The song is about being different than most people. Many people look at someone doing nothing and they see laziness, but there's often a war going on in there head, or maybe even high-level problem solving that other people can't understand. Most beginning artists who sacrifice the safe path in life, no matter the art form, are seen as crazy or lazy by people who live normal lives. Those same people wouldn't dare say that about a rockstar. But those same people often fail to see the role that the crazy, lazy lifestyle plays in creating the rockstar.
"Black and white is red" symbolizes how black and white thinking leads to stagnation and bloodshed (red), and Ozzy and company have likely brought more peace to the world than anyone. Meanwhile, most people just march to the drum of their destructive elected leaders. Alternatively, "black and white is read" could mean that the black and white thinking is literally instilled in us by reading what other people have written. "Swallowing colors" is perhaps a metaphor for nuanced, evolving understanding that one can only gain by listening and observing the world, rather than reading what other people have said about the world. The people who just do what they're told because they're afraid aren't really in control of themselves. They're too busy reacting by defending themselves from what they're scared of. But the lyricist is in demand... In control. Because that control looks different than normal, it makes the normal person worry (like momma). Meanwhile, the lyricist can't apologize for making momma worry, because the control they have is genuinely enjoyable. Most people living fear don't enjoy their life though.
The song is about being different than most people. Many people look at someone doing nothing and they see laziness, but there's often a war going on in there head, or maybe even high-level problem solving that other people can't understand. Most beginning artists who sacrifice the safe path in life, no matter the art form, are seen as crazy or lazy by people who live normal lives. Those same people wouldn't dare say that about a rockstar. But those same people often fail to see the role that the crazy, lazy lifestyle plays in creating the rockstar.
"Black and white is red" symbolizes how black and white thinking leads to stagnation and bloodshed (red), and Ozzy and company have likely brought more peace to the world than anyone. Meanwhile, most people just march to the drum of their destructive elected leaders. Alternatively, "black and white is read" could mean that the black and white thinking is literally instilled in us by reading what other people have written. "Swallowing colors" is perhaps a metaphor for nuanced, evolving understanding that one can only gain by listening and observing the world, rather than reading what other people have said about the world. The people who just do what they're told because they're afraid aren't really in control of themselves. They're too busy reacting by defending themselves from what they're scared of. But the lyricist is in demand... In control. Because that control looks different than normal, it makes the normal person worry (like momma). Meanwhile, the lyricist can't apologize for making momma worry, because the control they have is genuinely enjoyable. Most people living fear don't enjoy their life though.