Posts Tagged ‘songmeanings’
Music has been a great source for inspiration throughout the centuries, and Tool’s music is a huge inspiration to my writing and thought process. I first discovered Tool’s music in February of 2007
, and my taste in music has never been the same since. They grew on me within minutes of listening to their first, “Opiate” EP. The lyrics were so much profound than anything I ever heard before. The music itself was quite raw in their earlier days, but as time progressed, so did their music. From Opiate to 10,000 Days, Tool’s style has developed quite a deal. Their music has become much more complex, and their lyrics continue to inspire any freethinking person. The are the definition of progressive rock/metal, and they currently are my favorite band. So, I figure, why not list a few of my favorite songs separated by the album on which they appear.
I shall begin with, their first major release, and that is the Opiate EP.
- “Sweat” – 3:46
- “Hush” – 2:48
- “Part of Me” – 3:17
- “Cold and Ugly (Live)” – 4:09
- “Jerk-Off (Live)” – 4:23
- “Opiate” – 8:28
This album has a very raw sound, as Tool sound progression begins here. This album is better classified as “hard rock” or even “grunge” rather than “progressive rock.” The music is not nearly as layered as later Tool music either. The drums by Danny Carey are top notch, as he truly takes Tool to another level. However, the lyrics are what separate Tool from any other band. Here are some excerpts of lyrics from the three songs I enjoy the most off the Opiate EP.
Cold and Ugly Lyrics:
Underneath her 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.
She’s scared as hell.
Jerk-Off Lyrics:
Someone told me once
that there’s a right and wrong,
and that punishment
would come to those
who dare to cross the line.
But it must not be true
for jerk-offs like you.
Maybe it takes longer to catch a total asshole.
but I’m tired of waiting.
Maybe it’s just bullshit and I should play GOD,
and shoot you myself.*
Because I’m tired of waiting.
Consequences dictate
our course of action
and it doesn’t matter what’s right.
It’s only wrong if you get caught.
If consequences dictate
my course of action
I should play GOD
and shoot you myself.*
I’m very tired of waiting.
Opiate Lyrics:
Choices always were a problem for you.
What you need is someone strong to guide you.
Deaf and blind and dumb and born to follow,
what you need is someone strong to use you…
If you want to get your soul to heaven,
trust in me.
Don’t judge or question.
You are broken now,
but faith can heal you.
Just do everything I tell you to do.
Deaf and blind and dumb and born to follow.
Let me lay my holy hand upon you.
My God’s will
becomes me.
When he speaks out,
he speaks through me.
He has needs
like I do.
We both want
to rape you.
Jesus Christ, why don’t you come save my life.
Open my eyes and blind me with your light
and your lies.
The song, Opiate is truly one of the greatest criticisms of religion in music form. An ugly aspect of Christianity and most other religions is the concept of releasing ones responsibilities onto others. Most Christians simply think, that faith will get them into heaven. They need not to think of their personal responsibility on earth, nor question anything, for others have done all the questioning for them. They simply go through the world, never wondering about any of the claims made in the Bible, and simply accepting them on face value. Yet, as the song concludes, god, religion and jesus are just one of the same, they are all lies.
Next Up: Favorite Tool Songs (Undertow)
Tags: lyrics, opiate, opiateep, song, songmeanings, tool
In the latest edition of the album review section, here is probably my favorite album ever recorded. Tool’s Lateralus is probably one of the most inspiring, well composed, original, beautiful album ever recorded. Lateralus really is 78:58 of orgasmic-good music made by my personal favorite band, Tool. This review will follow the same format as the last few, but this time I will try to put some more of my thoughts on the meanings of individual songs. The reason for this is largely to provide possibly a new analysis of the lyrics. However, please remember, my opinions and thoughts regarding this work of art are hardly fact and might turn out to be way off of even what Tool had originally intended. I will encourage everyone who is reading this to formulate your own opinions (and to do that, you must some how obtain it) 
And so it begins…
1. The Grudge
The first song up, and already I loved direction of the album, in this song…(and this album) the sound of Tool is vastly different from that of their first EP, “Opiate” and moderately different from the previous album “Ænima.” (which will be reviewed soon) This album begins the usage of the more “tech” sound that Tool really masters here, and goes on to display in full power with 10,000 Days (also to be reviewed). If this song had no words and was simply instrumental, even then it would be a well composed piece of music, with varying guitar riffs and incredible drum patters along with the usage of other various instruments. The lyrics however, provide an entire new level of contemplation and awe. I believe this song is written with an anti-establishment and possibly an anti-religion/dogma tone, and here is why.
