All righty then
Picture this if you will

10 to 2 am, X, yogi DMT, and a box of krispy kreme's in my "need to know" pose just outside of area 51, contemplating the whole chosen people thingy when just then a flaming stealth banana split the sky like one would hope but never really expect to see in a place like this. Cutting right angle donuts on a dime and stopping right at my birkinstocks, and me yelping "holy fuckin' shit!"

Then the X file being, looking like some kinda blue green Jackie chan, with Isabella Rossellini lips, and breath that reeked of vanilla chig champa, did a slow mo matrix decent outta the butt end of the banana vessel, and hovered above my bug eyes, my gaping jaw, and my sweaty L. Ron Hubbard upper lip and all I could think was, "I hope uncle martin here doesn't notice that I pissed my fuckin pants!!"

So light in his way, like an apparition, he'd had me crying out...
"Fuck me!
It's gotta be
The dead head
Chemistry
The blotter got right on top o' me
Got me seeing E mutha fuckin T!"

And after calming me down with some orange slices and some fetal spooning, E.T. revealed to me his singular purpose. He said. "you are the chosen one. The one who will deliver the message. A message of hope for those who choose to hear it, and a warning for those who do not." Me! The chosen one. They chose me!!!! And I didn't even graduate from fuckin' high school!!

(You'd better listen)

Then he looked right through me with somniferous almond eyes
Don't even know what that means
Must remember to write it down
This is so real
Like the time Dave floated away
See, my heart is pounding cuz this shit never happens to me.

Can't breathe right now.

It was so real
Like I woke up in Wonderland
All sorta terrifying
I don't wanna be all alone
While I tell this story
And can anyone tell me why y'all sound like peanuts parents?
Will I ever be coming down?
This is so real
Finally it's my lucky day
See, my heart is racing cuz this shit never happens to me

Can't breathe right now.

You believe me don't you?
Please believe what I've just said
See, the dead ain't touring and this wasn't all in my head
See they took me by the hand
And invited me right in
Then they showed me something
I don't even know where to begin

Strapped down to my bed
Feet cold and eyes red
I'm out of my head
Am I alive? Am I dead?
Can't remember what they said
God damn, shit the bed

Overwhelmed as one would be placed in my position
Such a heavy burden now to be the one
Born to bear and bring to all the details of our ending
To write it down for all the world to see
But I forgot my pen
Shit the bed again
Typical

Strapped down to my bed
Feet cold and eyes red
I'm out of my head
Am I alive? Am I dead.
Sunkist and Sudafed
Gyroscopes and infrared
Won't help. I'm brain dead
Can't remember what they said
God damn, shit the bed

Can't remember what they said to me
Can't remember what they said to make me out to be a hero
Can't remember what they said
Bob help me
Can't remember what they said

We don't know and we won't know
God damn shit the bed

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Lyrics submitted by Solarius, edited by Kyralik, merarkil, BrainBaked

