Heard it a million times....still makes me emotional and the hair stand up on my neck. Especially when watching someone new hear it for the first time.
These are two of my favorite Tool songs, but two of my least listened to Tool songs. I have to not only be in the right mood, but I have to have a good half hour where I can weep like a 9 yo school girl in solitude.
Another great watch. I must say that I'm particularly struck by Sean's empathy and openness to both new music as well as the sentiment which has some blatant critique of the faith/faithful that he seems to identify with. I find it refreshing and reassuring that there are those thoughtful and introspective members of faith based communities that won't just dismiss critique out of hand. I think far too often we find people reacting to push the uncomfortable away instead of trying to understand, empathize and through that find ways to connect rather than divide.
Thanks. Refusing to hear critique is way too common in all areas of life; the faith world front and center. But without critique, we can't grow, we can't improve, we can't course correct, we can't stop being wrong when we are wrong, and we can't know we're right when we are right. And still, we don't want to hear it. Which is why the Bible itself is chock-full of "religious" people killing the people G-d sent to critique them...
I vaguely remember Maynard saying that Tool will never play Wings for Marie live just because it's too personal and emotional for him. Great video, I'm genuinely excited to see more!
I don't blame Maynard for saying this! I wouldn't want to perform something so emotional either! He laid his heart out for us here, for all to see & feel...
I recall Wings pt. 1 and 2 debuting in L.A. and Maynard couldn’t get through the whole thing. Had to be extremely hard. But it stuck on the setlist for the remainder of the tour.
Maynard has also said he has misgivings about putting something so personal into a song, and I think that has something to do with how feelings evolve, something perfectly said at one point in your life might not reflect what you feel at another point.
Seeing this live was absolutely amazing (twice in 07). They had a tarp up behind the band for the duration of the concert but dropped it at “give me my WINGS” The audience never showed the respect it deserves….. so probably the only tour they played it was supporting 10,000 Days tour.
PLEASE do Parabol/Parabola without a break. I think the transition there is too important to miss out on. Can’t wait for more of these Tool reaction videos! Great analyses!!!
This was everything I hoped it would be! Part 2 is sentimental to me personally. My older sister died in 2008 from a car accident on April fool's day and she introduced me to Tool. Our family chose different songs and we made a soundtrack for her funeral. I played this song. I can't wait to see Parabol and Parabola!
17:10 that croaking sound is the guitar pick being scraped against the guitar strings. It’s called a pick scrape. The sound comes from the strings being wound, so there is tiny grooves in the string that when you scrape the pick against them you will get that sound
I really look forward to your insightful and empathic analysis and doubt I will be disappointed. This was a wonderful reaction to a very deep song. Thank you so much. ❤
That was the best breakdown I've ever heard of these songs (possibly of any song). I love how you described the thought process and the audacity of the demands directed at God himself. There's still traces of the anger there that is much more on display in A Perfect Circle's song "Judith," but tempered with loss, acceptance, and the maturity that ideally comes with time. My parents are thankfully alive and healthy, but this song still makes me teary eyed every single time, the emotion in it is so real.
This MASTERPIECE is, imo, one of the greatest, most stunning pieces of music ever written. Of any genre. An astonishingly haunting yet beautiful requiem that takes you thru every layer of loss. You can feel the despair and sadness, the grief and pain but also the rage and injustice of it all… individually and all at once. Every time I hear it, I thank the universe that Maynard wrote it and allowed us to share in it. The first time I heard it… I sat in stunned silence. Frozen. When he says: “I only pray heaven knows when to lift you out”… I absolutely lost it. Just suddenly BURST into tears. Maynard is not “a singer”. He is a poet. I’m so grateful he allowed us this glimpse into his most personal process. Rest in peace, Judith. ♥️
If Taylor Swift wrote and sang this song it would be hailed far and wide as the greatest single song in the history of human kind, but since a relatively obscure band and singer wrote it, the vast majority will never hear this masterpiece. Imagine not knowing the Mona Lisa exists but thinking a finger painting was great art.
@@Literallyjustmint When Fear Innoculum was released, it knocked Taylor Swift from her #1 spot. Many of her fans were up in arms about it, asking who this unknown band was that could disturb their queen's perch.
@Literallyjustmint you and I know this ... but honestly just listening to rock, many folk don't know Tool. They have won awards and shit, but they are a band unknown to many I would agree. Not to mention, in this day in age (is that the right phrase?) The vast majority of folk don't listen to rock or metal ... we are the minority
You go deeper on a philosophical level and I love that. I also recommend Judith by A Perfect Circle. Maynard’s growth can be seen plainly. Going from an angry young man into a more emotionally mature adult (as we all do).
The sarcasm is aimed at his mother's church congregation and preacher who blamed her ailment on her "sins". To be very clear; Maynard is an atheist (or quite possibly agnostic with a disdain towards the monotheist god (if it exists, of course)). These two songs are first: a letter to his mother expressing his love and praise of her and his need to let go and second: a letter to any possible god if it exists (seeing she wasted her life on the same religion that scorned her) saying that: "If you exist and if she was right then no one deserves to get into your heaven and be praised more than she". The "None of them", again, is the judgmental church, congregation, preacher, etc... As many people keep stating: 'Judith'.
