Paranoid

About this song

The song is often ranked among the greatest heavy metal songs of all time, and it is one of Black Sabbath's biggest hits alongside "Iron Man." The band reportedly wrote it in about 20 minutes as a filler track, and the album was originally meant to be called War Pigs. After the single became popular, the record label wanted the album renamed Paranoid.

What it's about

The lyrics were written by bassist Geezer Butler and draw on his own experiences as a depressed teenager who feared he was going insane. The band often teased him by calling him paranoid, though he didn't know what the word meant.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 6 other songs, like “Spalaj Się by Kazik”.
• Covered 41 times, including “Paranoid by Kylesa”.
• Written by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne.
• Produced by Rodger Bain.
• Recorded at Regent Sound Studios and Island Studios (London.