Desperate to control all and everything.
Unable to forgive your scarlet lettermen.
The religious have often tried, (and often fail) to “control everything” this is their dream. The Abrahamic religions are the birthplace of the fascist ideology, the idea of “thought crimes”…well look no further. Trying to control what you eat, when you eat, your sex habits, your charity…and the most precious of all, your mind. Those who say enough of such a totalitarian ideology, well they are branded by the society with “scarlet letters” as in the case of Nathanial Hawthorne’s famous play.
Clutch it like a cornerstone. Otherwise it all comes down.
This is relative to faith, as to keep on to such a ridiculous belief, one needs to “clutch it like a cornerstone”…if one listens to reason…”it all comes down.”
Give away the stone.
Give it up, your religious non-sense is convincing not a single person of reason.
Rating: 
5/5
2. Eon Blue Apocalypse
This song, like a couple other on this album…have no words whatsoever. This song has a rather odd feeling, a bit of soft touch, but it builds intensity that carries over to the next song, and thus I suppose the reasoning behind it is simply to provide a segue into the next song…while containing a unique sound that Tool is known for.
Rating: N/A
3. The Patient
Here’s a rather “spacey” song, less words (especially in the beginning) and more just emotion from the music itself. Though unlike the song before, it takes about minute for the song to really begin and even then it is rather hard to grasp the meaning behind it. This song is rather long (a little bit over 7 minutes)…but it is incredibly relaxing. Again, here is a song that I feel as an aura of “anti-dogma”..with lyrics such as this:
If there were no rewards to reap,
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I’ve chosen here,
I certainly would’ve walked away by now.
Gonna wait it out.
Possibly discussions the concept of heaven within Christianity. The religious life without the enticement of heaven would, and is, awfully bland and simply against human nature. I suppose this song has a bit a of a satirical nature…
Be patient.
I must keep reminding myself of this.
That line would reinforce that, “keep waiting”…be patient…something will come in return. The song also gives the feeling to the listener, that is is all pointless…this could be possibly the reasoning for the “moaning” like voice from Maynard and the length of the song.
Rating: 5/5
4. Mantra
Here’s one of those songs that I spoke of earlier, this is just in an instrumental…but like Eon Blue Apocalypse, it is quite short (a bit above 1 minute) and it leads nicely into the next song, which in this case is “Schism.”
Rating: N/A
5. Schism
This is the first single off the album, and one of the best songs on the entire album. The video of it is quite creepy, check it on YouTube if you have time after this. Unlike the previous song, this song is actually quite verbose and meaningful. In a way Tool only can, the lyrics are hardly direct, actually quite the opposite, the lyrics are rather cryptic. Personally, I can’t really hold a single interpretation of this song…as it is so ambiguous…it could be about anything.
One popular interpretation is that it is an allusion to the Tower of Babel, and how god destroyed language uniformity and led the way for the ugly things such as nationalism and tribalism. Another interpretation, that I personally like, would be that Schism could also be a rather progressive song and be speaking of the obvious problem facing humanity. The fact that we are really all related…but many reject that notion and just like that we are all kept seperate. Now, it is time to give up anything that would keep yourself entangled with any particular group and transcend those lines with the intent of putting humanity back on track.
Rating: 5/5
6. Parabol
Another “spacey” kind of song, Maynard does his signature whisper in this song and does it to perfection. I personally believe that it is also the opening part of the next song, Parabola…as it leads right into it. The song begins rather quiet, and stays that way for just about the entire song other than…the ending. The ending which is now built intensity since the start leads perfectly into the much more intense and verbose song, Parabola.
