This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
There's a shadow just behind me
Shrouding every step I take
Making every promise empty
Pointing every finger at me
Waiting like a stalking butler
Who upon the finger rests
Murder now the path of must we
Just because the son has come
Jesus, won't you fucking whistle
Something but the past and done?
Jesus, won't you fucking whistle
Something but the past and done?
Why can't we not be sober?
Just want to start this over
And why can't we drink forever?
I just want to start this over
I am just a worthless liar
I am just an imbecile
I will only complicate you
Trust in me and fall as well
I will find a center in you
I will chew it up and leave
I will work to elevate you
Just enough to bring you down
Mother Mary, won't you whisper?
Something but what's past and done
Mother Mary, won't you whisper?
Something but the past and done
Why can't we not be sober?
I just want to start this over
And why can't we sleep forever?
I just want to start this over
Why?
I am just a worthless liar
I am just an imbecile
I will only complicate you
Trust in me and fall as well
I will find a center in you
I will chew it up and leave
Trust me
Trust me
Trust me
Trust me
Trust me
Why can't we not be sober?
I just want to start things over
And why can't we sleep forever?
I just want to start this over
Why?
I want what I want
I want what I want
I want what I want
I want what I want
Shrouding every step I take
Making every promise empty
Pointing every finger at me
Waiting like a stalking butler
Who upon the finger rests
Murder now the path of must we
Just because the son has come
Jesus, won't you fucking whistle
Something but the past and done?
Jesus, won't you fucking whistle
Something but the past and done?
Why can't we not be sober?
Just want to start this over
And why can't we drink forever?
I just want to start this over
I am just a worthless liar
I am just an imbecile
I will only complicate you
Trust in me and fall as well
I will find a center in you
I will chew it up and leave
I will work to elevate you
Just enough to bring you down
Mother Mary, won't you whisper?
Something but what's past and done
Mother Mary, won't you whisper?
Something but the past and done
Why can't we not be sober?
I just want to start this over
And why can't we sleep forever?
I just want to start this over
Why?
I am just a worthless liar
I am just an imbecile
I will only complicate you
Trust in me and fall as well
I will find a center in you
I will chew it up and leave
Trust me
Trust me
Trust me
Trust me
Trust me
Why can't we not be sober?
I just want to start things over
And why can't we sleep forever?
I just want to start this over
Why?
I want what I want
I want what I want
I want what I want
I want what I want
Lyrics submitted by dank, edited by minty33, lindalai5j, Soy, virtuallypainless, senTenZ
Sober Lyrics as written by Maynard James Keenan Paul M. D'amour
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It doesn't surprise me that people would really turn this toward religion. As against religion as Maynard or the band may be, i don't get that from this song.
Being someone who struggled with different addictions i can definitely relate to every line in this song.
"There's a shadow just behind me, Shrouding every step I take, Making every promise empty, Pointing every finger at me."
Drug/Alcohol addiction promises alot but there is always a price. People get high to feel good. However, You will feel empty when you aren't high, but you will be judged when you are. Hence the reason it makes "every promise empty and pointing every finger at me"
"Waiting like a stalking butler Who upon the finger rests. Murder now the path called "must we" Just before the son has come."
Addiction stands like a butler that follows you and like a butler it promises to help you through your day and the analogy of the butler on the finger as a way to use. Alot of drugs will lay on your finger especially if your snorting.
"The path called 'must we'" references to me the "Rules of the world". Kind of a Damned if you do Damned if you don't kind of thing. Addictions will tell the user that they need to not be concerned with what "needs to be done". Just sit back and use/drink/smoke/whatever.
"Jesus wont you Fucking Whistle Something but the past and done Jesus won't you Fucking whistle Something but the past and done"
Reaching out for answers but feeling like your past is the reason you won't ever find forgiveness or peace.(I mean come on how many of us have felt the negative effects of a night drinking/partying/smoking/whatever and gotten sick and cried out to God even if you don't believe he exists. "God if you get me out of this i'll never drink again".) Asking "Jesus if you are real all i want is a whistle" or "God if you are real now would be the time to show it".
"Why can't we not be sober? I just want to start this over. Why can't we drink forever. I just want to start things over."
This is the argument every person has at one time or another during their time of addiction. (if you haven't then congrats you are the first i've ever heard of.)
"I am just a worthless liar. I am just an imbecile. I will only complicate you. Trust in me and fall as well. I will find a center in you. I will chew it up and leave, I will work to elevate you Just enough to bring you down."
The reality of what our addictions bring in the end. And i'm not talking about the recreational or social users, i'm talking about the ADDICTS who need it. Those who cant function in their day without whatever their addiction is. (i'm not condemning, i was there at one point too and i know how that battle goes.)
So there's my take. it's all based on personal experience so i could be way off. I'm not personal friends with the band so obviously i can't say this is what they meant, but when i listen to this song, this is what it tells me.
