About the Song
By the time Black Rain was released in 2007, Ozzy Osbourne had already outlived many of his peers — and perhaps even his own expectations. With a career marked by wild excess and iconic achievements, Ozzy’s later work often revealed a more introspective, world-weary side. Nowhere is that more apparent than in “Nightmare,” one of the darkest, most unsettling tracks on the album.
The song doesn’t scream for attention — it slithers in. A slow, pulsing rhythm builds a sense of unease from the very first measure. Zakk Wylde’s guitar work is thick and oppressive, layering distortion and minor-key tension. Behind it, the drums and bass create a slow-motion descent, pulling the listener into a murky psychological space where fear, guilt, and unresolved trauma churn just beneath the surface.
Lyrically, “Nightmare” reads like a cry from someone trapped inside their own mind. It’s not just about bad dreams — it’s about the lingering consequences of a lifetime lived on the edge, and the inability to escape what haunts you. There are no clear villains in this song, only shadows and echoes. It’s Ozzy facing something many fear to confront: himself.
His vocal delivery here is restrained, almost ghostlike, as though he’s telling a story he’s tired of repeating. He doesn’t wail or rage — he confesses. “I’m running from the nightmare / The voices in my head,” he sings, and it’s impossible not to believe him. The track unfolds like a psychological horror film, not in screams but in whispers that won’t go away.
“Nightmare” is a deep cut that might be overlooked among Ozzy’s more bombastic anthems, but it carries a chilling weight. It shows how heavy metal — at its best — can be more than loud. It can be introspective, terrifying, and emotionally raw.
In a career full of spectacle, this track is a rare moment of quiet darkness. No theatrics. No fire and brimstone. Just Ozzy Osbourne, alone with the memories he can’t silence — and the nightmare he can’t wake up from.