Who Are You? Lyrics

Lyric discussion by mnonm 

Cover art for Who Are You? lyrics by Black Sabbath

There is a very interesting paradox in this song. I interpret this as an accusation of god not existing, but addressed to god.

Whoever this god entity is, were he to be real, he forces us to trust in him completely (faith) but judges humanity harshly anyway, oppresses us (Big Brother), and finally metes out death to every living being (cast our souls into the dust). Not everyone would fall for such a belief (you think that all the people who worship you are blind).

But the singer is on to him and demands he show himself if he really exists. Ironic is that he makes his demand "in the name of hell". He questions god's existence while implicity assuming the existence of hell.

I think this demonstrates the heavy cynicism in Black Sabbath lyrics. But there is also some hope for eternal life that lies somewhere within the supernatural realm, which in my opinion is the beauty of Black Sabbath's music. However, there is no hope in religion or blind faith.

@mnonm oh yeah that's so good

its Lucifer speaking specificly to me, but he's twisting everything around, like i'm the one doing it , i'm the one with power, that's how true infinite power acts, like it's not , it makes you believe YOU are powerful because that perfect destruction of the mind to such a degree, you've been totally dominated in everyway imaginable and then to make them believe they are powerful but anyways.

yes, it's Lucifer who Big Brother trusts now and is casting us into the dust now but.

it is possible I am the one who has been...