About the Song
Tucked into the shadows of Ozzy Osbourne’s 1983 album Bark at the Moon is a track that often escapes the spotlight but deserves a closer look: “Now You See It (Now You Don’t).” With its menacing groove and biting lyrics, the song is a masterclass in betrayal, control, and the illusions we live under — served up with Ozzy’s signature snarl and theatrical flair.
Released during a pivotal time in his solo career, Bark at the Moon was Ozzy’s first album without the late, great Randy Rhoads. While Jake E. Lee stepped in on guitar with his own scorching style, “Now You See It (Now You Don’t)” stands out not just for its sonic aggression but for its raw emotional undercurrent. The track crackles with paranoia, frustration, and wounded defiance — as if Ozzy’s lifting the curtain on someone who’s manipulated him and watching the truth finally unravel.
The lyrics are deceptively simple but loaded with venom:
“She’s cunning as a fox, and she got me on the run…”
This is no romantic lament — it’s a declaration of war wrapped in sarcasm. The chorus, repeating the phrase “Now you see it, now you don’t,” drives home the theme of illusion and betrayal — how things that once felt solid can vanish in a blink when trust is broken.
Musically, the song is relentless. Driven by Jake E. Lee’s heavy riffs, pounding drums, and eerie synth flourishes, it captures the unsettling mix of anger and uncertainty that defined much of Ozzy’s work in the early ’80s. His vocals are fierce but controlled, delivering the perfect balance of sneer and sorrow. There’s a sense of theatricality to it all — as if Ozzy is playing both the magician and the misdirected victim on stage.
What’s especially powerful about “Now You See It” is how it channels personal betrayal into universal feeling. Whether aimed at a former friend, a lover, or even the pressures of fame itself, the song speaks to that moment we’ve all felt: when someone we trusted disappears behind a mask, and we’re left asking what was ever real.
Though it was never released as a single, “Now You See It (Now You Don’t)” has become a cult favorite among longtime Ozzy fans, proof that some of his most compelling work happens just beyond the hits. It’s a track that doesn’t beg for attention — it demands it, burning with the fire of a man who’s seen through the lies and refuses to be fooled again.