Considerada una de las canciones más influyentes del heavy metal británico, nació de una sucesión de frases de Ozzy Osbourne, sin aparente sentido, a las que dio forma el bajista Gezeer Butler para convertirla en una letra sobre la desesperación de un enfermo mental: "Terminé con mi mujer porque no puede ayudarme con mi mente".
Paranoid Finished with my woman 'cause she couldn't help me with my mind people think i'm insane because i am frowning all the time all day long i think of things but nothing seems to satisfy think i'll lose my mind if i don't find something to pacify can you help me! occupy my brain!? oh yeah i need someone to show me the things in life that i can't find i can't see the things that make true happiness, i must be blind make a joke and i will sigh and you will laugh and i will cry happiness i cannot feel and love to me us so unreal and so as you hear these words telling you now of my state i tell you to enjoy life i wish i could but it's too late