Best interpretation I've seen on any song on the 'internetz' ever.
thats actually the opposite of the songs point. the song isn't about being addicted. its about if you can do drugs with out becoming an addict then fuck off and let me do drugs. source: Adam Jones
I have read a few comments regarding this song, and for once I have to admit I am pleasantly surprised to read some people actually believe in many respects that this song is primarily about God and the proof of his existence. I believe the reference to being sober refers to those who are not drunk on believing and or following God. This like MANY tool songs is about God...period!!! Maynard isn't "so deep", "so mysterious" he's a puppet, a pawn for the devil!!! The only reason this band is where they are is because they sold out to the devil for talent and fame!!! This band will burn in hell unless they repent of their sin and turn to Christ!!! It always astounds me how 90% of the time people read these lyrics and interpret them, that people almost always turn to God or Christ in the reference and justify it as though "well its not really about God" but Maynard is just using it as a metaphor or drug addiction or insert your favorite load of garbage. The bottom line is God or Christ is blasphemed in dozens of Maynard written songs, and it's no coincidence, or happenstance but rather deliberate! Wake up! You people who channel these songs into metaphors and other arbitrary concepts are choosing to change the meaning of the songs to justify the fact that you as well as I know these songs are in fact evil wicked and wrong and you just want to justify your lifestyle because your conscience bears the true witness of the Godhead and you are simply refusing to change your life to live for God!! Quit justifying your wickedness stop serving the devil and see that these men in this band are evil and this song is no exception!!! They are puppets given fame and glory and riches by the devil for a purpose to lead fools astray! Satan is the God of this world, and whether you choose to serve God or Satan you are serving one or the other no matter what! Start paying attention to what these people are brainwashing your minds with people!!! All rockstars promote and encourage wicked behaviour and sin! Everyone in this band is FULLY aware that they are serving Satan and that they are on their way to Hell! Maynard promotes the devil and the occult and anyone who even scratches the surface of their image and music/lyrics knows this so stop ignoring it people! Be advised! Turn to Christ and repent! I once was fooled and beguiled by this band over 20 years ago, and now I know what they are and what they stand for! They are damning millions to hell!!!
OMG!!!! Ephesians6:13, your retarded!!!!<br /> And even if that is what his meaning behind the lyrics are, that is his choice. Why all the hatred? I really like this song but it has a different meaning to me. When you listen to it you see the anti-Christ, when I listen to it I see struggles I've gone thru. For such "a strong believer" in Christianity, you sure act like everything your not suppose to be. God is the only one who is suppose to pass judgement, and you thinking you can do a godly act is blasphemy in itself!!!
My thoughts stemmed just from my point during my addiction. A justification for using while realizing damage that is done during the process. But I'm happy to rattle cages with my perspectives. However right or wrong they may be.
@iob890 Ima addict too. You are 100% right.
@iob890 love your point of view! @Ephesians6:66 lol! I could start debating with you about your invisible friend, but it wouldn't change anything. It's just funny to see the hypocrisy: you so called "Christians" condemn and judge daily the people who your own Jesus was gathering around himself! Where is the "Jesus loves you all"? However I feel sorry for people like you.
@iob890 I really like your interpretation. Although I have the thought that the whole "I am just a worthless liar....." part was him speaking as if he was the drug and that the drug has an evil intention. "I will complicate you" I am going to change your life for the worse. "Trust in me and fall as well" Trusting me will cause your downfall. "I will find a center in you" I will make you need me. "I will chew it up and leave" My goal is to ruin you. "I will work to elevate you, Just enough to bring you down." I can make you feel a way you like feeling but we both know that I'm going to make you regret it. The center could be your physical self i.e heart, stomach, mind, or it could be viewed as if the "center" is something held near and dear to the addict (like the center of his/her world) something like a significant other or family member and that "chew it up and leave" is like it saying it will you make it depend on it and drive everyone away. I don't know though. It makes a lot more sense in my head than it does on here albeit I didn't do the best job of portraying it but hopefully people can see what I was trying to get at.
@jaredford_ totally understand where you're coming from there. I had the same thought but I think you expounded on it much more proficiently than I did.
e@phesians6:13<br /> That was easily the dumbest thing I've read in awhile (congratulations). You should really work at not being so indoctrinated. Your little rant was actually kind of sad.
@iob890 Not sure if you are a man or women but either way. I as a father of a 6 year old and a 9 year old, as well as a husband to a wife of 13 years...wants to express my thanks to your effort put into getting your opinion of this song out to others. Your post, it hit me really hard. Because even in my drunkenness the examples you gave I remember like they were yesterday even though I wanted to forget them. I'm 31, I make enough money to not have to worry about financial things in general, but the question for me still remains "Why can't I not be sober". Its a struggle but you have just helped me and will continue to help me with my problem. I sincerely thank you.
@iob890 I agree, great explanantion. @jaredford_ I agree with you as well. I actually take it a little further even to say that the individual while on the drugs/alcohol is this way themselves. They become another person because of their addiction and they are saying "I am a worthless liar. I will find a center in you. I will chew it up and leave. I will work to elevate you, Just enough to bring you down." Because they bring others down who try to save them or help often stealing etc. in the process.
@iob890 I think that you nailed it, man.<br />
@iob890 great interpretation. I think the only think I would add as food for thought is the references to Jesus and Mother Mary with regards to the past is that most recovery programs have a spiritual or religious reliance as well as addressing the past in order to recover. This may be an admonishment of the need to rely on religion to recover...