O, Lawd — can I say, “O, Lawd,” in this connection? — Ozzy and I made some powerful noise on South Loring Circle back in 1970.
I played “Paranoid” on the folks’ console stereo so loud, so many times, that they finally told me to take it with me when I left. It had been ruined as a stage for Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman. It had become the Devil’s Juke Box.
Don’t get me wrong — I liked the big bands. But I liked a big noise, too. Thus I rattled the windows with Led Zep’, Iron Butterfly, and of course, Black Sabbath.
I was born in 1954. We spent a lot of time under our desks, hiding from nuclear weapons and/or the Selective Service System. Some of us came out humming “Where Have all the Flowers Gone?” Others shrieked about “War Pigs.”
Day of judgement, God is calling
On their knees, the war pigs crawling
Begging mercy for their sins
Satan, laughing, spreads his wings
Oh, Lord, yeah
Eventually I wound up somewhere in between, with John Prine and “Sam Stone.” But man, did I ever enjoy rattling those windows. Thanks, Ozzy. Peace to you and yours.
And if you happen to see Hunter S. Thompson on the Other Side, the two of yis stay the hell away from those goddamn bats.
Mad Blog Media 
Agree. I love, love, love the great singer songwriters, the Dead, et al and am a big Beatles, Springsteen and Wilco fan…but also loved Ozzy. There was (and is) a time and place for all kinds of music.
RIP Ozzy.
I am in Hood River area cycling this week and have stopped for a snack with a view of My. Hood. Already on my ride, two cars have passed me with windows down blasting out Crazy Train. Wouldn’t hear that in Texas. Windows wouldn’t be rolled down due to the heat.
Hey, Sharon, long time no see. Oregon, hey? Beautiful country up there. I was not into cycling while I lived in Corvallis, but I was getting into jazz via fusion, and also into the local wine, and hit the Mount Hood Festival of Jazz in 1982 and ’83. The Crusaders performed “Street Life” on one of those occasions.
How’s the cycling been? A buddy just got back from France, where he rode Tourmalet, Bonette, Cayolle, d’Izoard, Var and l’Alpe d’Huez. Am I jealous? Of course not. If a fella could get there by Subaru I’d have been a couple dozen times by now.
Good lyrics. Timely is what.
Whoa. Excellent cover. All Hail Puddles! (makes devil’s horns with both hands).
Ozzy spoke to me in the 70’s, with some chemical assistance of course. His voice was a perfect vehicle for Geezer’s lyrics. I managed to catch him live on a couple of occasions, he was a genuine front man and obviously loved being on stage. I think I’ll play their first album on level 11 tonight.
Yeah, me too, Ira. I never went full metalhead, but I appreciated Sabbath’s view from the ragged edge. Bonus that it drove my parents nuts.
https://www.upworthy.com/kids-perform-crazy-train-on-xylophones