Lyrics: Geezer or Dio?

[Backstreet Kid]

As much as I like Heaven And Hell and Mob Rules I sometimes wonder what lyrics Geezer might have written for those albums. I like Dio but I prefer Geezer's lyrics. I guess I can relate to them a little more. I understand Dio wants to sing his own words, and I like his lyrics, but I think it's too bad that we were deprived of all those great Geezer lyrics after NSD. Dio has admitted that he wrote many of his songs while watching sporting events and that is perhaps one major difference in the writing styles of the 2. I don't picture Geezer writing Into The Void while watching basketball. haha.
Do you have a preference?

[mythology]

Geezer is on a different planet lyric-wise. In my opinion much-much better than RJD.

RJDs lyrics always sounded like adolescent poetry to me.

This link sums up RJDs lyrics for me:

http://www.themetallian.com/metallia...tors/diolyrics

[Wicked Cricket]

I actually thought RJD wrote better lyrics in Rainbow for the most part than Sabbath. Geezer's lyrics were much more social, political and personal than Ronnie's. 2 compeletly different styles and approaches, 180 degrees different. As different as the sound of the 2 Sabbath's. Iommi chamged his writing approach also when RJD came in. I think Geezer started fading out as aNlyricist in SABBATH with TE and NSD... imo, you can;t touch him on the first 6 Sabbath albums.

[Charger]

They are two totally different lyricists. Both experts in what they do. But to me Ronnie's lyrics have always been closer to my heart.

Geezer's political lyrics are very good but his druggy lyrics not so much...

But both Ronnie and Geezer wrote about stuff that goes on all around us but they just had two totally different ways to tackle the subject....Geezer's were more straight forward and Ronnie liked to use a lot of metaphors...which gave the songs a lot more depth and more than one possible interpretation.

[cwilder86]

Geezer is on a different planet lyric-wise. In my opinion much-much better than RJD.

RJDs lyrics always sounded like adolescent poetry to me.

This link sums up RJDs lyrics for me:

http://www.themetallian.com/metallia...tors/diolyrics

Well given you have made it blatantly clear on many occasions there is only "ONE" Sabbath to you and that is the Mk. 1 line up your opinion on this is not surprising in the least bit.


That aside... I can't decide. It's like a complete and total split down the middle for me. Both are fantastic. Definitely two of my favorite lyricists in metal.

[MH1986]

The two greatest metal lyricists of all time. It really is apples or oranges here. Geezer's lyrics are more straightforward whereas Dio's more metaphorical. I love them both equally. They're both great.

[Josef_K]

Imo they both are, together with Roger Waters/David Gilmour and Bob Dylan THE greatest poets/lyricists of ALL time. Anyway that generator of yours is just laughable, just cos someone doesn't understand that Dio uses metaphors in his writing doesn't mean they have to joke about it. I can respect your opinion though, GZR and Dio are very different lyricists.

I also recall GZR saying stuff like "I always was a reluctant lyricist", "After NSD I said that I would never write any more lyrics for Black Sabbath" and "when I met Dio and he told me he wrote his own lyrics I was relieved". None of the quotes are exact and I can't give you links or anything to the interviews, but I'm pretty sure most of you know about this as well, it is no secret. I will never understand how someone can dislike writing lyrics when they all are so incredible :S It's as if Mozart would've hated playing the piano...

So anyway I don't think gzr wrote anything at all on any dio-era album, it would be rly rly hard to mix the two different styles. But I really wonder how much gzr wrote on "Born Again". I just can't believe Ian came up with the lyrics for songs like "Born Again" and "Disturbing the Priest". Anyone got info on this?

[Charger]

So anyway I don't think gzr wrote anything at all on any dio-era album, it would be rly rly hard to mix the two different styles. But I really wonder how much gzr wrote on "Born Again". I just can't believe Ian came up with the lyrics for songs like "Born Again" and "Disturbing the Priest". Anyone got info on this?

Don't know about Born Again but Ian certainly wrote Disturbing The Priest...but Geezer came up with the title.

Here's what Ian had to say about the song:

We were in loud playback mode, with the door open...When the track ended I was surprised to see a nervous vicar standing in the doorway. He explained how wonderful he thought the music was, but they were having choir practise in the adjacent village church and so would we mind closing the door…? I apologised immediately, we got hold of his schedule and never worked again during those times. The following evening I had a few beers with the vicar and signed some autographs for the choir. It was Geezer who came up with the title as we were laughing about the story some days later.

