I don't want to be hostile
I don't want to be dismal
And I don't want to rot in an apathetic existence
See I want to believe you
And I wanted to trust you
And I want to have faith to put away the dagger

But you lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat and steal
You lie, cheat and steal
And I tolerate you

You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat and steal
You lie, cheat and steal
I cannot tolerate

Veil of virtue hung to hide your method
While I smile and laugh and dance
And sing your praise and glory
Shroud of virtue hung to mask your stigma
As I smile and laugh and dance
And sing your glory

While you lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
How can I tolerate you?

You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
I cannot tolerate

Our guilt, our blame
I've been far too sympathetic
Our blood, our fault
I've been far too sympathetic
I am not innocent
I am not innocent
You are not innocent
No one is innocent

You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
You lie, cheat, and steal
I cannot tolerate

I will not longer tolerate you
I will grow down inside you
I must go down beside you
No one is innocent


Lyrics submitted by dank, edited by mr stuff

Intolerance Lyrics as written by Daniel Carey Adam Jones

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Intolerance song meanings
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  • +4
    General Comment

    Personally, I don't this song has anything to do with the military, although I would not be surprised at all if Maynard got the whole "lie, cheat, and steal" part from when he studied at West Point Prep School, as the Cadet Honor Code does state that "A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal nor tolerate those who do". Other than that, I see no reference to the military at all throughout the song. Instead I think the song is about people in general and Maynard's inability to tolerate human nature (or his anger at the fact that he DOES tolerate it). It seems that at the beginning of the song, he still has some tolerance, but by the end, it just seems that he's completely fed up with people and their bullshit. Although people may try to hide it behind a "veil of virtue", it's inescapable; not even Maynard is excluded, as he clearly states in the song ("I am not innocent"). I have to say though, I'm sure I can come up with quite a few more flaws in human nature than just lying, cheating, and stealing... haha.

    I don't claim that this is the "right answer", as I can't be COMPLETELY sure what point Maynard intended to get across with the song, nor can anybody else. Even if one were able to ask Maynard himself, they'd be lucky to get a straight-answer, as Tool encourages listeners to come up with their own interpretations of the band's songs and hopefully make some kind of personal connections to them. This is in response to a comment that was left almost 5 years ago... so I guess it's somewhat pointless, but I just think it's really arrogant to claim that your interpretation is the one that is right.

    Back to the song, I can connect to the it, as I find it extremely difficult to see the best in people (or what little there is of it) and extremely easy to see the worst (of which there is much more). Noone is innocent.

    Sharengeon September 03, 2009   Link

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