Music Friday: "Paranoid"

Today is not only Veteran's Day, but it's also National Metal Day.

In the past, I've posted songs related to veterans, which you can mash below if you like.

• "Tour of Duty"
• "Soldier's Get Strange"
• "Dress Blues"

Today, however, since it's National Metal Day, I'm going with a band often credited with being one of the first heavy metal bands: Black Sabbath. 

It's the band circa 1970.

As a musical genre, metal is pretty easy to make fun of and criticize--the mainly male angst, self-destructive themes, Tolkien-like or creepy lyrics by some, the bad-boy mystique of many of the bands, the wearing of Spandex, big hair, and you could probably add your own to this list. And do so in the comments section if you like.

However, as a teenager in the 80s, metal was a genre I listened to often. It wasn't the only type of music I listened to by any means, but I still like it.

From the goofiness and bawdy nature of Van Halen to the anger and aggressive riffs of Metallica, metal has influenced my musical tastes. 

Music Friday: "Tour of Duty"

With the pullout from Iraq looking like a definite reality, today's song seems appropriate.

Mr. Isbell has a penchant for writing songs about or songs that reference veterans of the current wars if you've followed his solo career: "Dress Blues," "Sunstroke," "Soldiers Get Strange," and now the more upbeat "Tour of Duty."





I covet the hat he's wearing in this video.

Music Friday: "Soldiers Get Strange"

As you know if you've followed my blog for a while, I'm a big fan of Jason Isbell's solo work since he departed from the Drive-By Truckers.

One of my favorite songs from his second album is the one linked in this post. "Soldiers Get Strange" follows the Isbell playbook of storytelling as he describes a soldier grappling with PTSD and its effect on his marriage.

Here's a section of the lyrics:

You know she's a real good girl.

She reminds you that every curl

that whips in the wind of the world

is watched by the eyes of God.

But lately your mane's gone white.

You itch in your veins in the night.

Before you "came home alright,"

you wielded the lighning rod.

It ain't the time that made it go South.

It ain't the liquor that burns in your mouth.

Nearly nothing around here's changed.

It's just that a soldier gets strange.

She turns off the lights, so you can't see her body.

You can't make her fight when you know that you're wrong.

They call you a hero--so many still fighting.

This ain't where you belong.

Click HERE to watch him play this song in KDHX's studios.