Rosetta Stoned song meanings

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542 Comments

+20
General Comment
This is about the fallacies and ignorance and narcissism of certain psychedelic enthusiasts. It's a masterfully humorous song, and full of truth. The part where he says "Me, the chosen one. They chose me, and I didn't even graduate from fucking high school...." It's a sort of slap in the face to all the psychonauts and self appointed mystics and shaman who walk around acting as if, or believing, that they have been granted special access to the mysteries of life. That they have tapped into some fount of knowledge about all the Big Questions that have eluded mankind since day one. Never mind the fact that many, more powerful, minds have been unable to give us definitive answers to these questions... they have been granted special access to the answers because...why? Because they took acid and believe in ufo's? No, because they are special, they have been chosen. It's a sort of narcissism, to think that you are so important that you get to know the mysteries of life that nobody else gets to know, and that you should simply be granted this knowledge and responsibility because you were wise enough to ingest a chemical that has been experimented with for most of the last century, by millions of people, some of them likely much more talented and intelligent than you. The "Rosetta Stoned" feeling is a common occurance on lsd. I had it happen a few times when I used to take it as a teenager. You get this overwhelming feeling of having discovered some deeper, hidden meaning about life, a major revelation of some kind. But somehow, by the time you are sober again, the feeling is gone. Some faint echo of it nags at you, because it felt so real, what was it? Should have written it down...shit the bed... Ok, so next time you take acid, and it happens again, but this time you are prepared, you brought your pen! So you write down the essence of your revelation, this refinement of knowledge that has eluded mankind, but now you, the chosen one, can tell everyone, because you wrote it down! Good thinking! You come down, and later feel that tug in your mind...what was it... oh yeah, the piece of paper! You pull it out of your pocket and read: " A circle and a square are really the same thing!!!!" " "Pink should be cherished and respected, it s here to mitigate aggression." " If I try hard to honor you, you will try harder to honor me." " The important number is 3!" Huh? Is this some gibberish, and some paraphasing of ancient and well know pieces of advice like the golden rule masquerading itself to you as something you invented on your own? What happened, it doesn't feel as overwhelming to read it sober, does it? Hell, none of these ideas are new, and all of them have been descibed and debated in much clearer and understandable language than this psychedelic obscuritan drivel anyhow...

This is about the fallacies and ignorance and narcissism of certain psychedelic enthusiasts. It's a masterfully humorous song, and full of truth. The part where he says "Me, the chosen one. They chose me, and I didn't even graduate from fucking high school...." It's a sort of slap in the face to all the psychonauts and self appointed mystics and shaman who walk around acting as if, or believing, that they have been granted special access to the mysteries of life. That they have tapped into some fount of knowledge about all the Big Questions that have eluded mankind since day one. Never mind the fact that many, more powerful, minds have been unable to give us definitive answers to these questions... they have been granted special access to the answers because...why? Because they took acid and believe in ufo's? No, because they are special, they have been chosen. It's a sort of narcissism, to think that you are so important that you get to know the mysteries of life that nobody else gets to know, and that you should simply be granted this knowledge and responsibility because you were wise enough to ingest a chemical that has been experimented with for most of the last century, by millions of people, some of them likely much more talented and intelligent than you. The "Rosetta Stoned" feeling is a common occurance on lsd. I had it happen a few times when I used to take it as a teenager. You get this overwhelming feeling of having discovered some deeper, hidden meaning about life, a major revelation of some kind. But somehow, by the time you are sober again, the feeling is gone. Some faint echo of it nags at you, because it felt so real, what was it? Should have written it down...shit the bed... Ok, so next time you take acid, and it happens again, but this time you are prepared, you brought your pen! So you write down the essence of your revelation, this refinement of knowledge that has eluded mankind, but now you, the chosen one, can tell everyone, because you wrote it down! Good thinking! You come down, and later feel that tug in your mind...what was it... oh yeah, the piece of paper! You pull it out of your pocket and read: " A circle and a square are really the same thing!!!!" " "Pink should be cherished and respected, it s here to mitigate aggression." " If I try hard to honor you, you will try harder to honor me." " The important number is 3!" Huh? Is this some gibberish, and some paraphasing of ancient and well know pieces of advice like the golden rule masquerading itself to you as something you invented on your own? What happened, it doesn't feel as overwhelming to read it sober, does it? Hell, none of these ideas are new, and all of them have been descibed and debated in much clearer and understandable language than this psychedelic obscuritan drivel anyhow...

Reason:

TheJackylon June 16, 2012 Link
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@TheJackyl

I think you have a great interpretation of this song, but I don't agree with a few of the basic principles here.

Maybe someone with more experience in natural psychedelics can correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I know psychedelics are all about the death of the ego. I can agree that some people would be more susceptible to becoming narcissists, but for the majority the exact opposite effect is much more common. Selfish desires are dropped, bad habits are seen and easily fixed, and one feels sort of compelled to do good, live simple and try to set a good example for the rest of society.

