Killing Yourself to Live

Song infobox
Name = Killing Yourself to Live


Artist = Black Sabbath
Album = Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Released = 1 December 1973 (UK)
January, 1974 (US)
track_no = 5
Recorded = 1973
Genre = Heavy metal
Length = 5:45
Label = Castle Records (UK)
Warner Bros. Records (US)
Writer = Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward
Producer = Black Sabbath
prev = "Sabbra Cadabra"
prev_no = 4
next = "Who Are You?"
next_no = 6

"Killing Yourself to Live" is a song by heavy metal band Black Sabbath. It was first played live in concert during the tour for the band's 1972 album Black Sabbath, Vol. 4. A studio recorded version can be found on their 1973 album "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath".

Song history

The song was written by bassist Geezer Butler during the "Vol. 4" tour when he was in hospital for kidney problems due to heavy drinking. Drummer Bill Ward was also in hospital at the same time for severe hepatitis worsened by binge drinking. The band's lifestyle was beginning to catch up with them, so Geezer wrote a set of lyrics about the whole ordeal which became "Killing Yourself to Live". An earlier incarnation of the song can be heard on the records "Live at Last" and "Past Lives".