Abigail Morris told Apple Music in 2024: "Lyrically, it always felt like a mission statement. I wrote it just after my father passed away, and it was the idea of, ‘Let me make my grief a commodity’—this kind of slightly sarcastic ‘I’m going to put my heart on the line and all my pain and everything for a buck.’ The idea of being ecstatic by being burned alive—by your pain and by your art and by your inspiration—in a kind of holy-fire way. What we’re here to do is be fully alive and committed to exorcising any demons, pain or joy."...

Abigail Morris told Apple Music in 2024: "Lyrically, it always felt like a mission statement. I wrote it just after my father passed away, and it was the idea of, ‘Let me make my grief a commodity’—this kind of slightly sarcastic ‘I’m going to put my heart on the line and all my pain and everything for a buck.’ The idea of being ecstatic by being burned alive—by your pain and by your art and by your inspiration—in a kind of holy-fire way. What we’re here to do is be fully alive and committed to exorcising any demons, pain or joy."

I've always had a slightly different take on this song - I feel there's a valid interpretation that the fault mainly lies with the narrator/singer, not the person being eulogized.

I've always had a slightly different take on this song - I feel there's a valid interpretation that the fault mainly lies with the narrator/singer, not the person being eulogized.

Was it that the eulogized person was a hypocrite and a fraud? Or was it that the narrator is placing unrealistic expectations of perfection on this person....and then angrily casting them aside when they failed to live up to it? It's established that the narrator is looking for someone or something to identify with and fill some hole in their life.....we've seen with celebrity 'stan' culture and My Team...

Was it that the eulogized person was a hypocrite and a fraud? Or was it that the narrator is placing unrealistic expectations of perfection on this person....and then angrily casting them aside when they failed to live up to it? It's established that the narrator is looking for someone or something to identify with and fill some hole in their life.....we've seen with celebrity 'stan' culture and My Team vs Your Team politics how this can develop into unhealthy irrational obsession.

So the narrator has invested so much of themselves into this person, and now feels they've been let down. Perhaps their favourite celebrity made a change in style they don't like. Maybe a politician from Their Side went off the reservation. Or maybe this person simply challenged the narrator's views and outlook in some way? And now the narrator is bitter and jaded at their hero for 'betraying' them. But the 'hero' didn't do anything wrong here - it's the narrator who is trying to force this person to fulfill some fantasy or fit some expectation.

I feel this interpretation fits better with Tool's whole "Think For Yourself, Don't Just Blindly Follow" mentality.

I believe that this song has more of a deep personal meaning, at least for me. Throughout the song Matt speaks about “what it’s like to be a man.” I like to think that it’s himself asking these questions while on his path to adult hood with the real world crashing down on to him. In the chorus of the song, he’s yelling to his own parents for guidance but they’ve been negligent of his needs. You can tell in the final chorus as he yells to both of his parents saying, “Mother, oh father. Have you lost that boy...

I believe that this song has more of a deep personal meaning, at least for me. Throughout the song Matt speaks about “what it’s like to be a man.” I like to think that it’s himself asking these questions while on his path to adult hood with the real world crashing down on to him. In the chorus of the song, he’s yelling to his own parents for guidance but they’ve been negligent of his needs. You can tell in the final chorus as he yells to both of his parents saying, “Mother, oh father. Have you lost that boy you used to know?” Signifying his entry into adulthood straying away from his early childhood stages where everything was peaceful. Now the boy is in a hurtful world begging for help from his parents who just don’t see it.

This song is obviously recreating a memory for Van, before the fame, the adulations, and becoming who he wanted to be. its clearly painting a picture for the listener, what he's life was like, and in that regard its lovely and honest music.

This song is obviously recreating a memory for Van, before the fame, the adulations, and becoming who he wanted to be. its clearly painting a picture for the listener, what he's life was like, and in that regard its lovely and honest music.

Now, when it comes to the meaning of this song, it is hauntingly beautiful. Saying that cleaning windows is anyones dream would be a flat out lie, and thats why we get the "whats my line" like hes in a play.. ah, yes, thats what he was supposed to say: "im happy cleaning windows". he has to remind...

Now, when it comes to the meaning of this song, it is hauntingly beautiful. Saying that cleaning windows is anyones dream would be a flat out lie, and thats why we get the "whats my line" like hes in a play.. ah, yes, thats what he was supposed to say: "im happy cleaning windows". he has to remind himself that hes happy doing what he does. But, he's also saying that he takes his time, and he'll see you when his love grows. Well, he has a goal to become a musician, but he's in no rush, he'll meet his success in music, when his increasing love/dedication for it makes it inevitable.

"Babe, dont let it slide, im a working man in my prime" - he reminds himself to have faith in his journey. Telling his love, (music in this case, wich he calls babe) that it shouldnt let this oppurtunity slide, hes a working man in his prime. Confidence, hes the right person for the job, music better recognize it.

He also brings up musical influences, and books on zen. Stating again the interest in music, and trying to find peace in the journey. There is also enjoyment where hes at, the bakery, the saxophone, the memories, they are looked back at fondly.

Making this song a tribute to the process, and most importantly, enjoying the process of acheiving any goal in life. Thats why the tune is so cheerful, because enjoying the process and patience, is the most important thing. Its almost like its saying to you, the listener, that you should enjoy the process of whatever your goal is right now!

One of my favorite tunes ever!

Now, the numbers, 36 and 126, they can be just numbers on the windows/street/flat(counting). They dont need to be anything else.

Had a hard time finding any other reason behind them, but why say such random numbers in the first place?

I found something that would make somewhat sense: Van was very spiritual in his lyrics throughout the 70's and 80's, and has many songs influenced by this(full force gale, dweller on the threshold, when god shines his light), so he could be refering to something biblical.

Psalm 126 (at the very end, when the picture is painted) - it employs a methaphor for saying that God makes joy out of sorrow, laughter out of tears, etc. So it might be a reference to that God is within this process, or enjoying the process, is enjoying what god has made, a beautiful struggle.

Psalm 36 (after the first chorus) - is basicly saying you should trust in gods enduring love and justice, or he takes care of those who do. Could be just a reference to having trust.