Reverend Reacts to Eternal Idol by Black Sabbath

[@SolaMelodica]

This is such a great song during an odd time between Ozzy and Dio. ENJOY!

[@sidewalkrocker1304]

I really appreciate this analysis on this particular song. Because this and other albums with Antony Harford (he gave himself Tony Martin as his stage name) as the singer of Black Sabbath are considered by me to be from an underestimated era, which is mostly on the sidelines or in the shadow of Ozzy Osbourne and Dio. I find the analysis of the song lyrics fascinating. Spiritual people can teach us laymen so much about content and interpret it for us and explain it in a comprehensible way. If our Reverend approaches the following songs in the same way, it would enrich us all extremely: Lord Of This World, A National Acrobat, Spiral Architect, Heaven And Hell, Children Of The Grave, Into The Void.

[@williamdegrey]

The Tony Martin Era is vastly underrated imo.

[@SolaMelodica]

I would have to agree!

[@KyleS3m3noff]

Man, when he hits "Sinners! Say your prayers toniiiiiiiiiiight" it's just as righteous as anything Dio ever did . . .

[@SolaMelodica]

@@KyleS3m3noff Totally Agree!! I remembered that specific line only. I had forgotten who performed the song and googled that line only. SURPRISE!

[@gitaneVYS491R]

A great song from a strong album, one I still listen to often.

[@joeallegra556]

Tony Martin is alive and well. It was Ray Gillen ( RIP ) who passed away to early. Came to fame with Badlands featuring Jake E. Lee.

[@SolaMelodica]

thanks for the correction. certainly don't want to make that error.

[@caljerm]

It's basically an open letter to God - "The powerful and corrupt are destroying the world, YOUR beautiful creation and we the meek are powerless to stop them - where are you? Why are you letting this happen?"

[@ericbrecht9473]

You hit it spot on that’s exactly the message I got from it when I first heard it amazing song

[@notthesameman]

Great album listen when my dad played it in 1990 since than was my top sabbath album

[@SolaMelodica]

Great album!

[@mikeg.4211]

An unknown and underappreciated classic! Good job! I've subscribed. :) There was one album with Ian Gillian from Deep Purple (not Ray). :) I think you got the idea mostly right, with a couple of small points I disagree with. One is that when he sings that "children of tomorrow will die not even born", he's referring to the planet and humanity dying from pollution and being poisoned, so that there will be no children of tomorrow born. I am pretty sure it's not an abortion reference. This is consistent with the theme of the song, which is people bringing on the end of humanity by poisoning our planet. This also fits in with the lyrics at the end regarding politicians and greed and love of money taking over their souls, and the voices of power poisoning our world, like as in thinking only of profit and campaign contributions while looking the other way and allowing their donors to poison the planet. The other point I think is important is that when the lyrics talk about questions like "is there a heaven; is there a hell; who's this God? Tell me." and "Jesus our questions never seems to hear, dying for the answers may be the rice we pay to find the key to our lives", these are all philosophical and spiritual questions he's asking, and saying that the only way to know the answers will be that we have to die to find out for sure. By the way, the line about the "children of tomorrow" is a throwback reference to an old song of theirs, "Children of the Grave", which includes the line "Children of tomorrow live in the tears that fall today. Show the world that love is still alive you must be brave, or you children of today are children of the grave." Any on0Dio era lyrics were always written by the bass player, Geezer (Terry) Butler, who was raised Catholic. I strongly urge you to check out their song "Lord of This World", which I think you'll especially appreciate; and also "Spiral City Architect" and "A National Acrobat" and "Into the Void".

[@SolaMelodica]

thanks for the thoughtful comment! I didn't catch the reference to Children of the Grave - thanks for pointing it out. Nice to have you onboard!! So much music, so little time!

[@jamieburgess1460]

This album was done with Ray Gillan, I've got it not final production, they redid it with Tony Martin.

[@rolfdejonge3915]

Super song! 🤟🤠💥🌟🌀👍

[@kmikmi1311]

Check out a lyric video for TV Crimes by Black Sabbath

[@SolaMelodica]

That's on the list of recommendations. Thanks!

[@SpyrosTheodoratos]

Please try the "The devil cried" by Black Sabbath... Its about the power of Love... Amazing lyrics! Thanks for your videos...

[@SolaMelodica]

Thanks, I will add it to the ever growing list.

[@patrickgrimes9069]

Ray Gillen, the singer who originally recorded The Eternal Idol before Tony Martin replaced him, recorded with Savatage and died of AIDS complications. Props to you regardless for knowing that Ray Gillen was with Sabbath.

[@SolaMelodica]

thanks for the clarification --- a ton of moving parts. I wasn't aware of that Savatage connection - interesting.

[@jamieburgess1460]

Badlands is as badass as it gets.

[@jonathanward5722]

Tony Martin is still alive. :-)

[@SolaMelodica]

Oops...

[@johnnycastaway]

Tony Martin still lives. A miracle.! There is a god!.. Or is he fake news?

[@ancientegypt579]

Alternative Version is much better

[@Grandmastergav86]

The Ray Gillen version is better tbh

[@SolaMelodica]

Thanks for adding to the conversation. This is a great song!

[@darkmarv8045]

Nope, Gillen was great but too soft and melodic for Sabbath and for a dark song like this.

[@Grandmastergav86]

@@darkmarv8045 Yep, his version of this song was better. Tony Martin did a better job with the album as a whole. I love all of Martin's albums (his new solo offering is superb) well...maybe not Forbidden...but still.

[@caljerm]

No way. I like Ray a lot but TM was WAY better on this track and the entire album. Ray kills on Badlands but on Eternal Idol Tony was vastly better.

[@caljerm]

@@darkmarv8045 exactly - TM had way more power in the lower register than Gillen

[@jamieburgess1460]

Streets by Savatage is spiritual Believe is a must, Savatage did not make it because they said they hate Christian metal, story of D.T. Jesus.

[@jamieburgess1460]

Toni Iommi is a Christian. Big Cross.