"A National Acrobat" is the second song from Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...

's fifth album, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is the fifth studio album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in December 1973. With this album, the band expanded upon their slow, crunching style of music by strings, keyboards and more complex orchestral arrangements.-Recording:Following the 1972–1973...

. It features a distinctive mid-tempo harmonized opening riff, a psychedelic breakdown riff, and a classic Tony Iommi

Tony Iommi

Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...

 guitar solo. The lyrics relate to decidedly unusual subject matter, being the miracle of conception ("the universal secret of all time") and how incredibly lucky one sperm is to fertilize the ovum in comparison to the millions that didn't ("The deadly darkness that belies the fate of those who never ran").

The song was covered by Metallica

Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...

 on their covers album Garage Inc.

Garage Inc.

-Disc two:These tracks are a collection of B-sides from artists Metallica were inspired by, throughout the early years of the band.-Personnel:* James Hetfield – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar on "Whiskey In the Jar"...

It is part of a medley of "Sabbra Cadabra" and "A National Acrobat", which is only listed as "Sabbra Cadabra". The song was also covered in Medieval style by the Estonian band Rondellus

Rondellus

In music rondellus is the formalized interchange of parts or voices according to a scheme, often used in English conducti and frequently in English motets of the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, but never used for an entire piece...

, on their tribute album Sabbatum, for voice, fiddle

Fiddle

The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...

 and frame drum

Frame drum

A frame drum is a drum that has a drumhead width greater than its depth. Usually the single drumhead is made of rawhide or man-made materials. Shells are traditionally constructed of bent wood scarf jointed together; plywood and man-made materials are also used. Some frame drums have mechanical...

. In their version the lyrics are translated into Latin, and the song has been retitled "Funambulus Domesticus" (literally, "Domestic Ropewalker"). The song was also covered by Sopor Aeternus and the Ensemble of Shadows a gothic medieval German band on the limited compilation album "Jekura-Deep the Eternal Forest" and the song has been retitled "Tabor C'alan O'itana" which is the original title -A National Acrobat- inversed.

Comedian Jim Norton

Jim Norton (comedian)

James Joseph "Jim" Norton, Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, radio personality, author, and actor. He is an on-air personality, often dubbed the 'third mic' on The Opie and Anthony Show, which airs on Sirius XM Radio...

frequently uses the song as his walk-on music at live shows and during his first HBO special.