Nightmare

Album: The Eternal Idol (1987)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi wrote "Nightmare" when he was asked to write a song for the soundtrack to the horror movie A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, which explains the lyric about meeting the devil in a dream within a dream. Tony wanted to be involved with the film, but his management held out for more money and the filmmakers backed off. Black Sabbath ended up using it on their album The Eternal Idol.
  • The Eternal Idol was Black Sabbath's 13th studio album, and their first with lead singer Tony Martin, who was with the band for five albums, leaving in 1997 when Ozzy Osbourne returned to the fold. Bass player Bob Daisley wrote most of the lyrics on the album, as Iommi wasn't impressed with what Martin came up with. "He assumed, oh, Black Sabbath, it's all about the Devil, so his lyrics were full of the Devil and Satan," he explained in his book Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven And Hell With Black Sabbath. "It was too much in your face."

    Martin did more writing on their next album, Headless Cross.
  • Dokken ended up contributing the title song to A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. The song was called "Dream Warriors" per directive of the movie studio.

Comments: 1

  • Paul Phillips from ScotlandTony Martin didn’t write the lyrics for The Eternal Idol that was Bob Daisley. Tony Martin was brought in at the last minute when the original vocalist on the album Ray Gillen left and re-recorded all the vocals making no lyrical changes.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

The Girl in That Song

The Girl in That SongFact or Fiction

Billie Jean, Delilah, Sara, Laura and Sharona - do you know who the girls in the songs really are?

00s Music Quiz 1

00s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Michael Bolton

Michael BoltonSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for this talk with Bolton from the '80s when he was a focused on writing songs for other artists.

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses

How The Beatles Crafted Killer ChorusesSong Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Tim and his brother Richard are the Furs' foundation; Tim explains how they write and tells the story of "Pretty In Pink."