| The Wizard | |
| Cover: | Paranoid and The Wizard Dutch picture sleeve.png |
| Caption: | Cover artwork for the Paranoid single, as used in the Netherlands |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Black Sabbath |
| Album: | Black Sabbath |
| Released: | 24 March 1970 (France)[1] |
| Genre: | Heavy metal[2] [3] |
| Label: | Vertigo |
| Producer: | Rodger Bain |
| Prev Title: | Evil Woman |
| Prev Year: | 1970 |
| Next Title: | Paranoid |
| Next Year: | 1970 |
"The Wizard" is a song by the English rock band Black Sabbath from their 1970 album Black Sabbath. "The Wizard" was selected as their debut single in France, backed by "Evil Woman" which was released as A-side in many other countries. It was also the B-side to the 1970 single "Paranoid", which reached number 4 on the UK singles chart and number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4]
"The Wizard" is about a wizard who uses his magic to encourage people he encounters. In a 2005 interview with Metal Sludge, Black Sabbath bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler said the song's lyrics were influenced by the wizard Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.[5]
The song was covered by Bullring Brummies, a short-lived project featuring Black Sabbath founding members Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, for the 1994 tribute album Nativity in Black.