"To be clear, Maynard is an atheist..." How are you certain of this ? Edit: your statement was grammatically weird, so you don't seem certain. It seems to me Maynard does belive in God, it is just unclear which one(ones) or if he believes in something that we could defined as god.
I did see this performed live. What a privilege. They made a virtual thunderstorm on the ceiling with clouds and lightning, it was a stunning performance.
Best love song ever written! By the way... Part one and part two are not meant to be listened to together: they are literally a single song, a single piece which, however, for record and contractual reasons has been divided into two parts.
Your sentence makes no sense- part 1 & part 2 are NOT meant to be listened to together??? Yes, they LITERALLY ARE meant to be listened to together. AND that is what YOU state in next sentence - “they are literally a single song, a single piece…divided into two parts” Do the tool army annoy everyone like this- saying stupid stuff that you think is smart COS you listen to TOOL ?!
In my small bubble of a world & in my opinion only (for all the toxic haters who troll to comment blindly 😬), all these beautiful songs across his different bands about his mother, wasn’t Maynard raging against God, or his mother’s faith, it was all aimed at the hypocrisy in religion in general, and his mothers church (which was Southern Baptist)and how they treated her, talked about & mocked her. “What am I to say to all these ghouls tonight?” is a line from part 1. “None of them can even hold a candle up to you, blinded by choice these hypocrites won't see. Who could deny you were the one who Illuminated your little piece of the divine? He calls them the “collective Judas”?!? Heck, Opiate was about the hypocrisy & manipulation in religion, 100% Also, I’ve read the Maynard was presented with the question of ending his mothers life by unplugging her respirators, which were referenced in APC song “Orestes” “Gotta cut away, clear away Snip away and sever this umbilical residue Gotta cut away, clear away Snip away and sever this umbilical residue Keeping me from killing you…” If you search TH-cam for a “commentary video” Maynard talks about his thoughts & lyrics behind “Judith”, it makes it pretty clear - but music means different things to the listener. Once an artist releases a song on to the world, their possession of it becomes irrelevant. That’s the beauty of music.
Southern Baptist (imho) tends to be one of the more hypocritical groups. I am also Christian but sometimes seeing the hypocrisy that goes on in all churches is……a lot. I can’t imagine having a sick mom only for the church to turn against her or leave her in her desperate time of need when she had done so much for them was definitely hard to swallow.
These are some of the absolute best break downs of Tool songs I have ever seen. BTW am I the only one who thinks Sean looks a bit like Maynard? Keep up the great work fellas.
I always visioned the last sounds you hear in this track were of the wings beating…but the breathing machine also makes sense to me too. Also…along with the songs mentioned in the comments I’d say Horizons by Puscifer goes along with the story line of Maynard’s mother. A final tribute to her as he scattered her ashes! Love the song break down fellas keep it up!
On a technical note...its also the normal electrical hiss coming through Adam's rotary speaker he's playing through...you hear him switch it on during the outro, where his sound suddenly swirls into rotary stereo. The effect bookends the entire piece 🤓
To have a glimpse into the personal evolution of Maynard, you should definitely listen to Judith (A Perfect Circle, but the same singer as Tool) and then to Jimmy. They represent different phases of coping.
Wow...two in one day! GREAT reaction gents. I just commented 3 hours prior to this on Part 1. I think what is so poignant here, is that Maynard is clearly NOT religious, nor likely spiritual - hence his misunderstanding of his mother's faith through her 'hell', yet he ends this song with 'Hallelujah' - meaning praise the Lord - so for a non-believer like Maynard, this is huge for him to say! He still may not fully understand, but he's reconciled that was her way, and since he loves her unconditionally, it was a 'good' way - and fully deserving of her entry to heaven! This is principally why you need to react to Judith - A Perfect Circle, for any reason more to see how Maynard has changed his tune (angry to accepting). Thank you for sharing your insights (especially as it was personal at times). I love the idea of your funeral service! Funny, as it's how my mom's service was...friends and family sharing stories. My mom was not a religious person, but spiritual (as I am) - she lived her faith in how she interacted with others, how she loved & cared for others (which in ways was her undoing as she didn't care & love herself as she should have!) THIS is how you show that you've touched people! Not some priest 'spewing' biblical words, but anecdotes, on how you, as God's creation, impacted the world while you were here! That's also how I want my funeral to be! Again, my sympathies & love to your losses. Cheers gentlemen.
Let's start a new trend in funeral services - religious, spiritual, and others - that they are story circles! Blessings on your mom and the gifts she passed on to you.
I've always interpreted the 2 songs as the first being Maynard talking to his mother as she lay dying in the hospital, with the final slam/thud punctuating her actual death, and the second song being Maynard conversing with her spirit as he's still in the hospital room.
I find this tribute extra touching after you consider the anger and dismissive-ness he showed towards her beliefs / religion in the song "Judith" he performed with his other band A Perfect Circle. Her death clearly humbled him, made him reflect on his views. and whether he became religious afterwards or just swallowed his pride, the way he wrote these lyrics using religious idioms shows such a maturing. its an equally beautiful and tragic lesson.
