In the liner notes to the 2003 compilation Stand Up And And Shout: The Anthology, Ronnie James Dio had this to say:
“We wrote this song for the motion picture Heavy Metal, a groundbreaking animated film. I was the only one in the band to see a prototype of the film, and I got it instantly. They wan...
[Intro]
Oh! Come on!
[Verse 1]
Close the city and tell the people that something's coming to call
Death and darkness are rushing forward to
Take a bite from the wall, oh
[Chorus]
You've nothing to say, they're breaking away
If you listen to fools, the mob rules
The mob rules
[Verse 2]
Kill the spirit and you'll be blinded, the end is always the same
Play with fire, you burn your fingers and
Lose your hold of the flame, oh
[Chorus]
It's over, it's done, the end is begun
If you listen to fools, the mob rules
[Instrumental Break]
[Guitar Solo]
[Chorus]
You've nothing to say, oh, they're breaking away
If you listen to fools
[Verse 3]
Break the circle and stop the movement
The wheel is thrown to the ground
Just remember it might start rolling and
Take you right back around
[Outro]
You're all fools, the mob rules
The Mob Rules was written by Tony Iommi & Geezer Butler & Dio.
The Mob Rules was produced by Martin Birch.
Black Sabbath released The Mob Rules on Wed Nov 04 1981.