by Black Sabbath fans are raising concerns about songwriting credits for the classic track “War Pigs.” Accusations are directed at Sharon Osbourne for allegedly rewriting the band’s history, based on a discussion thread on Reddit.
The controversy centers around Brazilian Spotify listings that credit Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi as the writers of “War Pigs.” This contradicts the widely recognized fact that Geezer Butler wrote the song’s lyrics.
“Ozzy and Tony are credited for War Pigs on Brazilian Spotify. Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it Geezer Butler who wrote War Pigs? In the new Judas Priest version it says Ozzy and Tony did it,” one Reddit user pointed out.
The discussion highlighted broader concerns about historical accuracy in music credits.
“On YouTube the description calls it an Ozzy song. The way that history is trying to be rewritten is disgusting,” another user commented.
Additional users provided context about the band’s songwriting dynamics and Sharon Osbourne’s alleged role in credit disputes.
“Geezer wrote the lyrics to it. Ozzy wasn’t writing anything. At the end of his Sabbath time he refused to even sing the lyrics they wrote for him. Sharon always pushed for Ozzy to get credit (so she gets $$$) but it’s not a secret everyone wrote for Ozzy,” one commenter explained.
The thread also referenced previous controversies involving the Osbournes and songwriting credits. These included disputes with musicians Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake over royalty claims.
To understand the significance of this credit dispute, it’s important to examine the actual origins and creation process of “War Pigs.” The track stands as one of Black Sabbath’s most influential songs.
The song’s history reveals a complex creative process that supports fans’ concerns about proper attribution. Primordial Radio reported that the track originally began as a jam session called “Walpurgis.” Butler described this early version as “sort of like Christmas for Satanists.” The song evolved significantly from this early version before reaching its final form on the Paranoid album.
Butler’s role as the primary lyricist becomes clear when examining his own explanation of the song’s meaning. Primordial Radio documented that Butler explained war was the “big Satan” he addressed in the lyrics. He emphasized the song’s critique of warmongers disguised as rulers rather than any occult meaning. This literary approach to songwriting was characteristic of Butler’s contributions to the band.
The band’s collaborative songwriting process typically followed a specific pattern that further validates Butler’s credited role. American Songwriter noted that Tony Iommi’s guitar riffs provided the musical backbone while Butler supplied most of the lyrics throughout Black Sabbath’s catalog. Ozzy Osbourne’s role primarily involved adapting and delivering the vocals. Butler’s literary influence shaped the pointed anti-war message that defines “War Pigs.”
The recording process also involved additional creative elements that weren’t attributed to Ozzy. Beyond the Grooves highlighted that producer Rodger Bain added notable elements during recording. These included the iconic air-raid siren opening that cemented the song’s impactful atmosphere. These production choices further demonstrate that the song’s creation involved multiple contributors beyond the credited writers.