There are videos of the music from these 2 songs being played in concert in the years prior to this album’s release. There are no lyrics yet. Maynard had not written them yet. Think about the band writing this intricate musical symphony not ever thinking Maynard would write a eulogy to his mom over it.
Disappointed that this was divided into two, but I'm glad to know that it was listened to right away at least. (commenting before listening) will add more later if I feel I need to. Cheers.
(I should add - disappointed on the divide for your react, but I get it, they're long. it's cool. I honestly couldn't say for sure if they WERE meant to be listened together, but having them paired together on the album and named that way leads me to see it that way, although divided for the tone 100%).
Please play the Pucifer song Sour Grapes for him, Thats the sermon I would want played at a funeral. It's sung in the voice of an Evangelical Preacher, and its a great sermon
The sound at the end isn’t a breathing machine it is supposed to be Judith’s wings. Judith had a stroke and was bedridden for 27 years. 10,000 days. She was really a believer but Maynard felt that at the end the church turned against her and left her. The hypocrisy he saw made him very angry at God for a long time. Wow, the fact that you wrote your mom’s eulogy sitting at the very place where she fell really hit home for me. Sometimes I sit in the spot in my bathroom where my husband took his last breath. Speaking of eulogy, of course, Tool has a song called Eulogy. Good listen.
The machine into wings is beautiful. Don't know how I missed it! My heart is with you as well; the image of sitting where our loved ones fell is overpowering. Thanks for the comments.
Had similar feelings, re: Ghouls in the congregation claiming things about my Mom at her funeral. They did not know her yet believed they could speak for her under the guise of their religion that she didn't believe in. Infuriating.
Another great commentary on Tool, thank you! Nothing I’d disagree with, but one point I’d like to add: I think the phrase “the light and the way” is directly referencing Jesus, and the singer is indicating that the mother embodied the ideals of Jesus as she saw them, unlike her peers that would “only read about” Jesus. I’m not a Christian, but I’d say that the religion does encourage people to follow the example of Jesus, and in that way, BE “the light and the way”. I imagine there are those who read that idea as blasphemy, and they are welcome to hold that opinion. As I said, it’s not my religion, and I’m voicing my thoughts on a song’s lyrics, not philosophizing about the truth or falsity of Christianity. I also think his anger is pretty complicated. He’s angry that his mother’s faith might be misplaced (if Christianity isn’t true), angry that, even if Christianity is true, heaven might not even “know when to lift her out”, angry that she “didn’t have a life”, possibly angry with the conflict between supporting her belief (to support her well being), when he doesn’t believe it in real life (though the song doesn’t indicate that). The discussion of the symbolism of the instrumentation is especially interesting, and I can now appreciate a few things here that had escaped my attention before, so that’s always satisfying. Thanks again.
I would also recommend listening to Jimmy next which explores his coming to terms with his childhood loss when his mother had her brain haemorrhage. After that The Patient is less obviously about his mother but IMO reflects on her resilience and will to go on from her perspective Judith by APC shows more of Maynard's anger at the hypocrisy of the poiusly religious and anger at God/fate
It is interesting that you have reacted to Vicarious, Wings and Right in Two. To my knowledge, they are the only Tool songs to mention angel's. To me, this outlines a theme for the album, 10.000 days contains a real search for a source of good in the world, and an examination of morality. Where do we find altruism and goodness? Not in the hearts of men (plural) says Vicarious, not in earthly possessions says Jambi, not in the church says The Pot, and we have actually thrown them out in our disability to do anything but fight over the ground we stand on, says Right in Two. We find goodness in Maynard's mom says Wings, and to lift that out of the cold realm of the overly literal, I think wings provide the key, that when you choose to look past the small, petty troubles that weigh you down, and provide uncompromising love and understanding to someone, then you choose to become the good in the world. Interestingly, from Maynard's own hostility towards "the collective Judas" I think it is fair to say, that no-one can be an angel for everyone, and maybe that is how we reach the situation described in "Right in Two" that we will fight to sustain our small, meaningful communities, where good is synonymous with "us" and evil is anything that threatens that sense of belonging. Great album!
I have always been partial to Lateralus. Musically I love the mix of soft and hard, western and eastern, and the total disregard for convention when it stands in the way of art. To me it is where tool goes from being another great, angry prog/grunge band to something more like a modern Beethoven, that cares more for art than genre and industry. And the examination of human relationships in Lateralus are just peerless in their honesty and depth.
I would love to see what Sean makes of the Lateralus title track, but you probably have a very long to-do list, judging from the other comments. Once you get in a bit deeper, I would enjoy hearing your thoughts on albums as a composite work of art. It seems to me that the "tool method" of writing and composing from where the bands current life state is, really gives each album a theme and feel, that makes them just so powerful, and it is rarely explored. To me, the song "invincible" off Fear inoculum is a tongue in cheek, funny comment on this. (Another great song for the list!)
