Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train - Meaning of the song
This was the first single Ozzy Osbourne released after leaving Black Sabbath in 1978. Ozzy wrote the song with guitarist Randy Rhoads and bass player Bob Daisley.
"Randy had the basic riff, the signature riff. Then we worked on music together. He needed something to solo on so I came up with a chord pattern and the section for him to solo over.
Before it was called 'Crazy Train,' before we even had a title, Randy and I were working on the music. He had his effects pedals, and coming through his amp was a weird kind of chugging sound. It was a phase-y kind of psychedelic effect, this chugging sound that was coming through his amp from his effects pedal.
While many believe that this is yet another Ozzy song about insanity, it's actually about the Cold War. Evidence in the lyrics: "Millions of people living as foes," "One person conditioned to rule and control; The media sells it and you live the role," "Heirs of a cold war, that's what we've become. Inheriting troubles I'm mentally numb." The relevant acronym was "M.A.D." (Mutually Assured Destruction), a doctrine which basically amounts to "if they shoot their nukes at us, we'll shoot ours right back, and that would be the end of the world that nobody wants, so it won't happen... as long as we keep pointing nukes at each other." Hence, "crazy" is another word for "mad."
Crazy Train - Lyrics
Crazy, but that's how it goes Millions of people living as foes Maybe. It's not too late To learn how to love, and forget how to hate Mental wounds not healing Life's a bitter shame I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train I've listened to preachers, I've listened to fools I've watched all the dropouts Who make their own rules One person conditioned to rule and control The media sells it and you live the role Mental wounds still screaming Driving me insane I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train I know that things are going wrong for me You gotta listen to my words, yeah, yeah Heirs of a cold war That's what we've become Inheriting troubles I'm mentally numb Crazy, I just cannot bear I'm living with something that just isn't fair Mental wounds not healing Who and what's to blame I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train
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