Rating: N/A
7. Parabola
This song, accompanied by Parabol was actually the second “single” off of this album…and I believe it to be the only other one Tool released off of Lateralus. I think this song is about spiritualism, and transcendence beyond normal states of consciousness and cognizance. People, and often intellectuals and thinkers often reach a certain point in which…material things aren’t worth what they previously thought. Humanity has often searched for “something more”…it tried with organized religion and failed terribly, but that doesn’t mean the folk behind the religions were necessarily frauds and charlatans. People like Jesus, Muhammed and Moses could have indeed realized something greater than the material world. However, we know now their interpretation of such was completely false…but still…there very well could be more to this world that we haven’t really touched with a rational hand. This song to me is about that search for something more, not with religion, or organized religion, but some form of consciousness different from that of normal consciousness.
Rating: 5/5
8. Ticks and Leeches
I’ll start with a random note about this song, just because it sticks out in my head. Tool doesn’t play this song live very often, the reason for this is because of the strain that it is on Maynard’s voice. When they do play it live, Maynard often uses different techniques and does some different stuff with his voice when compared to the album track. During the recording of this track, Maynard apparently lost his voice so it really was recorded in a few takes at most.
Now back to the song itself. As you can get from the previous paragraph, this song is hard, loud and quite rough. This being a strong departure from the earlier tracks, but of course this was done in a progressive way…the Tool way. I believe that this song talks about the greed aspect of human nature. Those who will do anything to get what they want…even injure others to achieve their goals…and thus they are blood suckers…or ticks and leeches. They rely on the misery of others to propel them to a comfortable superfluous material status…and such a disgusting thing should never be practiced…though it often is. On a similar note, it could also about greed in a completely different way…with regards to humanity’s lust for materials while robbing the Earth of its resources. Humanity’s sucking of the metaphorical “lifestream” out of the universe.
Rating: 5/5
9. Lateralus
The title track of the album, and to me the best track of the album…Lateralus is possibly one of the greatest songs ever recorded. This is the classic which makes this album not simply a “good/great album” but a masterpiece of modern music. Its execution of certain aspects goes far beyond that of most ordinary songs…and this is why Tool my personal favorite band.
There are many interesting theories behind this song, can’t say I agree with all…but possibly the most thought provoking one is this one: Click Here That link essentially goes into detail much of what I was going to post especially with regards to the time signatures, and plus its a video with pretty pictures…what more could someone want.
As below, so above and beyond
Rating: 5/5
10. Disposition
Here’s an odd song, not much is really said throughout it…really just a repetition of three lines and some “spacey” instrumental and random whisperings/groans. I don’t really consider this a song either, I believe it is, like a few others songs, the transition from one song to another, and in this case…from Lateralus to Reflection.
Rating: N/A
11. Reflection
One of the longest songs on the entire album…its 11 minutes of musical bliss. I personally think, though I suppose it is taking the words literally almost…but I think it is about “self-centeredness.” We are so concentrated with certain things that we never fully contemplate much more important things. I will leave it there, and hope you listen to this song and begin a new contemplation.
Rating: 5/5
12. Triad
Here is the last song that does not contain any words…and oddly enough it is one of the longer songs in the whole album. It is a little bit under 9 minutes and is purely instrumental, though quite varied in riffs and time signatures, so again…I will leave it to you, the listener and reader to get from it what you want.
Rating: N/A
13. Faaip De Oiad
A rather odd song…a weird selection to wrap up the album…but good nonetheless. It is a recording of some fellow who apparently had an experience with a UFO and called a radio station directly after, with a staticy sound to it…a bit mysterious as well. Just a random fact, maybe it might be of some use to you…”Faaip De Oiad” means “Voice of God” in the Enochian language. The Enochian language was invented by Edward Kelley in the 16th Century. Kelley said this language had been revealed to him by angels.
Rating: N/A
This album really was an experience to me, it was incredible, and still is. Every moment that I spend listening to it is filled with a sense of inspiration, and optimism of sorts. Lateralus to me, is Tool at it’s finest…this album is simply nothing less than a masterpiece.