Something about that earpiece keeps scratching on the shirt. Gotta find a way tonposition the mic to avoid that on future episodes. Small glitch, but an important one to fix. Keep up the great work!
My wife and I were trying to figure out what happened - cuz I didn't use the earpiece mic. It was my papers on my computer, scratching over the microphone. So very embarrassing...
I hope you show him Judith next by APC so he can link these songs together and evaluate Maynard’s spiritual journey in his songs. My mom passed in 2013 at age 78 after battling multiple myeloma for at least a decade and going through a stem cell transplant and isolation etc so I can relate a bit to Maynard being angry that his mother suffered for over 20 years.
The entire journey of TooL and 10,000 days Starting with Jambi and that leading into Marie Pt1 and Pt2 and not to be forgotten Judith from his other band APC. James is clearly hurt on the loss of his mother and his dealing with it. Her conviction to her religion. How she has done no wrong but has been "struck down by god with this disease." Then her beating at the gates of heaven saying its her time. Its her time. Let her in. She did no wrong. She lead the way. It really makes me angry when you laugh at this. These songs are James singing out his pain after witnessing his mothers devotion to God. She Suffered for 23 years. And was still devout. She told him this was her cross to bear. And for what? James was there as a son supporting her for 23 years as she slowly died and she never slipped away from her devotion to god. That maddened him, as a rational human being. He saw her as a saint and led the way as she should and was unjustly being punished or given an unjust cross to bear. James is in pain throughout this album. And he is very well in expressing his pain and thoughts. You guys are the juxtaposition to his thoughts and feelings and make his points for him in these songs. Do not judge others unless thee be judged. your laughing at another's way of grieving his mothers death is gross. If your confused about the timing of Tool songs. You have no reasonable respect to review them. You should look up Dana Carey
are you talking to us, or another commenter? This song made us both cry, I don't know where you're getting that we find the song funny. It is profoundly moving.
Love the perspectives and deep dives. Would love to see Rosetta Stoned and Lateralus, but most of their catalog could stand up to this kind of dive. However, before you do any of that, please please please go out and get a good set of headphones for this music. There is a lot more to the mix you could be missing out on with the little white earbuds we see. Just a thought. Keep up the great work.
Thank you for your breakdown of these songs from Tool! My mother died a few years ago after suffering for a long time. I can not listen to these songs without tearing up thinking about her. Maynard and Tool have a great gift of bringing emotions out of listening to their music, and I hope you guys continue to break down Tool's songs.
![Tool - 10,000 Days [COMPLETE HIDDEN EASTER EGG TRACK DONE CORRECTLY]](/img/n.gif)
the "Give me my wings" part is the one that breaks me on this song. Goddamn, every single time.
Thanks for this video
Sean definitely needs to hear Judith so he can see Maynard's growth shown in Wings. Absolutely love these reactions!
and Jimmy!
Impossible not to cry to this song. It is so well done.
Heard it a million times....still makes me emotional and the hair stand up on my neck. Especially when watching someone new hear it for the first time.
These are two of my favorite Tool songs, but two of my least listened to Tool songs. I have to not only be in the right mood, but I have to have a good half hour where I can weep like a 9 yo school girl in solitude.
Yep. Wow. Tears, both mine and yours. Yeah, that's TOOL. Nuf said.
Thank you!
Ask and ye shall receive!!
We’re here for it! I can’t wait for Parabol and Parabola from their 2001 Lateralus album!
Thanks so much
@@PomadeJammake sure you react to both songs together. 👍🏼
Boy this will be a fun afternoon! Pt 1 & 2 back to back! This ballad made me cry when it came out
6:42 onions ahGain
23:06 God bless yall
Powerfully powerful song. I tear up every time.
Another great watch. I must say that I'm particularly struck by Sean's empathy and openness to both new music as well as the sentiment which has some blatant critique of the faith/faithful that he seems to identify with. I find it refreshing and reassuring that there are those thoughtful and introspective members of faith based communities that won't just dismiss critique out of hand. I think far too often we find people reacting to push the uncomfortable away instead of trying to understand, empathize and through that find ways to connect rather than divide.
Thanks. Refusing to hear critique is way too common in all areas of life; the faith world front and center. But without critique, we can't grow, we can't improve, we can't course correct, we can't stop being wrong when we are wrong, and we can't know we're right when we are right. And still, we don't want to hear it. Which is why the Bible itself is chock-full of "religious" people killing the people G-d sent to critique them...
The Bass is absolutely incredible from start to finish
agreed. some of the best bass ever.
Jimmy is also a tremendous story of maynard reuniting with his younger self after his mother's illness. I highly recommend you listen to this!!
I vaguely remember Maynard saying that Tool will never play Wings for Marie live just because it's too personal and emotional for him.
Great video, I'm genuinely excited to see more!
I don't blame Maynard for saying this! I wouldn't want to perform something so emotional either! He laid his heart out for us here, for all to see & feel...
I recall Wings pt. 1 and 2 debuting in L.A. and Maynard couldn’t get through the whole thing. Had to be extremely hard. But it stuck on the setlist for the remainder of the tour.
