1001 Songs Challenge #746: No More Tears (1991)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenging of reading 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery (ed.) and following the book’s advice to the letter. I’ve previously read 1001 Films… and started 1001 Albums… but felt 1001 Songs… would be a sensible place to start for what I have in mind here.

My challenge is to read about one song per day and listen to it (YouTube and Spotify, I need you tonight!) before sharing my own thoughts. Some songs I will love, others I’ll hate, and I’m sure there will be those that leave me perplexed but listen to them I shall.

I’ll also try, and most likely fail, to pinpoint the best song from the 1001 on offer but I’m nothing if not foolhardy. Instead of one song, I’m predicting I’ll have about 100 favourites by the end and may have to resort to a Top 10 so far to maintain any semblance of sanity.

So long as I post everyday (including Christmas) then this challenge should come to an end on Wednesday 8 November 2021. Staying with the Barney Stinson theme I am hoping that the whole experience will prove to be…

Ozzy Osbourne – No More Tears (1991)

We’re leaving the US today, dear reader, and making our way back to the UK and to Birmingham in the Midlands. Ozzy Osbourne has appeared on our list before as a member of Black Sabbath but we are concerned with his solo work today. Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to problems with drugs and alcohol. Undeterred, he pursued a solo career and was very successful. We join Osbourne in 1991 with the release of his sixth album, No More Tears, and 1001 Songs have gone with the title track.

This epic track from Osbourne is high on heavy metal and is often a raucous piece. The lyrics attest to different images and stories, each united by the refrain of “no more tears”. The first verse seems to point to someone having been killed and the narrator now laments their passing. The second verse makes reference to a red light being switched on which could suggest prostitution especially as the song alludes to unscrupulous characters to be found on the streets. The third and final verse seems to be the narrator saying goodbye to his lover with the suggestion here being that she is deceased. These verses are either separate incidents or could be one linked storyline. 

This 7 minute heavy metal fest sees Ozzy Osbourne in great form. His delivery here sounds great while the plethora of instrumentation switches the tempo regularly to take you on one hell of a ride. The Godfather of Metal is one of the great survivors, having lived through drug and alcohol abuse over the decades. He enjoyed his own reality TV show at the start of the 21st century and even reunited with Black Sabbath for their final shows. Osbourne is now in his 70s and shows no sign of slowing down.

Favourite songs so far:

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (1965)

The Beatles – A Day in the Life (1967)

The Doors – The End (1967)

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now (1978)

Ultravox – Vienna (1980)

The Smiths – How Soon Is Now? (1984)

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car (1988)