The Wizard Black Sabbath

The Wizard Album: Black Sabbath (1970)
by Black Sabbath

"The Wizard" was selected as their debut single in France, backed by "Evil Woman" which was released as A-side in many other countries. It was also the B-side to the 1970 single "Paranoid", which reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart and number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"The Wizard" is about a wizard who uses his magic to encourage people he encounters. In a 2005 interview with Metal Sludge, Black Sabbath bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler said the song's lyrics were influenced by the wizard Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.

Rumor had it that this song about an upbeat sorcerer was an ode to the band's drug dealer - when The Wizard walks by everyone is happy. Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi cleared things up in his book Iron Man: My Journey through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath, where he explained that Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler were wandering around stoned and saw some guy leaping around being silly outside of a club. He looked like some kind of elf to them. Thus the song "The Wizard" was born.

This is the second song on the first Black Sabbath album. The album took about eight hours to record and cost $1200 to make.

This was used as the B-side to the first Sabbath single, "Paranoid," which was released ahead of their second album.

Ozzy Osbourne played the harmonica part.

Like "Iron Man," the title character of this song became a sort of character or appellation for lead singer Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy became known as "The Wizard" shortly after the release of Blizzard of Ozz (the title a takeoff on "Wizard of Oz"). A 1999 compilation album of modern artists covering Ozzy classics was called Land of the Wizard: A Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne.

Bullring Brummies covered this for the 1994 album Nativity in Black: A Tribute to Black Sabbath. It has also been covered by Botch, Shihad, Scorn, Ahmed Zappa and John Tesh, and Ozzy's guitarist Zakk Wylde.

Cypress Hill sampled this for their song "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That."

This was included on the live album Ozzfest: 2001 The Second Millennium. The album contains songs from the bands on the 2001 Ozzfest tour. This is the only Black Sabbath song included.

Misty morning, clouds in the sky
Without warning, the wizard walks by
Casting his shadow, weaving his spell
Funny clothes, tinkling 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.