Throw that Bob-Marley-wannabe motherfucker out of here

Fade

Underneath the skin and jewelry
Hidden in her words and eyes
Is a wall that's cold and ugly
And she's scared as hell

Trembling at the thought of feeling
Wide awake and keeping distance
Nothing seems to penetrate her
'Cause she's scared as hell
I am frightened too
I am frightened
Oh no, oh-oh

Trembling at the thought of feeling
Wide awake and keeping distance
Nothing seems to penetrate her
'Cause she's scared as hell
I am frightened too
I am frightened

Wide awake and
Keeping distance from my soul
Wide awake and
Keeping distance from my soul

Fade

Underneath the skin and jewelry
Hidden in her words and eyes
Is a wall that's cold and ugly
And she's scared as hell

Trembling at the thought of feeling
Wide awake and keeping distance
Nothing seems to penetrate her
'Cause she's scared as hell
I am frightened too
I am frightened too
I am scared like you
I am frightened


Lyrics submitted by Jack, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Cold and Ugly [Live] Lyrics as written by Maynard James Keenan Daniel Carey

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Cold and Ugly song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

62 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    General Comment

    I see it as a girl who is maybe beautiful on the outside hides much of her true self on the inside. As with many of Tool's songs, a person should learn to wade in that dark side of themselves; all the things that they refuse to accept and fear from themselves.

    Whenever this girl tries to look on the inside, she is scared to understand who she really is. I think almost everyone suffers some sort of abuse within their life -- whether it be emotional, physical, directed from someone else, or even at that person's own hands. It's just the way this world is built and therefore we must learn to expose that darkness that we bury so deep and so often in our life. Before this person can truly be beautiful (hence cold and ugly refers to her inner untouched self), she must expose all this.

    chino69on September 17, 2002   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.