[gunman42782]

As much as I loved RJD, Geezer, to me, is the best lyricist of all time. Dio was great at his best, but way too much "rainbows, dragons, lights, etc" references to suit me. As others have already mentioned, two totally different approaches to lyrics.

[-E5150 StarWanderer-]

Both are brilliant lyricists, my favorite ones along with Phil Lynott. And I too join the bandwagon and state that Dio and Geezer had very different styles. But there was atleast one common quality in their lyrics: they often made listeners to really think about the the true meaning behind them. Good examples of that are A National Acrobat and The Sign of the Southern Cross. And like Wicked Cricket already mentioned, I too think that Geezers lyrics started to lose something after Sabotage. I think that Dio deserves a con for bigger body of work and being constantly good over the years.

Anywho, an extremely tight battle, but if someone would put a gun on my head I'd probably vote RJD.

[Drago]

I do like RJD's lyrics but Geezer is in another league. IMO, Geezer is the best lyricist to ever put pen to paper. Just amazing. He is in another stratosphere. The only other person I would consider on the same wavelength is John Lennon. This isn't a knock on RJD but more of a statement on how incredible Geezer is.

I also love Bob Daisley's lyrics very well. Actually better than RJD's. I think RJD was a good lyric writer but Geezer is the best.

[Josef_K]

I also love Bob Daisley's lyrics very well.

This I really agree on. I would like to add Geoff Nicholls as well. But imo they are just one tiny step below the great ones (Gilmour/Waters, Dylan, Butler, Dio)

[OZZYIRONMAN]

Geezer is better hands down

---------- Post added at 03:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:31 PM ----------

BTW that lyric generator is awesome!

[IommiRules]

I do like RJD's lyrics but Geezer is in another league. IMO, Geezer is the best lyricist to ever put pen to paper. Just amazing. He is in another stratosphere. The only other person I would consider on the same wavelength is John Lennon. This isn't a knock on RJD but more of a statement on how incredible Geezer is.

I also love Bob Daisley's lyrics very well. Actually better than RJD's. I think RJD was a good lyric writer but Geezer is the best.

Word for word, a perfect post... right down to your signature!

[Ted Sallis]

Originally Posted by Josef_K
...But I really wonder how much gzr wrote on "Born Again". I just can't believe Ian came up with the lyrics for songs like "Born Again" and "Disturbing the Priest". Anyone got info on this?

Don't know about Born Again but Ian certainly wrote Disturbing The Priest...but Geezer came up with the title.

Didn't Geezer also write the lyrics to Disturbing the Priest and Ian wrote the lyrics to the rest of the songs on BA?

I've always preferred Geezer's lyrics to Ronnie's though I think both are great lyricists.

Ted

[Deuce Frehley]

Didn't Geezer contribute a few lyrics for Dehumanizer?

[SweetSymptom]

Yes, he did. I believe he also influenced the general vibe of the album (RJD's lyrics included) as the title was borrowed from a character in a comic book that he was working on at the time.

[Backstreet Kid]

Appreciating all of your comments. Geezer is sort of like the spirit of Black Sabbath, to me.
Didn't know that about Geezer and Dehumanizer. Makes sense.

Over To You has some great lyrics although the song drags a bit.

Into The Void and Under The Sun are 2 of my favorite lyrics. Oh, and Fairies Wear Boots, of course.

[scorpio 2000]

I think Geezer wrote the lyrics for Voodoo. But im not sure.

[SweetSymptom]

Ronnie said that Geezer 'brought Voodoo back from one of his frequent trips to the dark side' or something similar.

[Ochlocracy]

Geezer wrote Master of Insanity and part of Computer God according to the ROH booklet.

[Charger]

I think Geezer wrote the lyrics for Voodoo. But im not sure.

Actually if I remember correctly (I might very well be wrong too) Ronnie mentioned that Geezer came up with the idea for the song, but the actual lyrics are Ronnie's...

[Ted Sallis]

Didn't Geezer contribute a few lyrics for Dehumanizer?

I thought Ronnie wrote the lyrics for Dehumanizer but Geezer asked (or told) him not to write any songs with rainbows, dungeons & dragons, medieval, etc. themes to them.