They did preform it live , but I don’t think they will again. Like you said Maynard stated it was his biggest mistake emotionally
It would be like giving an eulogy over and over again...
Maynard has also said he has misgivings about putting something so personal into a song, and I think that has something to do with how feelings evolve, something perfectly said at one point in your life might not reflect what you feel at another point.
Seeing this live was absolutely amazing (twice in 07). They had a tarp up behind the band for the duration of the concert but dropped it at “give me my WINGS” The audience never showed the respect it deserves….. so probably the only tour they played it was supporting 10,000 Days tour.
PLEASE do Parabol/Parabola without a break. I think the transition there is too important to miss out on.
Can’t wait for more of these Tool reaction videos! Great analyses!!!
This was everything I hoped it would be! Part 2 is sentimental to me personally. My older sister died in 2008 from a car accident on April fool's day and she introduced me to Tool. Our family chose different songs and we made a soundtrack for her funeral. I played this song. I can't wait to see Parabol and Parabola!
Sarah - wow. Good choice for your sister. I'm with you.
17:10 that croaking sound is the guitar pick being scraped against the guitar strings. It’s called a pick scrape. The sound comes from the strings being wound, so there is tiny grooves in the string that when you scrape the pick against them you will get that sound
Got it - that's a great sound.
I really look forward to your insightful and empathic analysis and doubt I will be disappointed. This was a wonderful reaction to a very deep song. Thank you so much. ❤
Thanks! The song evokes the response.
If this song doesn't make you cry, you aren't listening. Great reaction. To this day, my eyes still water when I hear it.
As others have mention Do Tool: Jimmy- APC: Judith
That was the best breakdown I've ever heard of these songs (possibly of any song).
I love how you described the thought process and the audacity of the demands directed at God himself. There's still traces of the anger there that is much more on display in A Perfect Circle's song "Judith," but tempered with loss, acceptance, and the maturity that ideally comes with time.
My parents are thankfully alive and healthy, but this song still makes me teary eyed every single time, the emotion in it is so real.
Thanks, Tony. I've been hearing a lot about Judith - apparently the very real emotion while going through it all.
This MASTERPIECE is, imo, one of the greatest, most stunning pieces of music ever written. Of any genre. An astonishingly haunting yet beautiful requiem that takes you thru every layer of loss. You can feel the despair and sadness, the grief and pain but also the rage and injustice of it all… individually and all at once.
Every time I hear it, I thank the universe that Maynard wrote it and allowed us to share in it.
The first time I heard it… I sat in stunned silence. Frozen. When he says: “I only pray heaven knows when to lift you out”… I absolutely lost it. Just suddenly BURST into tears.
Maynard is not “a singer”. He is a poet. I’m so grateful he allowed us this glimpse into his most personal process.
Rest in peace, Judith. ♥️
well said. My favorite Tool music. And on my top ten favorite songs ever.
If Taylor Swift wrote and sang this song it would be hailed far and wide as the greatest single song in the history of human kind, but since a relatively obscure band and singer wrote it, the vast majority will never hear this masterpiece. Imagine not knowing the Mona Lisa exists but thinking a finger painting was great art.
Glorious comment. That is all I can say.
Obscure? Lol! Not even close. If you listen to rock and metal there is a very good chance you know Tool...
@@Literallyjustmint When Fear Innoculum was released, it knocked Taylor Swift from her #1 spot. Many of her fans were up in arms about it, asking who this unknown band was that could disturb their queen's perch.
@Literallyjustmint you and I know this ... but honestly just listening to rock, many folk don't know Tool. They have won awards and shit, but they are a band unknown to many I would agree.
Not to mention, in this day in age (is that the right phrase?) The vast majority of folk don't listen to rock or metal ... we are the minority
You go deeper on a philosophical level and I love that. I also recommend Judith by A Perfect Circle. Maynard’s growth can be seen plainly. Going from an angry young man into a more emotionally mature adult (as we all do).
Thank you.
Such a complex outpouring of emotion.
The sarcasm is aimed at his mother's church congregation and preacher who blamed her ailment on her "sins". To be very clear; Maynard is an atheist (or quite possibly agnostic with a disdain towards the monotheist god (if it exists, of course)). These two songs are first: a letter to his mother expressing his love and praise of her and his need to let go and second: a letter to any possible god if it exists (seeing she wasted her life on the same religion that scorned her) saying that: "If you exist and if she was right then no one deserves to get into your heaven and be praised more than she". The "None of them", again, is the judgmental church, congregation, preacher, etc... As many people keep stating: 'Judith'.
"To be clear, Maynard is an atheist..."
How are you certain of this ?
Edit: your statement was grammatically weird, so you don't seem certain.
It seems to me Maynard does belive in God, it is just unclear which one(ones) or if he believes in something that we could defined as god.
If everyone approached faith, and lack of faith, the way Sean does this world would be a lot better off.
Fantastic breakdown. Thanks gents
Thank you!
I did see this performed live. What a privilege. They made a virtual thunderstorm on the ceiling with clouds and lightning, it was a stunning performance.
