that he saw.
Sabbath bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler explained how Ozzy Osbourne put the idea in his head:
"I was walking down the street one day and thought... 'what if there were a bloody great bloke made out of metal walking about?'"
Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi came up with the guitar riff in the studio when drummer Bill Ward started playing the big, foreboding bass drum beat. Iommi created a wash of sound by bending his string, which is where Ozzy's "I am Iron Man vocal comes in." Then he blasted into the riff. "Most of the riffs I've done I've come up with on the spot, and that was one of them. It just came up. It went with the drum, what Bill was playing. I just saw this thing in my mind of someone creeping up on you, and it just sounded like the riff. In my head I could hear it as a monster, so I came up with that riff there and then."
Iron Man - Lyrics
I am Iron Man Has he lost his mind? Can he see or is he blind? Can he walk at all Or if he moves will he fall? Is he alive or dead? Has he thoughts within his head? We'll just pass him there Why should we even care? He was turned to steel In the great magnetic field When he traveled time For the future of mankind Nobody wants him He just stares at the world Planning his vengeance That he will soon unfurl Now the time is here For Iron Man to spread fear Vengeance from the grave Kills the people he once saved Nobody wants him They just turn their heads Nobody helps him Now he has his revenge Heavy boots of lead Fill his victims full of dread Running as fast as they can Iron Man lives again!
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