The Iron Man Song by Black Sabbath

When it comes to heavy metal, there are few songs more imposing and iconic than Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.” But what exactly is going on in this song of destruction? Is it a warning about the annihilation of mankind or just a dark fantasy about revenge? And who is this mysterious hero of vengeance?

Iron Man was released in 1970 as part of Black Sabbath’s second album, Paranoid. The lyrics were composed by bassist Geezer Butler. The song tells the story of a man who travels into the future and sees the demise of mankind. He tries to return to the present to warn the people, but on his way back he is hit by a magnetic storm and turned into a mute steel creature. The people he tries to warn ignore him and mock him, making him angry. Eventually, he takes out his revenge by actually causing the apocalypse he saw in his vision.

It is often assumed that the song was influenced by the Marvel superhero of the same name, but this is not the case. Butler had not even heard of the comic book character when he wrote the lyrics. He came up with the name because he thought the riff that guitarist Tony Iommi played sounded like an iron bloke walking around.

Regardless of the origin of the name, “Iron Man” is one of the most well-known metal songs in history. Its riff is easily recognizable and has become an integral part of heavy metal music. It has been covered by countless bands, and even the 2008 movie of the same name featured portions of the song.

The song’s ominous feel is reinforced by its droning bass guitar and Bill Ward’s thundering drums. But its power is amplified by the lyrics, as Ozzy bellows with deranged intensity about vengeance and destruction.

In addition to being a defining track for Black Sabbath, “Iron Man” has also had an impact on heavy metal as a whole. It was a precursor to more modern and aggressive styles of music that would take hold in the 1980s and beyond. And it helped to establish the idea that heavy metal was a force to be reckoned with.

The song has inspired many covers by other artists, including Green Day and Marilyn Manson. Even Sir Mix-A-Lot has covered the song with new lyrics on his album Swass.