CD [ Amazon US | Amazon UK ]
Japanese CD [ Amazon US ]

Track Listing

1. I Witness
2. Cross of Thorns
3. Psychophobia
4. Virtual Death
5. Immaculate Deception
6. Dying for Love
7. Back to Eden
8. The Hand that Rocks the Cradle
9. Cardinal Sin
10. Evil Eye
11. What’s the Use (Japanese CD only)

Writing Credits

• All songs by Butler / Iommi / Martin

Credits

• Tony Martin – Vocals
• Tony Iommi – Guitar
• Geezer Butler – Bass
• Bobby Rondinelli – Drums
• Geoff Nicholls – Keyboards
• Produced by Leif Masses & Black Sabbath
• Engeineered by Leif Mases, Darren Galer, & Dave Somers
• Mixed by Leif Mases at The Wool Hall, Somerset
• Recorded at Monnow Vallye Studios, Wales
• Mastered by Tony Cousins at Metropolis Mastering, London

Catalogue Numbers

• CD X2-13222 (US 1994)
• CASS 07777-13222-4-2 (US 1994)
• CD 72435-30413-2-8 (US 1994 ??)
• CD 07777-7-13222-2-8 (EUR 1994)
• CD IRS TOCP-8128 (JPN 1994)
• LP 0777-7-13222-1-1 (UK 1994)
• CASS 07777-13222-4 (UK 1994)
• LP Santa П94 RAT 30856 (RUS 1994 – Unofficial)

Notes

• There is a music video for The Hand that Rocks the Cradle.
• One of the working titles for this album was “Souled-Out”.  (via Geezer Butler in an interview, idea was Tony Martin’s)
• Tony Martin has said in interviews that the song Psychophobia was written about David Koresh of the Branch Davidians; a “religious” group whose base was overrun by BATF agents after a prolonged standoff in 1993 in Waco, TX.
• Eddie Van Halen is uncredited as co-author of Evil Eye. He was supposed to play on the track, but scheduling conflicts prevented him from doing so.  UPDATE: I was told in September of 2009 that EVH had nothing to do with this album at all.
• The 1995 videogame “Rise of the Triad” had one of it’s levels named after this album by then Apogee staffer and current Black Sabbath webmaster Joe Siegler.  The title was called “Cross Purposes”.  In the words of Joe, “The level was shaped like a cross, and since this album was current when the work was being done, it seemed like a logical name at the time”.
• Geezer Butler has made statements that this album was not supposed to be released as a Black Sabbath album, although others on the album dispute that.
• The song “Cardinal Sin” was originally called “Sin, Cardinal Sin”, but a printing error left the first Sin off, and the mistaken name was just used going forward.
• In 1991, the German metal band “The Scorpions” put out a single called “Send Me an Angel“.  As you can see here, it uses the same “burning angel” image that the Cross Purposes album uses.  The Scorpions use predates Black Sabbath’s use by three years (give or take).  I have done some research into it, and inquired with a few people involved with Black Sabbath at the time, and none of them have any knowledge as to why the same image was used.  One of them theorized it was “down to an art designer at IRS at the time”, but that’s as close of an explanation as I can find for the duplicate cover art.
• On 26 Oct 2024, I wrote a 3,800 word article for my personal blog about this album.  Some of the stuff is purloined from this page, but most of it is new.  Check it out here.

Song Meanings

Many a moon ago in the mid 90’s there was an Official Black Sabbath fan club run by the band (and Pete Sarfas, I think).  Anyway, one of the things you got around the time Cross Purposes was out was this flyer with a short description of what the songs were about.  I used to have one way back when, but bloody lost it over the years.  On Nov 6, 2021, Vinny Montella posted a copy of said image on Facebook.  Here’s a transcription of what it said:

• I Witness – This deals with the way in which youngsters today are hounded by religious fanatics.
• Cross of Thorns – The anger and frustration felt in Ireland by the young people under the pressure of religious intolerance.
• Psychophobia – Extreme cults can easily influence and mislead impressionable kids in today’s society.
• Virtual Death – If you’re not careful, you can get lost in a confused of mind (their wording, not my typo).
• Immaculate Conception – A tale of religious deception.
• Dying for Love – The pain felt by ordinary people in war torn Yugoslavia.
• Back to Eden – Is it too idealistic to hope that we can return to a simpler, more altruistic time when peace was the norm?
• The Hand that Rocks the Cradle – The horrific story of nurse Beverly Allit, responsible for the deaths of a number of children.
• Cardinal Sin – There are those religious leaders who preach one thing whilst practicing another.
• Evil Eye – In today’s society, nobody is safe from unwelcome intrusion into their private lives.