Overall Rating: 5/5
Tags: lateralus, song meanings, songmeanings, tool, tool review, tool song meanings, tool songmeanings
Here it is folks, my review of One Man Revolution, the acoustic side project of Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave’s guitarist. Morello does pretty much all the work on this album, much like Serj Tankian did with his Elect the Dead, though this album is quite softer (as far as sound goes, lyrically it is just as harsh). This album review won’t be as in depth as the last, but I will follow the same format, just less to say about it…as the words essentially speak for themselves. Here we go:
1. California’s Dark
The opening track is a strong opening, though not the best of the tracks, it is a solid one. Here is a great excerpt from the song
“I heard a clear voice
I looked at my choices
And I made a choice
Smoke and ashes
Tonight hide the stars
The stop lights are red now, love
We’ve come for what’s our”
Rating: 3/5
2. One Man Revolution
The song that bears the title of the album is where this album really gets interesting. The song is inspiring to any young fellow, as it calls for some good old fashioned political activism. Those who stay complacent end up with nothing, those who stand up for they want, get everything.
Rating: 5/5
3. Let Freedom Ring
Morello follows his title track with another great one. It is a rather somber song, but has an aura of hope around it especially in the parts where Morello sings “Let Freedom Ring”.
Rating: 4/5
4. The Road I Must Travel
This song reminds me a bit of RATM’s work as far as its message goes. The song gives me the impression of “a never ending quest for freedom”…the road (literal or not) is quite rough and will have difficulties for anyone who wishes to cross it….but the prize, (freedom) is well worth the travel.
Rating: 5/5
5. The Garden Of Gethsemane
Honestly don’t really have much to say about this song, is a solid song, also has that somber like mood to it. I don’t really like the song, nothing sticks out about it…maybe I am missing something…but until I find it…this is the worst track on an otherwise solid album.
Rating: 1/5
6. House Gone Up In Flames
One of the best songs of the album, House Gone Up In Flames is also my personal favorite. Morello uses a little Guthrie and Dylan here, and does so masterfully and powerfully. What I think this song is about is “starting fresh”, to start fresh one must “burn” everything they had (whether it be material possessions or personal beliefs). An incredible song, and everyone should check this album just for this song.
Rating: 5/5
7. Flesh Shapes The Day
A great song right here, a bit of humorous twist to it and lots of passion as well. “…That Jesus, Mary, Joseph And the Apostle Paul were black…”… ” Yeah, I support my troops, They wave black flags, They wear black masks”…. those two excerpts being shining examples of the humor. To end off this song review, I’ll show how Morello ends off this song… ” It doesn’t matter who you are, Does not matter what the fuck you say, Flesh shapes the day”
Rating: 5/5
8. Battle Hymns
I suppose this song rather speaks for itself. I don’t really have much to say about this one either…though it is a pretty good song in which Morello uses his harmonica while playing the acoustic.
Rating: 4/5
9. Maximum Firepower
I think this is the one exception to the “self explanatory” theme of this album. I think it may be about how awesome Morello is…and how he fights for what he believes in.
Rating: 4/5
10. Union Song
This has a sort of “Marxist” theme to it. Reminds me of the quote that Marx said…”Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your shackles.”…Basically this is for the every day fellow who works his ass off and sees nothing compared to his greedy boss who can probably take showers in money.
Rating: 4/5
11. No One Left
This continues with that self explanatory theme…its basically about all those who die…”Each one had a father…each one had a name, a mother”. A good song, somewhat repetitive but solid nonetheless.
Rating: 4/5
12. The Dark Clouds Above
Another self explanatory song, it really does speak for itself so it makes it rather difficult to make a reaction or interpretation on it…since its right there in front of the listener.
Rating: 3/5
13. Until The End
The final track of the album is basically in the perfect position…as it concludes with the perfect summary of the album. The album is called “One Man Revolution”…that revolution being…bringing forth radical change everywhere that needs it. This is the case with the current state of politics in America, and this song is about doing everything possible to return America back to a proper state, one without the heavy corruption that is synonamous with the Bush administration.