As far as gibberish or strange thoughts while tripping. Well, it's very similar to dreaming. We all have dreams sometimes where we think of something that just seems so important or mind blowing, then when we wake up we realize it either was a metaphor for something else or was just a random memory concoction. However, this does not mean that all dreams are meaningless. Same principle for psychedelics. Sometimes you might have a strange thought "The banana peel is THE BANANA ARMOR!" But you might also think "Wow, I just realized I've been being an asshole to everyone I come in contact with, because I had this bad experience in my childhood. Hmm, I shouldn't let this weigh me down, I know I can fix this. I can be better!" These sorts of "revelations" can be carried over to sober states.

As far as ideas being genuine or new, no ideas are really genuine. You can say nothing that has not been said before. I don't think this makes our words meaningless. Everything you say and do has an effect, and that effect has an effect, and so on.

Also, I do not believe LSD to be as beneficial as psilocybin. Who knows if the acid you are getting is pure? For most it is almost impossible to know for sure, and this to me seems dangerous. That being said, it could be possible more of the irresponsible type could be attracted to acid. Irresponsible people could be more likely to become narcissists. That's just my opinion. DMT is a whole other territory than either of these.

All of that being said, everyone is different, so it's impossible to tell what kind of reaction or trip one would experience. I do agree there is ignorance in the psychedelic community, just as there is ignorance in every place on this earth. No group is perfect. You should always expect to see the bad side of any sort of people. Religion has shown this very well.

I didn't mean to attempt to negate your comment, I actually believe you interpreted this song very well. I just happened to see it, and would like to give my input concerning psychedelics and narcissism, since I know many people will be reading these sorts of comments and could develop a false sense of how psychedelics work. Go read a hundred psychedelic trip reports, and tell me if you think natural psychedelics breed narcissism. You might find the opposite is true.

Moiraineon July 08, 2012

"This is about the fallacies and ignorance and narcissism of certain psychedelic enthusiasts. It's a masterfully humorous song, and full of truth."

Ignorance is a lack of knowledge... a lack of knowledge that you displayed when you made this comment. Alex Grey does the artwork for Tool and was also featured in the film "DMT The Spirit Molecule". Similar artwork from the bands music video "Parabola" was featured on the cover. The film is filled with what you call "psychedelic enthusiasts" including Alex Grey himself, and explores the experience of DMT. It even hypothesis's its experience to be spiritual in nature and has connections to sacred artwork.

So why would Tool make multiple songs (Parabola, Lateralus, Reflection, Rosetta Stoned, etc.) that made fun of the very person who does all the brilliant artwork for the band? Do you know how retarded that sounds? But of course when you lack knowledge and you can't help but express your opinions, you're bound to show the world how stupid you are.

Introverseon October 08, 2012

I liked your interpretation, although I happen to agree more with Moiraine.

Nature is wise and some humans are and some aren't. Nature offers some plants or natural substances that may enhance or may not our perception and even our consciousness if they're used correctly (sometimes even without the will of use them as they should they can cause some positive effect on anyone).

The key word is IGNORANCE. Ignorance of the people that don't know and don't use any of those substances (natural or sinthetic), just as ignorance of the people that use them.

I think (this is not related to the song or maybe a little) that there's an unespecific path to reach a deeper level of awareness that may help to purify our lifestyles and our minds. This may be achieved with or without the use of any of these substances but they may turn this path a little easier for those who are willing to pay attention instead of using them only for recreation.

quetzalmexon December 05, 2012

I think you're pretty spot on here. I did a project on Tool for one of my college religion classes and I used parts of this song. My professor proposed basically the same theory: that Maynard is mocking the phonies out there who trip on psychedelics and discover the meaning of existence.

