30 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Video
After Forever Lyrics
Have you ever thought about your soul - can it be saved?
Or perhaps you think that when you're dead you just stay in your grave
Is God just a thought within your head or is he a part of you?
Is Christ just a name that you read in a book when you were in school?
When you think about death do you lose your breath or do you keep your cool?
Would you like to see the Pope on the end of a rope - do you think he's a fool?
Well I have seen the truth, yes I've seen the light and I've changed my ways
And I'll be prepared when you're lonely and scared at the end of our days
Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say
If they knew you believe in God above?
They should realize before they criticize
that God is the only way to love
Is your mind so small that you have to fall
In with the pack wherever they run
Will you still sneer when death is near
And say they may as well worship the sun?
I think it was true it was people like you that crucified Christ
I think it is sad the opinion you had was the only one voiced
Will you be so sure when your day is near, say you don't believe?
You had the chance but you turned it down, now you can't retrieve
Perhaps you'll think before you say that God is dead and gone
Open your eyes, just realize that he's the one
The only one who can save you now from all this sin and hate
Or will you still jeer at all you hear? Yes! I think it's too late.
Or perhaps you think that when you're dead you just stay in your grave
Is God just a thought within your head or is he a part of you?
Is Christ just a name that you read in a book when you were in school?
Would you like to see the Pope on the end of a rope - do you think he's a fool?
Well I have seen the truth, yes I've seen the light and I've changed my ways
And I'll be prepared when you're lonely and scared at the end of our days
If they knew you believe in God above?
They should realize before they criticize
that God is the only way to love
In with the pack wherever they run
Will you still sneer when death is near
And say they may as well worship the sun?
I think it is sad the opinion you had was the only one voiced
Will you be so sure when your day is near, say you don't believe?
You had the chance but you turned it down, now you can't retrieve
Open your eyes, just realize that he's the one
The only one who can save you now from all this sin and hate
Or will you still jeer at all you hear? Yes! I think it's too late.
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © T.r.o. Inc., Onward Music Limited
Writer
Frank Iommi, John Osbourne, Terence Butler, W.t. Ward
Submitted by
songmeaningsuser On Jul 14, 2002
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Black Sabbath never meant to stand for Satanism, and this song strongly represents the fact that their image was created against their will.
Against their will??? Sabbath,Bloody Sabbath shows they were more than willing to look Satanic In nature and that's only one example.
Against their will??? Sabbath,Bloody Sabbath shows they were more than willing to look Satanic In nature and that's only one example.
Vizzue: "This whole album (except for Sweet Leaf) pretty much conveys positive messages."
How is Sweet Leaf not a positive message? The song is saying that this drug opens up your mind and by using it "My life is free now, my life is clear".
I think they were sick of the unwanted Satanic attention that they were getting, and wrote this too set the record straight. Just basically asking people to be more open-minded and to not just dismiss the possibility of thwe existence of God. It also says that those who believe in God are generally much happier.
This song is about God, it is a pro-Christianity song.
Black Sabbath confused me. I have to assume that their actual outlook on life is expressed in songs like "Under the Sun," but I've noticed that pretty much the entirety of the "Master of Reality" LP is Christian messages. "After Forever" directly takes nonbelievers to the task, "Lord of This World" condemns people for denying God's love in favor of sin, and "Into the Void" describes a voyage to a foreign planet, specifically stating "Leave the Earth to Satan and his slaves / Leave them to their futures in their graves."
I can't figure this out. Either there was some intense philosophical difference between the members/lyricists of Sabbath, or "Master of Reality" is a concept album from a Christian point of view. Anybody else ever thought of it that way?
@zacharyv After Forever: Excellent Christian message from a great Christian band !
@zacharyv After Forever: Excellent Christian message from a great Christian band !
sounds like a pro-christian song to me, which is strange for black sabbath. I'm not saying they were satanists, but I definetly thought they generally weren't big Jesus fans.
zacharyv- interesting idea, but I don't think this is a concept album about christianity. The first track is about marijuana.
I'm all for religion, and I like the song. I'm not Christian, but it's got a positive message from my point of view. As others have mentioned before, independent thinking is something stressed. I feel that some of their other songs were dark just to be dark. This whole album (except for Sweet Leaf) pretty much conveys positive messages. Religion was a big deal, and has a lot to do with the music of Black Sabbath. There's nothing expressly against religion that I've heard, though. A lot of their stuff is against evil.
The riff is awesome too. I just don't like the little musical interlude between verses, though.
@Vizzue I loved what you said. You stated that a lot of their stuff is against evil, but keep in mind that they did a lot of cult themed lyrics and in several songs they wanted to capture a sense of evil. Are they themselves evil? I think they've went through some dark times and were influenced by both good and evil philosophies, and I believe they used that in their music. Either way, great band, Mater of Reality is a marvelous album, and the music is great.
@Vizzue I loved what you said. You stated that a lot of their stuff is against evil, but keep in mind that they did a lot of cult themed lyrics and in several songs they wanted to capture a sense of evil. Are they themselves evil? I think they've went through some dark times and were influenced by both good and evil philosophies, and I believe they used that in their music. Either way, great band, Mater of Reality is a marvelous album, and the music is great.
I actually think this song also attacks Xtian hypocrites who live as if they dont believe in God. Verses like:
I think it was true it was people like you that crucified Christ I think it is sad the opinion you had was the only one voiced
Sounds like its directed at closed minded hypocrites.
??? I always saw this song as ozzy being sarcastic and meant the opposite. And the blind guy is the one who relies solely on religion.
no, this song and most of the album is meant to be pro-Christian.
no, this song and most of the album is meant to be pro-Christian.
Actually, Ozzy didn't right this song, Geezer did, and he was a devot Christian.
Actually, Ozzy didn't right this song, Geezer did, and he was a devot Christian.
At this point in Sabbath's career they were sick of the satanic tags. So like many other points on Master Of Reality this was to refleck those views axay from the band. Even in the song Black Sabbath, their eviliest. They still cry out to god for help. So I never understood were the tag came from. But this song to me is not really pro-christian but more pro-open mind.
Also, alot of people on here seem to be forgetting that Ozzy didn't write the lyrics. He seems to get alot of credit though.