Thanks again to Vinny for sharing that image, which can be seen to the right.

Song Description

On Mar 2, 2021, Tony Martin posted this text on his Facebook page.  It’s a description of the lyrics for the song I Witness.

Essentially this is about a place you want to be to escape the reality of life …. A place you drift in and out of … A place you can not stay …. A place that comforts you but also scares you. … A place that haunts you. …. A dream ….. BUT dreams are un controllable … you can’t MAKE them …. So do you dare submit in case it turns into a night mare. And the nightmare will follow you through your waking hours.

Across the desert of the burning dark, a Darkness which illuminates you,
(This is sleep… in which your dreams and fears are exposed)
There’s a place you’ve always wanted to be, Whose pleasures always did escape you,
(This is what dreams are supposed to be)
It’s always been so out of reach, nothing, so near Ever felt so far,
And now it’s here within your grasp, a never Ending burning says it all.
(You are desperate to enter a place that you can escape from the realities of your true world)

As you drive into the darkness, in front the future Behind you history,
(Symbalising a journey through life )
Caught alone in the dark night, do you think That’s the way it’s supposed to be.
You don’t believe your eyes, cos all they see is Lies, oh yeah.
(Realising that the dream is a lie and your life is reality and really you are in a nightmare)

You better run from the holy man, the eyes that Will are set up on you,
( In the nightmare there is no escape, and the safety of faith becomes the insecurity of fear)
Listen not to verse and prayer, songs that thrill And voices tempt you
The inner flame has fear of death, never, has Light ever seemed so dark.
(All hope of direction and normal encouragement of survival turn dark)
Pilgrims of sabbocracy, hear the hounds of Heaven, as they bark.
(Sabbocracy is a made up word to represent hypocracy of the sabbath, and the pilgrims are those that spread the word. And that God is the hunter)

I witness a time and a place that never dies, still Frozen in time,
(The narrator is telling you he has been there, and it seems endless)
This darkness the only place that I can hide, I Witness, a dream.
(In the end the darkness seems like the only comfort and he uses it to hide from who he is, what he really fears is the waking hours, and to be the person he is, but it is just a dream and it can not protect from the reality of the real world)

Song Description 2

On Mar 7, 2021, Tony Martin posted this on Facebook about the song “Cross of Thorns”… fart

More Sabbath lyrics explained… BUT THIS IS THE LAST ONE!!! …. CROSS OF THORNS

When i was in Cozy Powell’s Hammer we did a few shows in Ireland. At that time it was still quite separated with border controls. We were met and escorted by the manager of Van Morrison who was helping put on a couple of shows. In a completely throw away conversation i was asking him what it was like to live there under the conditions … he said “Its like carrying a cross of thorns!” ….. That phrase had a real impact on me and it is what inspired the song of the same name. Working on the FEELINGS not the politics of the country of Ireland. I felt it in this way…..

Don’t come closer, cos it ain’t safe here
Just turn around now and walk away (Brothers across divides, want to connect but dare not)

I’ve gotta tell you, there are no rules here
Sometimes i wonder, what goes on there
Behind those eyes. ( Trust is very sparse and looking into someone’s eyes reveals an unreadable void where all kinds of plots could be forming even in people you know)

When a promise is broken, and no one trusts you
Young ones crying with their heads in their hands (The reality is clear that no matter which side you are on the other side will act on broken promises leaving young children broken and scared)

When you talk about saving, the souls of the faithful
You can’t help thinking, you’ve got blood on your hands
From a cross of thorns (Turning attention to the religious leaders on both sides who SAY they want to save souls but have no power to alter anything other than hope. But holding on to either religion Catholic or Protestant is like holding on to a cross of thorns. It pierces your being and makes you bleed)

A cross of thorns.

