But soon the world
Had its evil way
My heart was blinded
Love went astray.

Black Sabbath’s “Changes” is a song about a man with a broken heart. Who knew that Ozzy Osbourne can do tender love songs? He was blinded by lust and tempted by another woman and he cheated on the woman he loved. His best friend. His life will be different now because he knows that he lost her love.

The changes that Ozzy describes are typical in a breakup: he feels sad, lonely. What makes it worse is that he knows he did this to himself. If only he could go back and change the man he is. Not just his actions, but his character.

The instrumentation in Black Sabbath’s “Changes” is fairly simple, and that helps it pack an emotional punch. The piano combined with the mellotron create a vibe similar to something out of a funeral procession in a church. The most surprising aspect of the song is the amazingly crisp, intelligible vocals from Ozzy. For those of us who knew Ozzy the personality before Ozzy from Black Sabbath, it is quite a welcome shock.

Changes Lyrics

I feel unhappy, I feel so sad.
I’ve lost the best friend, that I ever had.
She was my woman, I love her so.
But it’s too late now, I’ve let her go.

I’m going through changes.
I’m going through changes.

We shared the years, we shared each day.
In love together we found a way.
But soon the world, had it’s evil way.
My heart was blinded, love went astray.

I’m going through changes.
I’m going through changes.

It took so long, to realize.
And I can still hear her last goodbyes.
Now all my days, are filled with tears.
Wish I could go back, and change these years.

I’m going through changes.
I’m going through changes

written by Black Sabbath (W.T. Ward / John Osbourne / Tony Iommi / Terence Butler)