Special thanks to my friend Mark Hollingsworth who posted the lyrics to this song, and the song on his MySpace page. I responded that I had a grin on my face and a giggle in my throat as I read the lyric. I wonder why? Well the why is really quite simple, it is simple because the song shows that people from all walks are searching, that God is reaching out to them, and that there is light to be found in the strangest of places. By the way, the band is Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne is on vocals. The song is After Forever.The lyrics follow, and then a video, but I encourage you to check out the lyrics. Where is Black Sabbath coming from? What are they looking for? What is the purpose of the song? Who do you think they are performing it for? Now to the lyrics.
Have you ever thought about your soul - can it be saved?
Or perhaps you think that when you're dead you just stay in your grave
Is God just a thought within your head or is he a part of you?
Is Christ just a name that you read in a book when you were in school?
When you think about death do you lose your breath or do you keep your cool?
Would you like to see the Pope on the end of a rope - do you think he's a fool?
Well I have seen the truth, yes I've seen the light and I've changed my ways
And I'll be prepared when you're lonely and scared at the end of our days
Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say
If they knew you believe in God above?
They should realize before they criticize
that God is the only way to love
Is your mind so small that you have to fall
In with the pack wherever they run?
Will you still sneer when death is near
And say they may as well worship the sun?
I think it was true it was people like you that crucified Christ
I think it is sad the opinion you had was the only one voiced
Will you be so sure when your day is near, say you don't believe?
You had the chance but you turned it down, now you can't retrieve
Perhaps you'll think before you say that God is dead and gone
Open your eyes, just realize that he's the one
The only one who can save you now from all this sin and hate
Or will you still jeer at all you hear? Yes! I think it's too late.
(Black Sabbath, "After Forever" from Master of Reality,1972)
Click on the video below to watch and listen, if the video don’t show up, just click on the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhUlrlf_dTE
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4 comments:
I think that it probably doesn't really matter what Ozzy or Black Sabbath wrote back in 1972. Did the sentiments of this song start a new direction for them? Is there any fruit evident from this song in their lives?
BTW, if you want a historical perspective on the song, the orginal review of the album by Rolling Stone is posted on their website (find it at http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/blacksabbath/albums/album/134886/review/5941551/master_of_reality).
The song is referenced in one paragraph as a sign of "the religious virus."
The lyrics on their own have virtue, but are you trying to prove some apologetics point? Why waste the cyberspace on this?
Nah I agree, the souls of people that God loves don't matter. On the other hand, trying to reach those who may like them don't matter either. Then I could be wrong about all of this and say that your comment don't matter but I ran it anyway.
I dont think it matters if the song made a difference to their lives or not. I think what matters is does it or has made it a difference in the life of others. I am pretty sure when God spoke through the Donkey that it never went off and became the first Donkey preacher but what we do know is, is that God was simply using it to speak to someone else.
Great post James, totally agree
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