Rating: 4/5
Overall, I really do enjoy this album. Morello’s voice is a bit different to what I normally listen to…as I don’t really listen to any folk type of music…but his voice is quite good. His guitar skills are top notch…he obviously isn’t just a electric “effect” guitar player. Morello recently stated “Bad presidents make for good music”…that is the perfect way to describe this album in my opinion.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Next up: Either Lateralus or 10,000 Days by Tool
External Links:
The Nightwatchman’s Official Website
Buy One Man Revolution
Tags: album review, nightwatchman, one man revolution, song meanings, songmeanings, the nightwatchman, tom morello
On September 29 at 1:00 pm…I made the best purchase I have made in my lifetime…I bought tickets to the Serj Tankian and The Nightwatchman (Tom Morello) performing at The Fillmore at Irving Plaza in NYC (Wednesday, Oct 17th). My life from that point onwards was spent constantly day dreaming of the day I would finally get to see my two favorite musicians live.
So…fast forward a few weeks…its October 17 and the day is finally here! I made a plan with my sister to pick me up from school about half way into the day…(so we can have time to get home, and do stuff before we leave for NYC). After a little while of driving and taking the train we finally arrived at the Fillmore at around 7:45…the doors had opened around 7:30 but luckily…musicians like to perform really late…so it didn’t get going till 9:00pm. So for about an hour I pushed my way through until I got all the way to the front…(basically 15 feet away from the stage!).
The Nightwatchman (Tom Morello) opened up with his solo work. Songs like One Man Revolution, Let Freedom Ring, The Road I Must Travel, Maximum Firepower, Union Song and a couple other which I can’t think of name. Then he performed some new song called “Lazarus on Down” which in the middle of…a second voice came out of the speakers…it was Serj!!! The roar of the crowd at his appearance was literally deafening. He did a little background type humming and singing for one song and went backstage. Morello then performed a couple other songs like “Guerrilla Radio” and then he did a cover of Woody Guthrie’s song “This Land Is Your Land” and he ended off with a strong fist in the air and huge applaud from the crowd (me included). Morello also had little side speeches between songs, during tuning his guitar and such. He said things like “we must put the war criminal that is in the white house in front of a war crimes board…and a jury packed with a few members of this crowd.”…Awesome way to kick a night off.
After Morello wrapped up, there was about a 20 minute wait, (for audio technicians to get stuff set up). So around 10:00pm…the FCC (Flying Cunts of Chaos) appeared (the FCC is the live band that tours with Serj… ) Finally Serj Tankian in full costume showed up on the stage for his own performance. The crowd went nuts and you could barely hear anything but the crowd for a minute or two…
Serj opened up with The Unthinking Majority to which the crowd started up a mosh-pit of sorts and had a couple folks being passed through on top of the crowd. With my luck…out of nowhere in the middle of “Empty Walls”…someone picked me up and I went flying through the crowd which was amazing. The feeling of floating with a few hundred people going wild is remarkable. Once I got back into place…Serj was still performing at an amazingly high level and it was a great concert from then on. He performed most of the songs off his new album while taking pauses in the middle for thanking the NYC crowd which absolutely loved the guy. The songs were really hard but had a nice polished touch to them that only Serj could add with his vocals.
After the show ended, I headed over to the little gift shop area (makeshift that is) and bought 130 bucks worth of memorabilia. A Serj Tankian - Elect the Dead hoody for $55, a Serj Tankian Elect the Dead T-Shirt for $30, a Nightwatchman T-shirt also for $30 and the Nightwatchman CD for $15. All well worth the money!
Overall it was possibly one of the best nights I have ever had…the music is still going through my ears…(possibly because I stood right next to the stage (and thus next to the speakers). Serj Tankian and The Nightwatchman certainly deserve all the credit they get, and then more. Their passion for truth and music is second to none, and the inspiration that it can give to any young radical like myself is incredible.
Look for a couple CD review blogs of the Serj Tankian’s Elect the Dead and Nightwatchman’s One Man Revolution albums soon!
Tags: elect the dead, one man revolution, serj tankian, song meanings, songmeanings, the nightwatchman, tom morello
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