About the Song
When Black Sabbath released “War Pigs” in 1970 as the opening track of their landmark album Paranoid, they didn’t just unleash a heavy metal masterpiece — they ignited a cultural reckoning. At a time when the world was still grappling with the aftermath of Vietnam and the growing mistrust in political leadership, this song captured a raw, collective anger that few dared to speak aloud.
Originally titled “Walpurgis,” the song evolved into a full-scale condemnation of warmongering politicians, generals, and power-hungry elites. With lyrics like:
“Politicians hide themselves away / They only started the war…”
Ozzy Osbourne’s haunting vocals slice through the ominous riffs like a siren in the night — not as a theatrical warning, but as a direct call-out of systemic evil.
Musically, “War Pigs” laid the groundwork for what heavy metal would become: slow, thunderous guitar work by Tony Iommi, paired with Geezer Butler’s apocalyptic bass lines and Bill Ward’s chaotic drumming. The song shifts tempo and intensity, mimicking the unpredictability of war itself — lurching between brooding verses and explosive refrains. It’s dark, epic, and unflinchingly real.
The genius of “War Pigs” lies not only in its sonic weight but in its timeless message. Decades later, it remains relevant — a chilling reminder of the cost of blind obedience and the cowardice of those who pull the strings. In live performances across the decades, Ozzy and Black Sabbath resurrected the track like a warning bell, each time echoing its truth louder than before.
For many fans, “War Pigs” wasn’t just a song — it was their first taste of protest through music, their first realization that metal could be both brutal and brilliant in its message. And more than 50 years later, it still stands as one of the greatest anti-war anthems in rock history.