Jack the Stripper / Fairies Wear Boots

The Zoo Crew is spinning the heavy metal classic "Jack the Stripper / Fairies Wear Boots" by Black Sabbath from their iconic 1970 album Paranoid, and the Zoo Freaks are in for a treat with this psychedelic, riff-heavy track. One intriguing piece of trivia about the song comes from the 2010 documentary Classic Albums: Black Sabbath's Paranoid, where bassist Geezer Butler shared that the lyrics were inspired by an encounter with skinheads in London who mocked frontman Ozzy Osbourne for his long hair, calling him a "fairy." However, Butler also noted that the second half of the song veers into LSD-fueled imagery, with Ozzy himself admitting in the same documentary that the lyrics were partly about drug-induced hallucinations. The song's cryptic and surreal nature, with lines like "Goin' home, late last night / Suddenly I got a fright," adds to its mystique, blending tongue-in-cheek humor with a trippy vibe.

Another layer of the song's lore involves its dual title, "Jack the Stripper / Fairies Wear Boots." On original 1970 North American pressings of Paranoid, the song's bluesy instrumental intro was listed separately as "Jack the Stripper," a nod to its slow, gritty jam before the main track kicks in. According to the Black Sabbath Wiki, the song's creation was also influenced by a cannabis-fueled moment when Geezer and Ozzy claimed to have seen "fairies in boots" running around a park, adding a whimsical, almost absurd origin story to the track. Ozzy, in his 2010 autobiography I Am Ozzy, admitted he couldn’t fully recall the song’s inspiration, suggesting it might just be a product of their wild, drug-hazed creativity at the time.

Black Sabbath began in Birmingham, England, in 1968, originally as a blues rock band called Polka Tulk Blues Band, formed by Tony Iommi (guitar), Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Geezer Butler (bass), and Bill Ward (drums). The band soon shifted to a heavier sound, inspired by the industrial grit of their hometown and their love for blues, jazz, and early rock. Renaming themselves Earth, they found their niche after Iommi’s fateful factory accident, where he lost the tips of two fingers, leading him to downtune his guitar for easier playing—a move that birthed their signature dark, heavy tone. By 1969, they adopted the name Black Sabbath, inspired by a 1963 horror film, and their self-titled debut album in 1970 laid the foundation for heavy metal with its ominous riffs and occult-tinged lyrics.

The band’s early days were marked by relentless gigging in small clubs and pubs, honing their raw, powerful sound. Their breakthrough came with Paranoid, recorded in just a few days, which skyrocketed them to fame with hits like "Paranoid" and "Iron Man." Despite lineup changes and challenges over the decades, Black Sabbath’s influence remains monumental, shaping countless bands across genres. Fans can connect with the band’s legacy through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where updates on tours, reissues, and archival content are shared.

For Zoo Freaks looking to dive deeper, fan communities offer a wealth of discussion and memorabilia. The Black Sabbath Wiki is a treasure trove of detailed song and album histories, while fan-run groups like the Black Sabbath Fans Facebook group provide a space for enthusiasts to share stories, rare photos, and concert memories. These platforms keep the spirit of Black Sabbath alive, celebrating the band that gave the world "Fairies Wear Boots" and a sound that still resonates with headbangers everywhere.