Former Black Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin has really been active via his social media account. Martin posted a couple of posts where it talked about the concept behind lyrics to two Sabbath songs: “I Witness” and “Cross of Thorns.” After making two posts, Martin hinted at a possible future book of these song descriptions:
“Behind the Lyrics …I have given 2 shortened text descriptions of lyrics recently. It is something I am working on as a collection of all my lyric writing. Obviously, I don’t want to put them one by one in a small space like this … it just is too cramped and temporary. So I am working on a book including all these kinds of things … SO… I won’t do any more here on FB but with a bit of luck and interest in the idea there will be something more tangible in the future.”
Not sure if any of you are interested in Sabbath lyrics … Here is a text explanation of “I witness”
“I Witness”
Essentially this is about a place you want to be to escape the reality of life… A place you drift in and out of … A place you can not stay …. A place that comforts you but also scares you. … A place that haunts you. …. A dream ….. BUT dreams are uncontrollable… you can’t MAKE them …. So do you dare submit in case it turns into a night mare. And the nightmare will follow you through your waking hours.
Across the desert of the burning dark, a Darkness which illuminates you,
(This is sleep… in which your dreams and fears are exposed)
There’s a place you’ve always wanted to be, Whose pleasures always did escape you,
(This is what dreams are supposed to be)
It’s always been so out of reach, nothing, so near Ever felt so far,
And now it’s here within your grasp, a never Ending burning says it all.
(You are desperate to enter a place that you can escape from the realities of your true world)
As you drive into the darkness, in front the future Behind you history,
(Symbalising a journey through life )
Caught alone in the dark night, do you think That’s the way it’s supposed to be.
You don’t believe your eyes, cos all they see is Lies, oh yeah.
(Realising that the dream is a lie and your life is reality and really you are in a nightmare)
You better run from the holy man, the eyes that Will are set up on you,
( In the nightmare there is no escape, and the safety of faith becomes the insecurity of fear)
Listen not to verse and prayer, songs that thrill And voices tempt you
The inner flame has fear of death, never, has Light ever seemed so dark.
(All hope of direction and normal encouragement of survival turn dark)
Pilgrims of sabbocracy, hear the hounds of Heaven, as they bark.
(Sabbocracy is a made up word to represent hypocracy of the sabbath, and the pilgrims are those that spread the word. And that God is the hunter)
I witness a time and a place that never dies, still Frozen in time,
(The narrator is telling you he has been there, and it seems endless)
This darkness the only place that I can hide, I Witness, a dream.
(In the end the darkness seems like the only comfort and he uses it to hide from who he is, what he really fears is the waking hours, and to be the person he is, but it is just a dream and it can not protect from the reality of the real world)
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More Sabbath lyrics explained… BUT THIS IS THE LAST ONE!!!
CROSS OF THORNS
When i was in Cozy Powell’s Hammer we did a few shows in Ireland. At that time it was still quite separated with border controls. We were met and escorted by the manager of Van Morrison who was helping put on a couple of shows. In a completely throw away conversation i was asking him what it was like to live there under the conditions … he said “Its like carrying a cross of thorns!” ….. That phrase had a real impact on me and it is what inspired the song of the same name. Working on the FEELINGS not the politics of the country of Ireland. I felt it in this way…..
Don’t come closer, cos it ain’t safe here
Just turn around now and walk away (Brothers across divides, want to connect but dare not)
I’ve gotta tell you, there are no rules here
Sometimes i wonder, what goes on there
Behind those eyes. ( Trust is very sparse and looking into someone’s eyes reveals an unreadable void where all kinds of plots could be forming even in people you know)
When a promise is broken, and no one trusts you
Young ones crying with their heads in their hands (The reality is clear that no matter which side you are on the other side will act on broken promises leaving young children broken and scared)
When you talk about saving, the souls of the faithful
You can’t help thinking, you’ve got blood on your hands
From a cross of thorns (Turning attention to the religious leaders on both sides who SAY they want to save souls but have no power to alter anything other than hope. But holding on to either religion Catholic or Protestant is like holding on to a cross of thorns. It pierces your being and makes you bleed)
A cross of thorns.
Tongues of fire always talking, wasted words that ring in my ears (This is the talk of war. constantly ring in the ears and on the tongues of both sides)
We’re still waiting, losing patience, will all the lies of, 400 years (The republic was built on the history surrounding William of Orange, a Dutch monarch that was installed in England at that time the over lord of Ireland, after a void of many years 400 years previously. He was backed into a corner of the country which is the only part he could hold and which today is known as Northern Ireland. and those in the Catholic south were fed up and mistrusting of it)
I’ve got to tell you, there are no rules here
Sometimes i wonder, what goes on there, behind those eyes.
When a promise is broken, and no one trusts you
Young ones crying with their heads in their hands
When you talk about saving, the souls of the faithful
You can’t help thinking, you’ve got blood on your hands
We gave you yesterday, and now you want to day ( The peacemakers argue that peace is possible but the war talkers won’t listen )
Oh, from the hands of death we take our daily bread ( ….and from the famine right through to the troubles people have struggled from death to death and learn to live life by life)
Now all we do is choke, and the words that you once spoke, fade away (People are not listening anymore and faith and belief get choked)
Look at what you’ve done, oh, it’s a cross of thorns
A cross of thorns.
Take away, this cross of thorns, look at what you’ve done
Look at what you’ve done
It’s a cross of thorns
When a promise is broken, and no one trusts you,
You’ve got blood on your hands.
At the time of writing a peace process had not been completed so the song hangs…waiting.
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