Changes

A piano ballad first appearing on 'Vol. 4' in 1972, 'Changes' stands apart from Black Sabbath's heavier catalogue. Guitarist Tony Iommi composed the sentimental melody whilst experimenting with the piano in the studio, and drummer Bill Ward's ongoing breakup with his first wife provided the emotional impetus. The song traces the aftermath of lost love, the narrator left repeating the refrain "I'm going through changes" as regret accumulates. The lyrics move through stages of grief: initial sadness at losing someone irreplaceable, the memory of shared years derailed by external forces, and finally the realisation that comes too late, days now filled with tears and the wish to rewrite the past. Ozzy Osbourne's vocal carries the weight plainly, no distortion or volume to hide behind. In 1993, Osbourne released a live version as a single from the 'Live & Loud' album. A decade later, a studio version recorded with his daughter Kelly Osbourne appeared as a single, extending the song's reach beyond its original context.