Moiraine has very valid points as well. Maynard is not saying that the ideas and revelations that are brought about by drugs are meaningless. It is simply that they are not answers to life that need to be shared with everyone. The person in the story believes that he is "the chosen one." No one is any more chosen to gain knowledge about our existence than anyone else.

I think that Introverse's comments were unnecessary and rude. If that's your opinion then share it, but don't cut other people down. Also, Maynard and all the members of Tool let drugs like acid and DMT heavily influence their art. Maynard is not trying to discredit anyone who allows that to change their thought, and TheJackyl wasn't saying that. He is merely mocking those people who believe that they are special and more gifted than everyone else because of their drug use.

craftsmanon July 23, 2013

@TheJackyl Mm I really do like this interpretation but there are also other great ones on here, I've personally experienced that "Rosetta Stoned feeling" several times.

AllWeLoveon May 01, 2015

@TheJackyl
Flawed argument 1 : "Never mind the fact that many, more powerful, minds have been unable to give us definitive answers to these questions".
If every genius has thought "if it were that a brilliant idea, someone else would already have figured it out", then we would still be living in obscurantist stone age
Flawed argument 2
Just because you came up with gibberish doesn't make it a universal rule

Besides, "Tool" basically means drugs (and sex) are a means to unlock the mind, as used in most shamanic cultures. Hence, it's most unlikely that the meaning of this song is : "ah, drugs! they make you see rubbish , a' right!?"

3- btw, you were right about the number 3!, and i'm not (especially) stoned, so ...;p

shino77on August 30, 2019

@TheJackyl I know you posted this ages ago, and I’ve no idea if you’ll even see this, but you nailed the meaning spot on. I still think about how the following made perfect sense to me, when I was dosing:

Snoopy’s brother lives in the desert, right? Right.
You drive out in the desert on three wheels and get a flat tire; how many pancakes does it take to cover his house? None, fish don’t like ice cream.

american11on June 25, 2021

@TheJackyl Your cynicism in regards to persons attempting to describe that which is ineffable discourages spirituality by shaming abstraction.

josephzdpon October 21, 2022
+6
General Comment
Continuation of Lost Keys, its his answer to the doctor: "Picture this if you will" how he was captured by aliens or a mighty power that told him to tell everyone the world was going to end. In the beginning its a tedious song by my favorite part develops and in minute 8 of the song, Maynard reaches a great pinnacle of the song with his voice: Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position. Such a heavy burden now to be, the one. Born to bear and write you all the details of our ending. To write it down for all the world to see. But I forgot my pen. Shit the bed again... typical. Great finale

Continuation of Lost Keys, its his answer to the doctor: "Picture this if you will" how he was captured by aliens or a mighty power that told him to tell everyone the world was going to end. In the beginning its a tedious song by my favorite part develops and in minute 8 of the song, Maynard reaches a great pinnacle of the song with his voice: Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position. Such a heavy burden now to be, the one. Born to bear and write you all the details of our ending. To write it down for all the world to see. But I forgot my pen. Shit the bed again... typical. Great finale

Reason:

a7a8a9a1on April 26, 2006 Link
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@a7a8a9a1
+4
General Comment
This is what I get from it, it may not be what you get, and that’s totally fine. Keeping in mind the three languages on the Rosetta Stone and the above quotation. There are three narratives that need to be deciphered in this song. At the beginning we have the narrative of events told by the guy who is still suffering the effects of LSD to the doctors. The garbled sound of the lyrics seems to accentuate the nonsensical lyrics themselves. Then we get the second narrative, his inner thoughts. This helps us understand the first narrative, he cant explain himself because he is still really stoned, but what he has to say does make some sense. We are missing a third narrative, which is that of the aliens. So then what is the Rosetta Stone, his key to unlocking the cryptic message? The title suggests it’s the LSD. It is what allowed for the alien experience and makes the first nonsensical narrative possible, then the second more rational narrative. The reason we are missing the alien narrative is because we have an unprepared individual with no frame of reference, he forgot his pen. So he ends up missing the point. You get what you can from the Rosetta Stone (LSD or the actual stone used to decrypt the hieroglyphs) but once you decrypt, you don’t need the Rosetta Stone anymore. Once you figure out how to read Hieroglyphs you don’t need to translate through the stone again, you do it because you understand it. Much like once you reach a bit of spiritual enlightenment you can “get there again” because you understand it. The story teller was not prepared and therefore did not have the frame of reference to understand the new perspectives he encountered. It becomes a sort of response to “Third Eye.” What makes this song cool to me is the humor used to poke fun at the stereotypical high school drop out that trips out just to trip out. Tool makes some great stuff.