Tongues of fire always talking, wasted words that ring in my ears (This is the talk of war. constantly ring in the ears and on the tongues of both sides)

We’re still waiting, losing patience, will all the lies of, 400 years (The republic was built on the history surrounding William of Orange, a Dutch monarch that was installed in England at that time the over lord of Ireland, after a void of many years 400 years previously. He was backed into a corner of the country which is the only part he could hold and which today is known as Northern Ireland. and those in the Catholic south were fed up and mistrusting of it)

I’ve got to tell you, there are no rules here
Sometimes i wonder, what goes on there, behind those eyes.
When a promise is broken, and no one trusts you
Young ones crying with their heads in their hands
When you talk about saving, the souls of the faithful
You can’t help thinking, you’ve got blood on your hands
We gave you yesterday, and now you want to day ( The peacemakers argue that peace is possible but the war talkers won’t listen )

Oh, from the hands of death we take our daily bread ( ….and from the famine right through to the troubles people have struggled from death to death and learn to live life by life)

Now all we do is choke, and the words that you once spoke, fade away (People are not listening anymore and faith and belief get choked)

Look at what you’ve done, oh, it’s a cross of thorns
A cross of thorns.
Take away, this cross of thorns, look at what you’ve done
Look at what you’ve done
It’s a cross of thorns
When a promise is broken, and no one trusts you,
You’ve got blood on your hands.

At the time of writing a peace process had not been completed so the song hangs……. waiting.

Links

• Wikipedia
• Discogs.com

Images

• This image is the sticker that was on the outside of the jewel case when the CD was bought originally:

• This is the back of the CD case.

Official Video

There was one music video made for this album, it was for “The Hand that Rocks the Cradle”.  You can view it here:

Fan Video

• In Late 2009, a fan created a fan made video for the song “Dying for Love”. You can check it out here:

• In July of 2020, a fan covered the song “Immaculate Deception”.  You can check that one out here:

I Witness

Across The Desert Of The Burning Dark, A
Darkness Which Illuminates You,
There’s A Place You’ve Always Wanted To Be,
Whose Pleasures Always Did Escape You,
It’s Always Been So Out Of Reach, Nothing, So Near
Ever Felt So Far
And Now It’s Here Within Your Grasp, A Never
Ending Burning Says It All.

As You Drive Into The Darkness, In Front The Future
Behind You History
Caught Alone In The Dark Night, Do You Think
That’s The Way It’s Supposed To Be.
You Don’t Believe Your Eyes, Cos All They See Is
Lies, Oh Yeah.

You Better Run From The Holy Man, The Eyes That
Will Are Set Uppon You,
Listen Not To Verse And Prayer, Songs That Thrill
And Voices Tempt You
The Inner Flame Has Fear Of Death, Never, Has
Light Ever Seemed So Dark.
Pilgrims Of Sabbocracy, Hear The Hounds Of
Heaven, As They Bark

I Witness A Time And A Place That Never Dies, Still Frozen In Time,
This Darkness The Only Place That I Can Hide.
I Witness, A Dream.

I Witness A Time And A Place That Never Dies, Still Frozen In Time,
This Darkness The Only Place That I Can Hide, I Witness A Dream.
Oh, Just A Dream.

Cross of Thorns

Don’t Come Closer, Cos It Ain’t Safe Here,
Just Turn Around Now And Walk Away.
I’ve Gotta Tell You, There Are No Rules Here,
Sometimes I Wonder, What Goes On There,
Behind Those-eyes.

When A Promise Is Broken, And No One Trusts You,
Young Ones Crying With Their Heads In Their Hands,
When You Talk About Saving, The Souls Of The Faithful,
You Can’t Help Thinking, You’ve Got Blood On Your Hands.
From A Cross Of Thorns.

Tongues Of Fire Always Talking, Wasted Words That Ring In My Ears.
We’re Still Waiting, Losing Patience, Will All The lies of, 400 years.
I’ve Got To Tell You, There Are No Rules Here,
Sometimes I Wonder, What Goes On There, Behind Those-eyes.

We Gave You Yesterday, And Now You Want To-day,
Oh, From The Hands Of Death We Take Our Daily Bread,
Now All We Do Is Choke, And The Words That You Once Spoke, Fade Away.
Look At What You’ve Done, Oh, It’s A Cross Of Thorns.

Take Away, This Cross Of Thorns, Look At What You’ve Done.
It’s A Cross Of Thorns, Cross Of Thorns.
When A Promise Is Broken, And No One Trusts You,
You’ve Got Blood On Your Hands, From A Cross Of Thorns.

 

Psychophobia

Mortal Eyes, Looking Through A Veil Of Dreams,
Hypnotised, An Ever Living Soul With Wings.
Think You’re God, But You Never Had Control,
Think You’re Loved But There’s No One There At All…

My Colours All Ran Dry, And Now I See The World In Black And White,
It’s Too Late Now, It’s Time To Kiss The Rainbow Goodbye.