Yeah...saw them do it @Manchester Apollo theatre England in 2007, jaw dropping...especially in the smaller theater
Most gorgeous bass tone ever in my book
I can’t disagree
Best love song ever written! By the way... Part one and part two are not meant to be listened to together: they are literally a single song, a single piece which, however, for record and contractual reasons has been divided into two parts.
Yes! On the album there is only the minimal necessary pause.
Your sentence makes no sense- part 1 & part 2 are NOT meant to be listened to together??? Yes, they LITERALLY ARE meant to be listened to together. AND that is what YOU state in next sentence - “they are literally a single song, a single piece…divided into two parts” Do the tool army annoy everyone like this- saying stupid stuff that you think is smart COS you listen to TOOL ?!
An amazing song ,one of my favourites.
Loving your Tool reactions. Really enjoy the in-depth breakdown. Keep them coming!
I loved your parting words in conclusion "we don't have the strength to live in one place all the time"
In my small bubble of a world & in my opinion only (for all the toxic haters who troll to comment blindly 😬), all these beautiful songs across his different bands about his mother, wasn’t Maynard raging against God, or his mother’s faith, it was all aimed at the hypocrisy in religion in general, and his mothers church (which was Southern Baptist)and how they treated her, talked about & mocked her.
“What am I to say to all these ghouls tonight?” is a line from part 1.
“None of them can even hold a candle up to you, blinded by choice these hypocrites won't see.
Who could deny you were the one who
Illuminated your little piece of the divine? He calls them the “collective Judas”?!?
Heck, Opiate was about the hypocrisy & manipulation in religion, 100%
Also, I’ve read the Maynard was presented with the question of ending his mothers life by unplugging her respirators, which were referenced in APC song “Orestes”
“Gotta cut away, clear away
Snip away and sever this umbilical residue
Gotta cut away, clear away
Snip away and sever this umbilical residue
Keeping me from killing you…”
If you search TH-cam for a “commentary video” Maynard talks about his thoughts & lyrics behind “Judith”, it makes it pretty clear - but music means different things to the listener. Once an artist releases a song on to the world, their possession of it becomes irrelevant. That’s the beauty of music.
Southern Baptist (imho) tends to be one of the more hypocritical groups. I am also Christian but sometimes seeing the hypocrisy that goes on in all churches is……a lot. I can’t imagine having a sick mom only for the church to turn against her or leave her in her desperate time of need when she had done so much for them was definitely hard to swallow.
I never knew that with Orestes. I'm shit at interpreting lyrics, but that's damn deep
These are some of the absolute best break downs of Tool songs I have ever seen. BTW am I the only one who thinks Sean looks a bit like Maynard? Keep up the great work fellas.
I always visioned the last sounds you hear in this track were of the wings beating…but the breathing machine also makes sense to me too.
Also…along with the songs mentioned in the comments I’d say Horizons by Puscifer goes along with the story line of Maynard’s mother. A final tribute to her as he scattered her ashes!
Love the song break down fellas keep it up!
I really appreciate your reaction!!!😢
Thanks guys
I see the "cold flourescent" in this instance is in the funeral parlour looking upon her in the casket.
The whooshing sound of hospital machinery heard in the beginning, in the end becomes the sound of flapping wings in flight
Ah!! How did I miss that? That is beautiful.
On a technical note...its also the normal electrical hiss coming through Adam's rotary speaker he's playing through...you hear him switch it on during the outro, where his sound suddenly swirls into rotary stereo.
The effect bookends the entire piece 🤓
Great reaction
the progression of this starts with the song Judith by A perfect circle. Hate. Sadness. Acceptance.
Thank You!
To have a glimpse into the personal evolution of Maynard, you should definitely listen to Judith (A Perfect Circle, but the same singer as Tool) and then to Jimmy. They represent different phases of coping.
I know it may not be much, but thank you both.
thank you
Great analysis as usual.
Hope you cover every Maynard song from all 3 bands.
Bring me my WINGS! epically powerful.
Wow...two in one day! GREAT reaction gents. I just commented 3 hours prior to this on Part 1. I think what is so poignant here, is that Maynard is clearly NOT religious, nor likely spiritual - hence his misunderstanding of his mother's faith through her 'hell', yet he ends this song with 'Hallelujah' - meaning praise the Lord - so for a non-believer like Maynard, this is huge for him to say! He still may not fully understand, but he's reconciled that was her way, and since he loves her unconditionally, it was a 'good' way - and fully deserving of her entry to heaven!
This is principally why you need to react to Judith - A Perfect Circle, for any reason more to see how Maynard has changed his tune (angry to accepting).
Thank you for sharing your insights (especially as it was personal at times). I love the idea of your funeral service! Funny, as it's how my mom's service was...friends and family sharing stories. My mom was not a religious person, but spiritual (as I am) - she lived her faith in how she interacted with others, how she loved & cared for others (which in ways was her undoing as she didn't care & love herself as she should have!) THIS is how you show that you've touched people! Not some priest 'spewing' biblical words, but anecdotes, on how you, as God's creation, impacted the world while you were here!
