Released: 2017
“N.I.B.” by Black Sabbath, one of the heavyweight contenders in the pantheon of classic rock, is a melodramatic love promise through the compelling persona of Lucifer himself. It’s a twisted love ballad, laced with passion, power, and the paradox of self-sacrificial love from an entity often associated with evil.
Starting off with the lines “Some people say my love cannot be true / Please believe me, my love, and I’ll show you”, we get a sense of a scorned lover, desperate to prove his sincerity. Throwing in direct references to celestial bodies – “The sun, the moon, the stars all bear my seal” – the speaker highlights his powerful influence; perhaps a metaphor about rockstars’ ability to mesmerize their fans.
“Follow me now and you will not regret / Leaving the life you led before we met”, these lines offer an enticing invite from Lucifer, suggesting a lack of regrets and a promise of a better life. Here we capture the essence of rock ‘n’ roll – a plunge into the unknown against conventional life.
Towards the chorus, there’s an emphasis on the depth of love being offered, the desire for reciprocation and the profound importance of it being real “Your love for me has just got to be real”. The promise to be with her till the end of time, is Lucifer suggesting everlasting love or subtly hinting at the eternal life of torment often associated with him? It’s the classic Sabbath conundrum- they paint a picture but what you see might vary.
The bombshell is dropped in “Look into my eyes, you’ll see who I am / My name is Lucifer, please take my hand”. This twist, the revelation of the speaker as Lucifer, hits hard. It’s a classic Black Sabbath move, a mix of darkness and reality-blurring fantasy, framed by rock’s traditional love-based lyrics.
Repetition of “Now I have you with me, under my power / Our love grows stronger now with every hour” and “Before you know the way I’m going to feel / I’m going to feel, I’m going to feel” underscores the theme of control, power, and conviction. Sabbath presents us with an almost scarily confident Lucifer, captivated by his own declaration of love.
“N.I.B.” is a masterclass in rock lyricism, with the genre’s signature themes of love, power, and rebellion, served with Black Sabbath’s unique garnishing of dark fantasy and metaphysical dread.
