Black Sabbath – After Forever

Black Sabbath was a classic secular heavy metal band that began in 1968 and ended in 2006, with a reprieve from 2011 to 2017.  They released 19 studio albums, eight live albums, and one EP.  The band had several line-up changes over the years ever since rock legend Ozzy Osbourne was asked to leave in 1979 due to excessive substance abuse.  Headliners include Ronny Dio, Ian Gillan, and Tony Martin.

They won two Grammy’s for Best Metal Performance (2000 and 2014), were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Black-sabbath-after-forever-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Most of this song is talking points for Black Sabbath’s audience to consider.  They contrast two basic ideas, belief and unbelief, claiming that the former is true.  They are different people because of Jesus.  They are prepared for Jesus’ second coming.  Not so for Black Sabbath’s audience.

Their audience turned away from Jesus, believing that God doesn’t exist, Jesus is just a name on a page, and that there’s no afterlife.  Should they die in this state, they will experience eternal separation from God.  Though correct that their audience put Jesus on the cross, they neglect to humble themselves, that they did the same.

The song’s end is a plea to others, that they should forsake their sinful lifestyle and follow Jesus.  Only He can save them.

Score: 9/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

Most of the song aligns with God’s inspired Word (in context); However, they forget that they were responsible for putting Jesus on the cross.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-10: This is a series of thoughts/questions that Black Sabbath’s audience may have asked:

1. Can one’s soul attain salvation?
2. When people die, do they stay dead?
3. Is God wishful thinking or can we experience Him?
4. Is Jesus just a name on the page?

The answers in Scripture are:

1. Yes, through Jesus (John 14:6 and Acts 4:12).
2. No.  They either inherit eternal life with God (Mark 10:29-30, John 3:15-16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 10:28, John 17:3, John 20:31, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:22-23, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:8, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11, Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:23-27, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20, Jude 1:20-21, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:16-17, and Revelation 21:3-4) or experience eternal separation from God (Matthew 18:8, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43, Jude 1:7, Revelation 14:11, and Revelation 20:10).
3. We can experience Him (John 15:1-11, Acts 17:27, Romans 8:15, Romans 11:16-24, and Philippians 3:8-10).
4. No (2 Peter 1:16).

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-6: Continues the same theme as Verse 1:

1. Does thoughts about death cause you to remain calm or lose your composure?
2. This could either be interpreted as, “Should the Vatican sell ‘pope on a rope’ soap?” or, “Do you think the Pope deserves to be hung?”

Again, the answers are:

1. It depends on the person.  See lines 10-12.
2. Probably not and no, respectively.

Lines 7-9: What is this “truth” and “light” that Black Sabbath speaks?  They don’t say directly, but we could ascertain from the rest of the lyrics that they mean Jesus (John 14:6; John 1:1-8, John 8:12, and Ephesians 5:14).  Black Sabbath states that they are different because of Christ.

Lines 10-12: Black Sabbath juxtaposes their preparedness for Christ’s second coming to others who are without Jesus, reminiscent of the parable of ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.

[Bridge]

Lines 1-3: Black Sabbath contemplates if their audience are believers who are afraid of sharing their faith.

Lines 4 and 5: To help these people overcome their fear, Black Sabbath offers some advice: Before their friends offer criticism, they should first understand that God is the only way to love.  This is so, because God is love (1 John 4:8).

Lines 6-8: Black Sabbath wonders if their audience allows friends to influence them to unbelief without thinking for themselves (Romans 12:2, Colossians 2:8, and 2 Timothy 2:15).

Lines 9-11: See Verse 2, lines 10-12.

[Verse 3]

Lines 1 and 2: Black Sabbath touches on an important point: who was responsible for Jesus’ death?  In one sense, yes, it was the Romans, Sanhedrin, and Jewish crowd who yelled “crucify Him” that was the historic reason for Jesus’ death.  However, on a deeper, more fundamental level, He died while we were sinners because He loves us (Romans 5:6-8).  We’re all responsible for putting Him up there.  By saying “people like you”, they forget to include themselves.

Lines 3-10: Black Sabbath takes pity on people who reject Jesus.  They turned Him down and died.  It’s too late for them (Revelation 20:15).

[Outro]

Lines 1-6: Black Sabbath pleads with their audience to consider what they say.  Namely, that only Jesus can save them from their enslavement to sin (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24). Also, see commentary on Verse 1, particularly, answer #1.

Line 7: Black Sabbath wonders if their audience will accept or reject their plea.

Line 8: According to Verse 3, lines 9 and 10, it’s too late because they already died.

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

They will see this song as a series of questions intended to challenge them on their beliefs.  Black Sabbath throws a lot of thoughts that they might have, explaining that they’ve “seen the light” and wants them to find Jesus.  They will probably recognize Black Sabbath’s lack of humility.  They could interpret “Yes, I think it’s too late”  as “What’s the point?  It’s too late for me anyway, might as well live for myself”; However, this conclusion doesn’t fit with the song’s overall theme.  Still, it’s easy to see that some might take it this way.

The word “sin” will probably be seen as mistakes, but not lawbreaking.

Score: 7/10

4. What does this song glorify?

Though it glorifies God that Black Sabbath pleads with unbelievers to become followers of Christ, they err by failing to take responsibility for Jesus’ death.

Score: 9/10

Closing Comments

Black Sabbath’s After Forever is influential.  It appeals to unbelievers, contrasting their beliefs to salvation that Jesus can offer them, glorifying God.  Though Black Sabbath should remain humble, admitting that they helped crucify Jesus, this song asks others to keep an open mind and consider that Christianity could be true.  Black Sabbath claims that Jesus changed them, pleading with others to follow Him.

This song is inspirational, but not appropriate for corporate worship.

Final Score: 8.5/10

Artist Info

Track: After Forever (listen to the song)

Artist: Black Sabbath

Album: Master of Reality

Genre: Classic Heavy Metal

Release Year: 1971

Duration: 5:26

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