That's also how I want my funeral to be! Again, my sympathies & love to your losses.
Cheers gentlemen.
excellent thoughts, thank you!
Let's start a new trend in funeral services - religious, spiritual, and others - that they are story circles! Blessings on your mom and the gifts she passed on to you.
I've always interpreted the 2 songs as the first being Maynard talking to his mother as she lay dying in the hospital, with the final slam/thud punctuating her actual death, and the second song being Maynard conversing with her spirit as he's still in the hospital room.
I find this tribute extra touching after you consider the anger and dismissive-ness he showed towards her beliefs / religion in the song "Judith" he performed with his other band A Perfect Circle.
Her death clearly humbled him, made him reflect on his views. and whether he became religious afterwards or just swallowed his pride, the way he wrote these lyrics using religious idioms shows such a maturing. its an equally beautiful and tragic lesson.
Agreed
The first time I heard this track I got major Irish Jig vibes from the bassline....its driving force, its got a certain 'bop' to it...anyone else??
I got Irish vibes from Maynard's singing from: "High is the way..." I supose his family has Irish origin, "Keenan" sounds Irish to me.
There are videos of the music from these 2 songs being played in concert in the years prior to this album’s release. There are no lyrics yet. Maynard had not written them yet. Think about the band writing this intricate musical symphony not ever thinking Maynard would write a eulogy to his mom over it.
Wow.
Disappointed that this was divided into two, but I'm glad to know that it was listened to right away at least.
(commenting before listening) will add more later if I feel I need to. Cheers.
The link to Sean's channel didn't work for me btw.
(I should add - disappointed on the divide for your react, but I get it, they're long. it's cool. I honestly couldn't say for sure if they WERE meant to be listened together, but having them paired together on the album and named that way leads me to see it that way, although divided for the tone 100%).
Please play the Pucifer song Sour Grapes for him, Thats the sermon I would want played at a funeral. It's sung in the voice of an Evangelical Preacher, and its a great sermon
I love the Late for Dinner mix. It spoke to me, literally.
The sound at the end isn’t a breathing machine it is supposed to be Judith’s wings. Judith had a stroke and was bedridden for 27 years. 10,000 days. She was really a believer but Maynard felt that at the end the church turned against her and left her. The hypocrisy he saw made him very angry at God for a long time. Wow, the fact that you wrote your mom’s eulogy sitting at the very place where she fell really hit home for me. Sometimes I sit in the spot in my bathroom where my husband took his last breath. Speaking of eulogy, of course, Tool has a song called Eulogy. Good listen.
The machine into wings is beautiful. Don't know how I missed it! My heart is with you as well; the image of sitting where our loved ones fell is overpowering. Thanks for the comments.
Had similar feelings, re: Ghouls in the congregation claiming things about my Mom at her funeral. They did not know her yet believed they could speak for her under the guise of their religion that she didn't believe in. Infuriating.
Another great commentary on Tool, thank you! Nothing I’d disagree with, but one point I’d like to add: I think the phrase “the light and the way” is directly referencing Jesus, and the singer is indicating that the mother embodied the ideals of Jesus as she saw them, unlike her peers that would “only read about” Jesus.
I’m not a Christian, but I’d say that the religion does encourage people to follow the example of Jesus, and in that way, BE “the light and the way”. I imagine there are those who read that idea as blasphemy, and they are welcome to hold that opinion. As I said, it’s not my religion, and I’m voicing my thoughts on a song’s lyrics, not philosophizing about the truth or falsity of Christianity.
I also think his anger is pretty complicated. He’s angry that his mother’s faith might be misplaced (if Christianity isn’t true), angry that, even if Christianity is true, heaven might not even “know when to lift her out”, angry that she “didn’t have a life”, possibly angry with the conflict between supporting her belief (to support her well being), when he doesn’t believe it in real life (though the song doesn’t indicate that).
The discussion of the symbolism of the instrumentation is especially interesting, and I can now appreciate a few things here that had escaped my attention before, so that’s always satisfying. Thanks again.
great comments, thanks
Good insight, Charlie. I think you are right.
I would also recommend listening to Jimmy next which explores his coming to terms with his childhood loss when his mother had her brain haemorrhage.
After that The Patient is less obviously about his mother but IMO reflects on her resilience and will to go on from her perspective
Judith by APC shows more of Maynard's anger at the hypocrisy of the poiusly religious and anger at God/fate
Please do Schism. Id love to hear your thoughts on that song!
I would love to see a song by song Lateralis album reaction.
They Segway into each other
Since the subject of what’s appropriate to be said at one’s funeral has arisen I think Eulogy should be reviewed soon 😊
:)
It is interesting that you have reacted to Vicarious, Wings and Right in Two. To my knowledge, they are the only Tool songs to mention angel's. To me, this outlines a theme for the album, 10.000 days contains a real search for a source of good in the world, and an examination of morality. Where do we find altruism and goodness? Not in the hearts of men (plural) says Vicarious, not in earthly possessions says Jambi, not in the church says The Pot, and we have actually thrown them out in our disability to do anything but fight over the ground we stand on, says Right in Two. We find goodness in Maynard's mom says Wings, and to lift that out of the cold realm of the overly literal, I think wings provide the key, that when you choose to look past the small, petty troubles that weigh you down, and provide uncompromising love and understanding to someone, then you choose to become the good in the world. Interestingly, from Maynard's own hostility towards "the collective Judas" I think it is fair to say, that no-one can be an angel for everyone, and maybe that is how we reach the situation described in "Right in Two" that we will fight to sustain our small, meaningful communities, where good is synonymous with "us" and evil is anything that threatens that sense of belonging. Great album!