This is what I get from it, it may not be what you get, and that’s totally fine. Keeping in mind the three languages on the Rosetta Stone and the above quotation. There are three narratives that need to be deciphered in this song. At the beginning we have the narrative of events told by the guy who is still suffering the effects of LSD to the doctors. The garbled sound of the lyrics seems to accentuate the nonsensical lyrics themselves. Then we get the second narrative, his inner thoughts. This helps us understand the first narrative, he cant explain himself because he is still really stoned, but what he has to say does make some sense. We are missing a third narrative, which is that of the aliens. So then what is the Rosetta Stone, his key to unlocking the cryptic message? The title suggests it’s the LSD. It is what allowed for the alien experience and makes the first nonsensical narrative possible, then the second more rational narrative. The reason we are missing the alien narrative is because we have an unprepared individual with no frame of reference, he forgot his pen. So he ends up missing the point. You get what you can from the Rosetta Stone (LSD or the actual stone used to decrypt the hieroglyphs) but once you decrypt, you don’t need the Rosetta Stone anymore. Once you figure out how to read Hieroglyphs you don’t need to translate through the stone again, you do it because you understand it. Much like once you reach a bit of spiritual enlightenment you can “get there again” because you understand it. The story teller was not prepared and therefore did not have the frame of reference to understand the new perspectives he encountered. It becomes a sort of response to “Third Eye.” What makes this song cool to me is the humor used to poke fun at the stereotypical high school drop out that trips out just to trip out. Tool makes some great stuff.

Reason:

nonetospeakofon May 02, 2006 Link
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@nonetospeakof

This comment is from 8 years ago. I wanted to tell you all that the message from the aliens is still there, but it's only how humans can comprehend. The protagonist can faintly remembering the idea, he just needs help putting it all back together. It's on the "tip of his tongue" and he's trying to spit it out. The best way to describe what the aliens told him is to imagine playing 5 different rhythms, each limb of the body doing something different and the 5th rhythm being when they are all put together. However, this doesn't even scratch the surface of what the aliens were trying to say, it's just the closest thing that listeners have to relate to it. It must have been crazy, and there's no doubt it was inspired from when Maynard was abducted by aliens when he was younger when he tripped on acid. OR DID HE JUST HALLUCINATE THE WHOLE THING?

tylerhnothingon September 08, 2014
+3
General Comment
“I think psychedelics play a major part in what we do, but having said that, I feel that if somebody's going to experiment with those things they really need to educate themselves about them. People just taking the chemicals and diving in without having any kind of preparation about what they're about to experience tend to have no frame of reference, so they're missing everything flying by and all these new perspectives. It's just a waste. They reach a little bit of spiritual enlightenment, but they end up going, 'Well, now I need that drug to get back there again.' The trick is to use the drugs once to get there, and maybe spend the next ten years trying to get back there without the drug.” -MJK

“I think psychedelics play a major part in what we do, but having said that, I feel that if somebody's going to experiment with those things they really need to educate themselves about them. People just taking the chemicals and diving in without having any kind of preparation about what they're about to experience tend to have no frame of reference, so they're missing everything flying by and all these new perspectives. It's just a waste. They reach a little bit of spiritual enlightenment, but they end up going, 'Well, now I need that drug to get back there again.' The trick is to use the drugs once to get there, and maybe spend the next ten years trying to get back there without the drug.” -MJK

