Children Of The Grave

It is up to us, as the human race, to save the world from self-destruction, and to change it into a much better place. This, like many earlier Sabbath songs, is just as relevant today as when it was originally released.

It's about the threat of nuclear war.

It's a very similar theme to Bob Dylan's "Times, they are a changing"

Basically, if people don't make a stand against the "Warpigs" then we're all going to be blown to Kingdom Come.

It's time to re-release this song, because there's a new breed of Warpigs who seem intent on unleashing Armageddon upon us!

Ozzy refers to it has their "punk" song.

First of all, bitching song of course. Secondly, what an amazingly prophetic song. This song and its message is coming to pass. Our generation, 80s, 90s and after children, epitomize the values in this song. We are not rebelling against societal norms and other facets of society for the sake of rebelling, but rather because there are some pretty heinous acts and dire circumstances that our species over the course of its brief existence have brought to fruition. We are changing, and will further change that. We will smite the vile, destitute veil of evil ignorance that has held back humanity from the truth. From our true potential as a species, not as individuals.We are the foundation upon which all future generations will look and say, "this is where it started". Previous generations may see us weak, soft, or unable, but alas that is not true. We will open minds by example, not by force. Through compassion, not judgement. Through science, not faith. Through kindness, not violence. Through our voices, not our sword. Through love, not hate. We will not fall into these metaphorical graves, but rather watch in sadness as those we wish to help fall in themselves of their own volition. The time is not nigh brothers and sisters of humanity, it is already here.

BS talks about not being hippies, but alot of their songs deal with love, anti-war/government, drugs, etc. - normally very hippy-ish themes. The music was less so, but I don't see how hippies wouldn't have been into this.

The guitar line that comes half way in is one of the heaviest riffs ever. They should've made this song 5 minutes longer.

If Ozzy said it was their punk song then I'd have to kind of agree with EvilLawyer and Satans Angel.

In my opinion it's protest song. It's the Cold War/Vietnam era and plebty of people were afraid that the world superpowers would exchange atomic fire. Black Sabbath is telling the kids (the future) to stand up and protest! Protest at what their elders have done in creating war and high tensions. And that if something wasn't done soon it might be to late because you might not even wake up.

It probably isn't what black sabbath were thinking of, but this reminds me of the childrens crusade - a thing in the 13th century where children were sent off to their death because of somebody's religious vision. so it warns me against people who tell children to rebel for the sake of it.

Yeah, none of that is really in the song, just what it makes me think about.

I agree with songmeaningsuser, but my own personal view whenever I hear this song is individuals fighting against conformity and oppression. We are all pressured to follow the "social norms," and to punish those who break this mold. To me, this just talks about what happens to those who give up the fight to preserve indiviuality (i.e. become Children of the Grave) That's my own personal veiw as to the meaning, I'm sure there is an offical meaning that someone will post later, but this is one of my fav Sabbath songs no matter what it means.

This song is about that in every generation, there is a revolution, and that every generation hates something about the current generation. It supposed to be a happy song! The song is great.

I think it's about the hippy generation and the Vietnam war, or atleast that the songwriter was heavily influenced by it. If I'm not mistaken the album on which this song appears was released in 1970, i.e. in the middle of the "hippy age". Although it's not directly talking about the Vietnam war and hippies it is certainly referring to it IMO.