This is the first single from Scream, the tenth studio album by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. It is Ozzy's first release to feature new guitarist Gus G. (Firewind).
The single was premiered in the US on an episode of CSI:NY, which was broadcast on April 14, 2010. "We were looking for something high energy and irreverent to sell the madness of a prison riot," said executive producer and episode writer Peter M. Lenkov about the use of the song. "We immediately responded to the new Osbourne tune. The song exceeded our expectations and brought exactly the right tone to the episode." Ozzy, who spent time in prison in the UK for burglary before his 18th birthday said:
"When I heard they were going to use 'Let Me Hear You Scream' for a prison riot scene, I thought, 'Well, now that's something I know about.'"
Gus G told explained:
"Let Me Hear You Scream was written quite a few times. The lyrics kept changing, the riffs kept changing, the arrangement changed back and forth. Originally, I did a whammy pedal solo, only I don't really know how to use a whammy pedal. So I did some crazy s--t with high octaves, which sounded OK. But then the lyrics changed again, so I had to think of another type of solo - that's the one that ended up on the final recording."
Lyrics
Let me hear you scream! I'm black and bruised, beat up, but still I take the blows 'Cause all I need is blood and sweat and skin and bones! I'll take this rage, Rattle your cage, Nobody said it's easy! It's do or die, Only the strong survive! Get ready for the last stand! Get ready, I'm your hangman! Let me hear you scream like you want it! Let me hear you yell like you mean it! If you're gonna go down: Go loud! Go strong! Go proud! Go on! Go hard or go home! Let me hear you- (Let me hear you-) Let me hear you- (Let me hear you-) Let me hear you scream! I'll pull you up and push you right back in your place! I'll take you down and wipe that smile right off your face! I'll watch you break, Your mine to take, Don't blink; you just might miss it! It's all or nothing, Nowhere left to run! Are you ready for the last fight! Get ready with the war cry! Let me hear you scream like you want it! Let me hear you yell like you mean it! If you're gonna go down: Go loud! Go strong! Go proud! Go on! Go hard or go home! Let me hear you- (Let me hear you-) Let me hear you- (Let me hear you-) Let me hear you scream! Let me hear you scream like you want it! Let me hear you yell like you mean it! If you're gonna go down: Go loud! Go strong! Go proud! Go on! Go hard or go home! Let me hear you scream like you want it! Let me hear you yell like you mean it! If you're gonna go down: Go loud! Go strong! Go proud! Go on! Go hard or go home! Let me hear you- (Let me hear you-) Let me hear you- (Let me hear you-) Let me hear you scream!