Poison Tears Running From A Palsied Face,
Satan Nears, Descending On The Human Race.
Think You’re God, Don’t You Wish You Had Control,
Think You’re Loved But There’s No One There At All…

Listen To The Wind, Hear The Gospel Blow.
Tell Me That You Don’t Hear What I’m Hearing And I Will Let You Go.
Look Up To The Sky, Put Your Trust In Me,
Tell Me That You Ain’t Feelin What I’m Feelin And I Will Set You Free.

Look Into The Flame, See The Embers Glow,
Tell Me That You Don’t See What I’m Seein And I Will Let You Go
Look Up To The Sky, Put Your Trust In Me,
Tell Me That You Ain’t Feelin What I’m Feelin And I Will Set You Free.

Look Into The Flame, See The Embers Glow,
Tell Me That You Don’t See What I’m Seein And I Will Let You Go
Taste The Holy Blood, Running From My Veins
Tell Me That You Ain’t Feelin What I’m Feelin And I’ll Take Away The Pain
Yes I Will Now, Oh Yes I Will, It’s Time To Kiss The Rainbow Goodbye.

 

Virtual Death

Reach Out And Take For Me, Fruit Of The Poison Tree,
Give Me Your Body And Your Soul.
My Youth Is Fading Past, Years Melt Into The Past,
This Mortal Life Will Take It’s Toll.

I’m Sick And Tired Of Losing, You Find This So Amusing,
It’s All I Have To Keep Myself In This State I’m In.

This Spark Of Natures Fire, My Only One Desire,
This World Is Hanging By A Thread.

People Always Tried To Change Me, Alter Everying I Am,
Though You Find This So Amusing, You Left Me In This
State I’m In. Virtual Death.

You May Think This Existance, Is Just A Human Weakness,
Inside My Mind It’s Near The End. Virtual Death.

I’m Losing, I’m Fading Fast, I’m Dying, Virtual Death.

Immaculate Deception

In The Daylight, Comes Darkness, On The Verge Of Night A Fear Is Born,
Sweeter Than The Dream, The Reality Of You,
Immaculate, Deception.

From The Spirit Runs Poison, And The Wheel Of Fortune Is Ever Still,
Sweeter Than The Light, The Darkness Of Your Soul.
Immaculate Deception.

Something Has Touched, The Spirit Inside,
Once There Was Love Now There’s A Void.
Night Of Deception, Ghost In My Mind,
Am I Bewitched, Slave To Desire.

It’s Knowing That Time Keeps Rolling On, Night After Day, Day After Night,
It’s Knowing That Feeling Of Coming Home, To Where My Spirit Lies.

It’s Knowing That Feeling Of Coming Home, To Where My Spirit Lies.

 

Dying for Love

Can You Hear, The People Sing Their Song
To Tunes Of Glory, They Move As One.
Refugees of liberation marching on. Sing your songs, rock the nation, right or wrong.

When You Take Of Life And Steal It’s Shadow,
All That’s Left Is Humanity.

It’s Getting Closer, Change Is Bound To Come.
Theres Someone Out There, Holding Candles To The Sun.

Then An Answer, Says That Peace Will Come Around,
Stand In Line, Take Our Time And Be Proud.

Take A Life And Steal It’s Shadow, All That’s Left It’s Humanity
Take A Man And Steal Tomorrow, All That’s Left Is You And Me.

Here Them Call You, Soldiers All In The Fields Of Love,
Brothers, Sisters, Children, All Dying For Love.

Refugees Of Liberation, Marching On,
Sing Your Song, Rock The Nation, Write Of Wrongs.

Take A Life And Steal It’s Shadow, All That’s Left Is Humanity.
Take A Man And Steal Tomorrow, All That’s Left Is You And Me.

Hear Them Call You, Soldiers All In The Fields Of Love,
Brothers, Sisters, Children, All Dying For Love.

Hear Them Call You, Dying For Love.
Those Who Know You, Dying For Love,
Brothers, Sisters, Dying For Love, Saints And Sinners

Dying For Love,
Dying For Love.

 

Back to Eden

We Are The Star Demons, Reaching Out Yeah,
We Want To Touch Your World,
We Are the Dream Makers, Pure And Sweet Yeah,
We’re Gonna Change Your World.