Reason:

nonetospeakofon May 02, 2006 Link
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@nonetospeakof

@nonetospeakof I think it's more dangerous to get there without..

budHexon July 26, 2016

@nonetospeakof easier said then done Maynard.

toolnon January 09, 2023

@nonetospeakof easier said then done Maynard.

toolnon January 09, 2023
+2
General Comment
I just want to say right now, he didn't actually shit the bed... shit the bed is a phrase that means to fail, or basically fuck up. Like being revealed the details of our ending, but forgetting to write them down. Or, youd could, as always, take it both ways.

I just want to say right now, he didn't actually shit the bed... shit the bed is a phrase that means to fail, or basically fuck up. Like being revealed the details of our ending, but forgetting to write them down. Or, youd could, as always, take it both ways.

Reason:

Frances-The-Toolon April 24, 2006 Link
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@Frances-The-Tool

Does it really matter if he shit the bed or not?

J-Rizzoon September 27, 2010

Yeah, actually. It does.
Shitting the bed isn't a good thing.
But DMT is a very, very good thing.
I don't want people thinking you shit the bed on DMT, because you don't.

Kilgore92on October 25, 2010

it's actually a common experience on dmt to think that you have shat and/or pissed yourself

eucosison October 15, 2012

He's supposedly strapped down in a hospital somewhere and he took a lot more than DMT, and the lyrics say he's brain dead. I think in the song he literally went insane and shit the bed. Just my interpretation.

CarterBowleson January 07, 2014

@Frances-The-Tool could also have been probed.

toolnon January 09, 2023
+2
General Comment
Dude, they aren't running out of ideas. You can't expect this to a rehash of the highly enlightened stuff that was 'Lateralus'. Look at 'Aenema'. Just 'cuz the lyrics aren't completely mind-boggling, that doesn't make them any more amazing. Tool is far from losing their edge, though this album is a little laid-back. Songs like this prove Tool still knows what they're doing, and that they are one of the most amazing bands of the last decade.

Dude, they aren't running out of ideas. You can't expect this to a rehash of the highly enlightened stuff that was 'Lateralus'. Look at 'Aenema'. Just 'cuz the lyrics aren't completely mind-boggling, that doesn't make them any more amazing. Tool is far from losing their edge, though this album is a little laid-back. Songs like this prove Tool still knows what they're doing, and that they are one of the most amazing bands of the last decade.

Reason:

rock_hawkon May 01, 2006 Link
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@rock_hawk
+2
General Comment
Hmmm... the first time i actually understood some of the words when i listened to this song i thought it was about terry schaivo. obviously wrong. perhaps the song is a "rosetta stone" of sorts, maybe that means it can be used for the other songs, maybe it just has a message in every third letter or word or something... who knows...

Hmmm... the first time i actually understood some of the words when i listened to this song i thought it was about terry schaivo. obviously wrong. perhaps the song is a "rosetta stone" of sorts, maybe that means it can be used for the other songs, maybe it just has a message in every third letter or word or something... who knows...

Reason:

caughtinaglimpseon May 01, 2006 Link
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@caughtinaglimpse
+2
Memory
has anyone noticed the track takes exactly 666 secs? creepy anyways, yay tool rocks!

has anyone noticed the track takes exactly 666 secs? creepy anyways, yay tool rocks!

Reason:

Mitolon November 18, 2008 Link
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@Mitol
+1
General Comment
Tool's stance on the chemical known as DMT is well known. Sounds like a description of a DMT trip. vivid hallications, heart racing, coming down, etc..

Tool's stance on the chemical known as DMT is well known. Sounds like a description of a DMT trip. vivid hallications, heart racing, coming down, etc..

