As the world mourns the loss of Ozzy Osbourne, one detail has struck an especially emotional chord with fans: the Black Sabbath frontman specifically requested that “Mama, I’m Coming Home” be played at his funeral.
More than just a hit, the 1991 power ballad stands as one of the most vulnerable and personal songs Ozzy ever recorded. Co-written with longtime friend Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead and guitarist Zakk Wylde, the song was inspired by Ozzy’s deep love for his wife Sharon and his longing to return home after years of chaotic touring and substance struggles.
At its core, the song is a love letter—both to Sharon and to the life he rebuilt after hitting rock bottom. It became one of Ozzy’s biggest solo hits, peaking at No. 2 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart, and remains one of his most beloved and emotionally charged tracks.
Now, in death, Ozzy’s choice of this song serves as a final, poignant farewell. It isn’t just a nod to his musical legacy—it’s a message from a man who, after decades of darkness, controversy, and triumph, found peace in the arms of family and love.
At his final concert in Birmingham earlier this month, the song took on even greater meaning. Seated due to declining health, Ozzy closed the show with “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” a performance that many now view as his personal goodbye to fans around the world.
Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, left the world not with a scream or a snarl—but with a song that says everything he needed to say.
As the world mourns the loss of Ozzy Osbourne, one detail has struck an especially emotional chord with fans: the Black Sabbath frontman specifically requested that “Mama, I’m Coming Home” be played at his funeral.
More than just a hit, the 1991 power ballad stands as one of the most vulnerable and personal songs Ozzy ever recorded. Co-written with longtime friend Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead and guitarist Zakk Wylde, the song was inspired by Ozzy’s deep love for his wife Sharon and his longing to return home after years of chaotic touring and substance struggles.
At its core, the song is a love letter—both to Sharon and to the life he rebuilt after hitting rock bottom. It became one of Ozzy’s biggest solo hits, peaking at No. 2 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart, and remains one of his most beloved and emotionally charged tracks.
Now, in death, Ozzy’s choice of this song serves as a final, poignant farewell. It isn’t just a nod to his musical legacy—it’s a message from a man who, after decades of darkness, controversy, and triumph, found peace in the arms of family and love.
At his final concert in Birmingham earlier this month, the song took on even greater meaning. Seated due to declining health, Ozzy closed the show with “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” a performance that many now view as his personal goodbye to fans around the world.
Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, left the world not with a scream or a snarl—but with a song that says everything he needed to say.
