| Song |
"The Wizard" is a song by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. It was first released in 1970 as the second track on the band's self-titled debut album. Later that same year, it was released as a single in France.
About[]
"The Wizard" is about a wizard who uses his magic to encourage people he encounters. In a 2005 interview with Metal Sludge, bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler said the song's lyrics were influenced by the wizard Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings. It was also believed to be about the band's drug dealer at the time.
Live[]
The song was played live 177 times by the band. Its first live performance was on September 9, 1969 at Top Rank, Hanley, England, and its last was on August 3, 2012 at Lollapalooza 2012.[1] The song was performed extremely rarely prior to 1994 and no surviving recordings from before that year exist despite several confirmed performances. "The Wizard" is also on the live album Cross Purposes Live, where Tony Martin provides lead vocals.
Trivia[]
- The original title of the song was called "The Sign of The Sorcerer" according to a fan that got a tour book from The Blizzard of Ozz tour.
- A fan pointed out that they got an Ozzy tour book and saw the picture of the original lyrics to "The Wizard" with the lyrics saying "long gray cloak" instead of "funny clothes". Those lyrics are confirmed and thus, are used below.
Lyrics[]
Misty morning, clouds in the sky
Without warning, a wizard walks by
Casting his shadow, weaving his spell
Long gray cloak, twinkling bell
Never talking
Just keeps walking
Spreading his magic
Evil power disappears
Demons worry when the wizard is near
He turns tears into joy
Everyone's happy when the wizard walks by
Never talking
Just keeps walking
Spreading his magic
Sun is shining, clouds have gone by
All the people give a happy sigh
He has passed by, giving his sign
Left all the people feeling so fine
Never talking
Just keeps walking
Spreading his magic
Bullring Brummies cover[]
"The Wizard" was covered by English heavy metal supergroup Bullring Brummies, whom Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Rob Halford were part of. It was released in 1994 as the eighth track on the tribute album Nativity in Black.
It adds an extended intro and makes use of down tuned guitars. "The Wizard", unlike most tracks on the album, was never rereleased. It's also the only known song by the Bullring Brummies.
References[]
| Black Sabbath | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Sabbath • The Wizard • Behind the Wall of Sleep • N.I.B. • Evil Woman • Sleeping Village • Warning • Wicked World | |||