When You’re Tired Of Giving Reasons
And Freedom Fighting Freedom
If You’re Searching For An Answer,
We Can Bring You Back To Eden.

There’s No Need For Pain And Anger,
The Power Of Peace Can Destroy The Gun.
Leave Behind Man’s Vanity Yeah,
And Living Life On The Run.

Is God Forgiving, Is This The Final Warning,
Watching As A Killer Turns.
Science Fiction, Real Life Addiction.
The Human Race Will Never Learn.

 

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

Young Life, Too Young, Who’s Eyes Are Choking,
Can’t Rest, Can’t Sleep, For Dreams That Set You Falling.
Don’t Feel The Hunger, Can’t Drink No Holy Water,
No Light In These Eyes, No Place For Dreams At All Tonight.

When The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, Is The Hand That Holds The Knife,
And The Knife That Cuts The Cable, Kills The Spark That Feeds The Life.

No Grave Could Be Deep Enough, Down To Hell If We Were Able,
The Veil Of Life Was Pushed Aside, By The Hand That Rocks The Cradle.

The Oath You Take Is Sacred, To Save Not Steel A Life,
Like The Passing Of The Sweetest Soul, That Looked Through Human Eyes

Young Life, Too Young, Who’s Eyes Are Choking,
Can’t Rest, Can’t Sleep, For Dreams That Set You Falling.
Don’t Feel The Hunger, Can’t Drink No Holy Water,
No Light In These Eyes, No Place For Dreams At All Tonight.

It’s The Hand That Rocks The Cradle.
It’s The Hand That Steels The Life.

 

Cardinal Sin

Where Do You Go When Your Conscience Takes Over
Do You Crawl To Your Corner And Cry.
Did You Imagine, That No One Would Notice
Just A Secret To Take When You Die.

All The World Is Watching You, Every Tongue Is Screaming Fool.

How Are Your Dreams, Do They Claw At Your Sleep
Making Darkness A Place You Despise,
Where Is The God, That Once Was Your Strength
Are You Sure He Was There From The Start.

All The World Is Watching You, Nowhere You Can Hide,
Every Tongue Is Screaming Fool, Only Satan Hears Your Cries.

When You Sin Cardinal Sin, You Make Your Bed And On It You Must Lie,
And Your Futures Looking Grim, But Did You Ever Give A Damn
About The Child, He’s Running Wild.
When You Sin Cardinal Sin, Don’t Expect The World Will Treat You Well,
We Say Oh, Go To Hell.

We Point The Finger, Sin Cardinal Sin, Laugh In Your Face, Sin Cardinal Sin,
We Point The Finger, Laugh In Your Face,
Cos You’re No Better Than The Rest Of The Human Race.

Oh Sin Cardinal Sin, Oh Sin Cardinal Sin.

 

Evil Eye

Something About The Way That You Look At Me,
You Watch Every Move, Every Step, Every Fantasy,
Got No Time For Love, There’s Something In Your Mind,
Got The Face Of An Angel But The Stare Of A Devil Inside.

Got Hell Looking Up, Heaven Looking Down,
People Say The Woman’s Got An Evil Eye.
Got Hell Looking Up, Heaven Looking Down,
Free Me From The Woman With The Evil Eye.

I Turn Away But Still I See That Evil Stare,
Trapped Inside My Dreams I Know You’re There.
Thoughts Of Happiness You Destroyed Them All,
First Inside My Head, Then Inside My Soul.

Got Hell Looking Up, Heaven Looking Down,
People Say The Woman’s Got An Evil Eye.
Got Hell Looking Up, Heaven Looking Down,
Free Me From The Woman With The Evil Eye.

 

What’s the Use?

What’s The Use Of Paradise Or Everyday Of Livin’
They spend learning every sin in Hell

What’s The Point Of Children
When Evil Got Before Them
They Learn In Every Tale We Tell

There’s No Point In Being Kind
What’s The Use When Love Becomes An Evil Of The Mind
Oh Yeah!

What’s The Use Of Power
When The Battle Isn’t Equal
And We’re All Too Scared To Use It Anyway

What’s The Point Of Reason
When No One Wants To Listen
Deliverance Is All Too Far Away

Ooh What’s The Use
Ohh What’s The Use
Tell Me Ohh What’s The Use
What’s The Use

Love Becomes An Evil Of The Mind
What’s The Use
Love Becomes An Evil Of The Mind
What’s The Use
What’s The Use
What’s The Use.