Ted

[Lord Necros]

As much as I loved RJD, Geezer, to me, is the best lyricist of all time. Dio was great at his best, but way too much "rainbows, dragons, lights, etc" references to suit me. As others have already mentioned, two totally different approaches to lyrics.

Yes Geezer! Much darker lyrix IMHO. No disrespect to Dio \,,/ RIP...

[mythology]

BTW that lyric generator is awesome!

Run from the king between the silver mysteries
Run from the demon of the black dark
Beware of the valley of the twilight demon
Face the dark of the black wizard

I am the lightning of the magic heart
There is no mystery between the holy wizards
There is no master between the holy wizards
She is the night of the silver wizard

Just clicked it 8 times. Lyric writing is easy :-)

[cwilder86]

Run from the king between the silver mysteries
Run from the demon of the black dark
Beware of the valley of the twilight demon
Face the dark of the black wizard

I am the lightning of the magic heart
There is no mystery between the holy wizards
There is no master between the holy wizards
She is the night of the silver wizard

Just clicked it 8 times. Lyric writing is easy :-)

[OZZYIRONMAN]

I am the lightning of the magic heart

bwahahaha! So Dio right there

[cwilder86]

bwahahaha! So Dio right there

Yeah let's all talk shit about the dead guy.

[Charger]

Yeah let's all talk shit about the dead guy.

Just ignore that dude...that's what I do...his post aren't worth the time wasted reading them.

[DISCMAN1969]

Just ignore that dude...that's what I do...his post aren't worth the time wasted reading them.

I agree with you Charger

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Back on topic

I think Ronnie was more consistent with his lyrics. Geezer was more "hit and miss" but his "hits" are absolutely astonishing. His purple patch (in my opinion) are Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage where he didn't write a dud. I think what I'm saying here is I prefer Geezer.

[DISCMAN1969]

I like both and I like that they are completely different. If I had to choose I think I would go with Ronnie, but ask me tomorrow after I listen to some old Sabbath and I may change my mind.

[gl797]

The lyrics of the Ozzy era albums are what really got me into them more than any other band, especially the album MOR.

Dio's lyrics were/are great too but they seem to be more fantasy influenced (magic, demons, Children of the Sea, etc..).

This changed what was imo their main attraction to many people back in the day. While other bands were singing about flowers and sunshine, Sabbath was singing lines like this:

Well I don't want no preacher telling me about the god in the sky
No I don't want no one to tell me where I'm gonna go when I die
I wanna live my life, I don't want people telling me what to do
I just believe in myself, 'cause no one else is true

While Dio in Sabbath was great and is my 2nd favorite band... it pales in comparison imo.
There will NEVER be another band that even comes close to the original and imo the only Black Sabbath.

[scorpio 2000]

I like both and I like that they are completely different. If I had to choose I think I would go with Ronnie, but ask me tomorrow after I listen to some old Sabbath and I may change my mind.

I agree. I like both Geezer and Dio too .

[justsomerandomguy]

I love them both, I love the gloomy straight to the point lyrics of geezer, and the sometimes mystical sometimes cheesey lyrics of ronnie.

[Ochlocracy]

Most likely Geezer for me. They both write really good lyrics, but Megalomania puts it over the edge for me. Dio has a lot of really good lyrics (Stargazer has insane lyrics), but the fantasy element can get pretty tiring.

[HeadlessCross]

I like Ronnie's lyrics, because the feeling. But Geezer wrote absolute fantastic lyrics, like Electric Funeral, Symptom of the Universe, and more.

[Billy Underdog]

Into The Void and Under The Sun are 2 of my favorite lyrics. Oh, and Fairies Wear Boots, of course.

Actually, it's said that Ozzy wrote the lyrics for Fairies...

[Thelemech]

I love both of them lyrically but I think that Geezer is unstoppable on the first 6 albums. I must admit though I do enjoy the DD lyrics of earlier Dio and probably his more "social minded" lyrics even more.

[jacksabbath]

geezers the best poet since wordsworth...just so happens he plays bass better than anyone else too.

his lyrics are incredible, and a more philosophical aspect of sabbaths music questioning lifes great mysteries, nicely juxtaposing ronnies mythic ,
fantasy laden lyrics. ronnies up there with the greats, but geezers a level above...

always thought dylan was overrated anyway...

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^ although substance abuse may blur the points of comparison slightly...