TrogDawn
Janitor of the Void
 Number of posts : 7533
Age : 56
Location : Underground
Registration date : 2007-01-05
 |  Subject: BLACK SABBATH Lyric Analysis #6: "Sleeping Village"  Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:04 pm | |
| "Sleeping Village" (Black Sabbath, 1970)
Red sun rising in the sky
Sleeping village, cockerel's cry
Soft breeze blowing in the trees
Peace of mind, feel at ease | |
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TrogDawn
Janitor of the Void
Number of posts : 7533
Age : 56
Location : Underground
Registration date : 2007-01-05
| | Subject: Re: BLACK SABBATH Lyric Analysis #6: "Sleeping Village" Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:14 pm | |
| - TrogDawn wrote:
- OK, I'll start since no one else seems to want to.
Let's get one thing straight right off the bat: I totally love this song! Even though the majority if it is an instrumental, I love the beginning, mood-laden part that contains these words sung over the arpeggiated rhythm guitar and "A Bit of Finger" playing the Jaw Harp. Classic! 
I can't think of another song that is more jam packed with imagery while using as few words as this one does! I mean, can't you just picture this scene so easily in your head? A calm, peaceful village with its inhabitants asleep in their cottages in the wee hours of the morning at just about dawn. There is a gentle breeze rustling the leaves in the trees and a red colored sun rising ('red sky at morning, sailor take warning') while a rooster crows to signal the start of the day. I mean, it's like a whole world is described in those 4 short lines! And one can extrapolate from there about what comes next...
Some of the villagers will awake at the c0ck's crow and will begin their day - perhaps on a farm with an agricultural way of life, perhaps in the local bakery. Maybe some of the more carnal individuals will not wake for quite some time due to their excess of drink the night before and a bell ringing from the small church on the hill will remind them of their excesses when it wakes them to the morning after's hangover. Later in the morning, children and a maybe a couple of dogs will come out and start to play the kinds of games that don't require technology or fancy props. They will make the best of what nature offers them and their imaginations will provide the rest. Whatever it is, this song is just full of imagery and possibilities! Not to mention the recurrence of the theme of "sleep" again, which I also just think is so cool. I think this song more than any other really sets the backdrop by which I interpret the rest of the album.
Sorry if I'm waxing a bit idyllic, but this song just brings it out of me. I find it very inspirational. So much so that I would almost like to live in this place! It's just an incredibly well done little piece of art and music. 
Anyone else?  - metal canuk wrote:
- Or maybe they will rise to meet the Wizard who will come into their casting his shadow and spreading his magic!
- candlemass wrote:
- Then they realize the wizard is Ozzy givin' his sign
 , come to the village to curse Dio to a career of mediocrity, wait, that's reality! 
Edited by: TrogDawn at: 9/16/06 1:56 pm - 777Stryken777 wrote:
- I think that in order to really get these lyrics, you need to stand back and look at Sabbath as a whole...and a lot of times, the lyrics intentionally have an outwardly peaceful appearance, but have a dark foreboding sense that something's wrong underneath.
Listen to "Laguna Sunrise", for example. Even without lyrics, you get this vibe that it's peaceful, but there's something evil lurking underneath the water. I've always described it as being like a beautiful sunset over a cemetery -- very beatiful, but a sense of darkness, you know? And that's the sense I get from "Sleeping Village." - TrogDawn wrote:
- Kind of like the "calm before the storm" effect? Like something dreadful is just about to happen?
- 777Stryken777 wrote:
- Yes -- that's exactly what I mean!
- swokie38 wrote:
- Trog, I think we are ready for the next one !!
- TrogDawn wrote:
- But you haven't even commented yet, dood!
 - swokie38 wrote:
- Well, even though I don't usually post, I enjoy reading your and others breakdown of the songs. I don't have much to add. This song seems to go along with the album cover to me. To be honest, the lyrics are second to the riffs !
- swokie38 wrote:
- busy ??
- TrogDawn wrote:
- Yeah. I'll get to as soon as I am able...
- candlemass wrote:
- Did Sharon make you edit my post, Trozzy?
 - candlemass wrote:
- swokie38 wrote:
- This song seems to go along with the album cover to me.
I concur. - TrogDawn wrote:
- candlemass wrote:
- Did Sharon make you edit my post, Trozzy?
Nah, I was just fixing some factual errors for you, that's all.  - Zombiewalkin wrote:
- TrogDawn wrote:
- Kind of like the "calm before the storm" effect? Like something dreadful is just about to happen?
That's always been the impression Ive gotten from these lyrics. Even the music has a "sleepy" quality to it. | |
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