Ozzy Osbourne, known by many as the "Prince of Darkness," has passed away today after a long and distinguished music career spanning over 58 years. We honor him by reflecting on our favorite Ozzy Osborne classics, some that even non-metal fans can appreciate.
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1. "Mr. Crowley"
"Mr. Crowley" comes from Ozzy Osbourne's debut album. It pays homage to the work of Aleister Crowley, who founded the Thelemite religion and was a well-known occultist. His persona was very intriguing to Osborne. He chose to write a song that asked Crowley where his darkness comes from and "what's going on in his head?" During the recording of the song, a deck of cards that was owned and used by Crowley was present as well. Accompanied by a gothic piano and detailed guitar riffs, this song became a staple at Ozzy's shows and one that fans loved to sing along to.
2. "Mama, I'm Coming Home"
From his highly acclaimed album, No More Tears, this ballad was written by Ozzy Osbourne as a tribute to his wife, Sharon Osborne, who also served as his manager. The singer discusses his desire to return home and be with her after years on the road. The song also addresses Osborne's struggle with his drug and alcohol addictions. It gives insight into the singer coming to terms with past regrets.
3. "Bark At The Moon"
"Bark At The Moon", like much of Ozzy Osbourne's work, has a strong emphasis on storytelling with dark themes. The moment Ozzy decided to give the song its eerie title, he had already had plans in mind for the title of his next album, Bark At The Moon. In this title track, a creature, believed by most to be a werewolf, is killed after intimidating a town, and then comes back to life to seek vengeance. A theatrical music video also accompanies the song. And (spoiler alert) Ozzy turns into a werewolf, much like the one described in the tune.
4. "No More Tears"
The title track of his 1991 album, "No More Tears", tells a dark story of a stalker searching for his next victim. Many fans have found this narrative puzzling. A few have tried to take a stab at the meaning behind the song, making guesses that it might really be about addiction or infidelity. "No More Tears" is also the longest song ever recorded by Ozzy Osbourne. It clocks in at a total of 7 minutes and 23 seconds. The album itself was significant in that it allowed Ozzy to prove that he could evolve his sound beyond his previous projects. And it really demonstrated his capability to do so.
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