Hand of Doom

Annotation

Black Sabbath, Heavy Metal band formed on 9 August 1969 in Birmingham, West Midlands, UK, fronted by Ozzy Osbourne, released possibly the only Heavy Metal songs during the Vietnam War conflict - most were released in the post-war years, particular from the 1980s. On this album was the song "Hand of Doom" (Vertigo # 6360 011) which mainly looked at drugs, but made a reference to Vietnam, the use of napalm, as well as the atomic bomb, thus a reflection of the 1960s/70s Cold War climate: "first it was the bomb, Vietnam napalm, disillusioning, you push the needle in, from life you escape".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Generals gathered in their masses / Just like witches at black masses / Evil minds that plot destruction / Sorcerer of death's construction / In the fields, the bodies burning / As the war machine keeps turning / Death and hatred to mankind / Poisoning their brainwashed minds / Oh lord, yeah! / Politicians hide themselves away / They only started the war / Why should they go out to fight? / They leave that role to the poor, yeah / Time will tell on their power minds / Making war just for fun / Treating people just like pawns in chess / Wait till their judgement day comes, yeah! / Now in darkness, world stops turning / Ashes where their bodies burning / No more war pigs have the power / Hand of God has struck the hour / Day of judgement, God is calling / On their knees, the war pigs crawling / Begging mercy for their sins / Satan laughing, spreads his wings / Oh lord, yeah!

About the artist

formed on 9 August 1969 in Birmingham, West Midlands, UK, fronted by Ozzy Osbourne

Themes

Anti-War · Napalm

In collections

European Songs · Metal Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]