Very thoughtful comments. That is my favorite Tool album.
I have always been partial to Lateralus. Musically I love the mix of soft and hard, western and eastern, and the total disregard for convention when it stands in the way of art. To me it is where tool goes from being another great, angry prog/grunge band to something more like a modern Beethoven, that cares more for art than genre and industry.
And the examination of human relationships in Lateralus are just peerless in their honesty and depth.
Oh and by the way, great job on the reaction, these are by far my favorite tool reactions so far. Great analytical depth and musical understanding.
Lateralis is my second favorite, but sometimes it moves into first. And yeah, I’m really enjoying hearing and seeing Sean’s impressions too.
I would love to see what Sean makes of the Lateralus title track, but you probably have a very long to-do list, judging from the other comments. Once you get in a bit deeper, I would enjoy hearing your thoughts on albums as a composite work of art. It seems to me that the "tool method" of writing and composing from where the bands current life state is, really gives each album a theme and feel, that makes them just so powerful, and it is rarely explored. To me, the song "invincible" off Fear inoculum is a tongue in cheek, funny comment on this. (Another great song for the list!)
"Jimmy" would be a great place to go from here !
You should check out the song Bottom or Undertow next.
Something about that earpiece keeps scratching on the shirt.
Gotta find a way tonposition the mic to avoid that on future episodes.
Small glitch, but an important one to fix.
Keep up the great work!
My wife and I were trying to figure out what happened - cuz I didn't use the earpiece mic. It was my papers on my computer, scratching over the microphone. So very embarrassing...
Great video, shame ya didnt show him judith by APc first, its basically a trilogy 😀
Finish it off my listening to Tool Jimmy and a perfect circle Judith.
I would suggest you listen to Jimmy, it's the midway point of the Judith Marie Saga.
Listen carefully at the end. Are those wing beats?
Yep you can hear them at the beginning of part 1
I thought it was heavy breathing lol
I think maybe they are wings...
Sirs. I think you are ready for LATERALUS.
I hope you show him Judith next by APC so he can link these songs together and evaluate Maynard’s spiritual journey in his songs. My mom passed in 2013 at age 78 after battling multiple myeloma for at least a decade and going through a stem cell transplant and isolation etc so I can relate a bit to Maynard being angry that his mother suffered for over 20 years.
my father died after a long and terrible battle with leukemia at the age of 61 and I relate as well.
For my dad, it was Parkinsons. So many of us - this is why we need artists like Maynard.
The ‘faith community’ lol
I think there's a reason why this song is rarely mentioned amongst the best Tool Song
The entire journey of TooL and 10,000 days Starting with Jambi and that leading into Marie Pt1 and Pt2 and not to be forgotten Judith from his other band APC. James is clearly hurt on the loss of his mother and his dealing with it. Her conviction to her religion. How she has done no wrong but has been "struck down by god with this disease." Then her beating at the gates of heaven saying its her time. Its her time. Let her in. She did no wrong. She lead the way.
It really makes me angry when you laugh at this. These songs are James singing out his pain after witnessing his mothers devotion to God. She Suffered for 23 years. And was still devout. She told him this was her cross to bear. And for what?
James was there as a son supporting her for 23 years as she slowly died and she never slipped away from her devotion to god. That maddened him, as a rational human being. He saw her as a saint and led the way as she should and was unjustly being punished or given an unjust cross to bear.
James is in pain throughout this album. And he is very well in expressing his pain and thoughts. You guys are the juxtaposition to his thoughts and feelings and make his points for him in these songs.
Do not judge others unless thee be judged.
your laughing at another's way of grieving his mothers death is gross.
If your confused about the timing of Tool songs. You have no reasonable respect to review them. You should look up Dana Carey
are you talking to us, or another commenter? This song made us both cry, I don't know where you're getting that we find the song funny. It is profoundly moving.
Love the perspectives and deep dives. Would love to see Rosetta Stoned and Lateralus, but most of their catalog could stand up to this kind of dive.
However, before you do any of that, please please please go out and get a good set of headphones for this music. There is a lot more to the mix you could be missing out on with the little white earbuds we see. Just a thought.
Keep up the great work.
Thank you for your breakdown of these songs from Tool! My mother died a few years ago after suffering for a long time. I can not listen to these songs without tearing up thinking about her. Maynard and Tool have a great gift of bringing emotions out of listening to their music, and I hope you guys continue to break down Tool's songs.
thank you
My heart is with you. Very grateful for Tool (and vulnerable artists like them) that help put words and music to our feelings.