The legendary Black Sabbath co-founder, main lyricist and bassist Geezer Butler is currently promoting his autobiography “Into The Void” and he revealed in an interview with Rock Cellar which is one of his favorite deep cuts from the band. The track chosen was “A National Acrobat”.
“I think maybe ‘A National Acrobat’ from the ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ album. The lyrics were a bit extreme, to say the least. I wrote the riff for the first part, and I loved the way Tony carried on from what I’d done. He took a totally different direction. I really love that song,” Geezer Butler said.
As the musician explained, the track was featured on their classic fifth studio album “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”, released in 1973. Although it is one of the best songs from that album, it was overshadowed by tracks like “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” and “Sabbra Cadabra”.
That album performed well on the charts, peaking at number 4 on the United Kingdom Albums chart and number 11 on the United States Billboard 200.
Hear “A National Acrobat” and read the lyrics below:
“I am the world that hides the universal secret of all time
Destruction of the empty spaces is my one and only crime
I’ve lived a thousand times
I found out what it means to be believed
The thoughts and images
The unborn child who never was conceived
When little worlds collide
I’m trapped inside my embryonic cell
And flashing memories
Are cast into the never ending well
The name that scorns the face
The child that never sees the cause of man
The deathly darkness that
Belies the face of those who never ran
You got believe it, I’m talking to you
Well, I know it’s hard for you to know the reason why
And I know you’ll understand when it’s time to die
Don’t believe the life you have will be the only one
You have to let your body sleep to let your soul live on
I want you to listen, I’m trying to get through
Love has given life to you and now it’s your concern
Unseen eye of inner life will make your soul return
Still, I look but not to touch
The seeds of life are sown
Curtain of the future falls
The secret stays unknown
Just remember love is life
And hate is living death
Treat your life for what its worth
And live for every breath
Looking back I’ve lived and learned
But now I’m wondering
Here, I wait and only guess
What this next life will bring”