Reason:

robkaoson April 23, 2006 Link
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@robkaos

no shit its about dmt you fucking retard it clearly says it in the first line of the song. im going to slice your throat until it gets horribly infected and then im going to saw off the green disgusting scab and your balls grind them up into beef stew and force feed it up your anus with a funnel... o yea tool is awesome.. and so is dmt

dank420dankon October 01, 2009

dank420, you's trollin!

jds326on October 15, 2009

Could be any bad trip to the point of view of a beleiver. You've just lost your mind to a point of view contrary to your perception of reality. Vicariously feeling awe and terror and a bit of crazy. During psychosis you are brought to a strange hospital or clinic. It feels like it is a charade. You have this air-mask on your face and they want to know exactly what happened. So you tell them all of it.

StilettoDinosauron February 24, 2010

Could be any bad trip to the point of view of a beleiver. You've just lost your mind to a point of view contrary to your perception of reality. Vicariously feeling awe and terror and a bit of crazy. During psychosis you are brought to a strange hospital or clinic. It feels like it is a charade. You have this air-mask on your face and they want to know exactly what happened. So you tell them all of it.

StilettoDinosauron February 24, 2010

hey danks, chill out! wtf is the matter with you? if you don't think anyone's gonna report you for abuse you got another thing coming! are you sure you're not rosetta stoned? get a life!

feminist92on August 30, 2010
+1
General Comment
Heh, a lot of this song reminds me of the film Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas. To expand on nonetospeakof's comments, here's an MJK quotation: "I think psychedelics play a major part in what we do, but having said that, I feel that if somebody's going to experiment with those things they really need to educate themselves about them. People just taking the chemicals and diving in without having any kind of preparation about what they're about to experience tend to have no frame of reference, so they're missing everything flying by and all these new perspectives. It's just a waste. They reach a little bit of spiritual enlightenment, but they end up going, 'Well, now I need that drug to get back there again.' The trick is to use the drugs once to get there, and maybe spend the next ten years trying to get back there without the drug." - Maynard James Keenan I think this song is basically the artistic, musical version of that quote. With "goddamn, shit the bed," he's saying he screwed up and he's trying to get back to where he was. But perhaps he's trying to do it without the initial catalyst? (LSD, DMT, whatever) I also think the vocals are very clever. Being quite unconventional for MJK, they give the song a bit of a surreal sound (moreso than most Tool), especially with the delay voice, which is also slightly off-tune at times (obviously quite intentional).

Heh, a lot of this song reminds me of the film Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas. To expand on nonetospeakof's comments, here's an MJK quotation: "I think psychedelics play a major part in what we do, but having said that, I feel that if somebody's going to experiment with those things they really need to educate themselves about them. People just taking the chemicals and diving in without having any kind of preparation about what they're about to experience tend to have no frame of reference, so they're missing everything flying by and all these new perspectives. It's just a waste. They reach a little bit of spiritual enlightenment, but they end up going, 'Well, now I need that drug to get back there again.' The trick is to use the drugs once to get there, and maybe spend the next ten years trying to get back there without the drug." - Maynard James Keenan I think this song is basically the artistic, musical version of that quote. With "goddamn, shit the bed," he's saying he screwed up and he's trying to get back to where he was. But perhaps he's trying to do it without the initial catalyst? (LSD, DMT, whatever) I also think the vocals are very clever. Being quite unconventional for MJK, they give the song a bit of a surreal sound (moreso than most Tool), especially with the delay voice, which is also slightly off-tune at times (obviously quite intentional).

Reason:

thirdeye187on May 02, 2006 Link
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@thirdeye187

@thirdeye187 The philosopher Nietzsche said that a state of drunkenness is necessary in order for art to take place. People cannot create any thing good if they are too sober. Feelings of being hyper-motivated are necessary for people to evolve into a higher state of human development. People cannot evolve into better humans in their sober boring repetitive lives offered by the capitalist system

tool120364on August 21, 2016

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Rosetta Stoned

Tool

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