I have a list of 20 music videos I found on YouTube for the STUFF section on the front page. One that I found a few days ago was Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid“, the one I embeded today. It’s one of the greatest rock songs of all time. But it also brings back memories of growing up in Abadan my hometown in southern Iran (I don’t bring up Abadan THAT much, do I?!).
My older sisters Soraya and Sue-san were in boarding school in England at the time (early 1970s). When they would come home for their summer vacation, they would bring the latest popular music albums with them. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Janis Joplin, …
My father had a beautiful, grand record player in the living room. He had hooked it up to two giant speakers. They were lllllloud… great for parties — and my sisters had the best. We would clear the living room of everything except the music system. The floor would be entirely covered with carpets. Colorful pillows and poshtis (thick cylindrical pillows) would be placed all around the room for the guests to be comfortable. The lights would go off, and Ozzy Osborne would blast into the air…
Me and my younger sister, Iran, would be exiled to our rooms as to not annoy or be in the way of the adults. Fortunately the music was loud enough to enjoy. I was a kid, my English was not that good and I didn’t understand the lyrics. What turned me on though was the beat, the rhythm the melody…
When I embeded the video this morning, I thought maybe it’s time to listen to the actual lyrics for a change. It wasn’t that easy, but it was shocking enough for me to look it up online… and I thought… ohhh crap! :o)
IT’S JUST A GREAT SONG!
PARANOID
Finished with my woman cause
she couldn’t help me with my mind
People think I’m insane because
I am browning all the time
All day long I think of things but
nothing seems to satisfy
Think I’ll lose my mind if
I don’t find something to pacify
Can you help me?
Thought you were my friend
Whoah yeah
I need someone to show me the things in life that
I can’t find
I can’t see the things that make true happiness
I must be blind
Make a joke and I will sigh and
you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel and
love to me is so unreal
And so as you hear these words
telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it’s too late
