Tool: Eulogy Meaning
Song Released: 1998
Eulogy Lyrics
He had a lot of nothing to say.
We’ll miss him. (2x)
We’re gonna miss him (2x)
So long.
We wish you well.
You told us how you weren’t afraid to die.
Well then, so long.
Don’t cry.
Or feel too down.
Not all martyrs...
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1TOP RATED
#1 top rated interpretation:First of all, this is just my opinion, based on what I have learned about tool. It could be one hundred percent false because there is so much incorrect information circulating about tool, no doubt I have acquired some of it. Not to mention the fact that the band itself is alleged to enjoy spreading lies about themselves and their music.
On the issue of who writes the song lyrics. Most people I am sure would assume it was just Maynard. But in my opinion, that would be contrary to what he and the band stand for. They are always saying to question authority. So why would Maynard set himself up as the authority in the bands lyric writing rather than share it amongst the whole group? From what I have learned about tool, they believe in synergy, the sum being greater than the individual parts. That doesn't leave room for one person having a monopoly on any one aspect of the band. So it is my opinion that in tool, every member shares in all aspects of the creation of their music. Take for instance the interviews with adam jones where he says that when practices by himself and creates the riffs he wants to present to the band, they are all in standard 4/4 time until he starts to play them with danny, in that instance, danny has some control over how the quitar is played. Make sense? I dunno if I communicate very clearly.
Now for my opinion on what the song actually means. Well, its called "Eulogy." Someone or something died right? If you believe Maynard is genuine in his lyrics and not just trying to make something that he thinks wil grab your interest then you must come to the conclusion that whatever Maynard is singing about is something he is very passionate about. Now this is what I have heard. Before this record was released, a very close friend of the bands had died in a senseless manner and they were all very angry about it. That close friend was the comedian Bill Hicks, whose picture is inside the album cover and whose jokes about drugs enhancing everyones lives are on the record. So, logic tells me that even though the song is written in a general manner and could be seen as being about a lot of different people, Bill Hicks makes the most sense to me. I honestly can't see the band giving half a shit about Kurt Cobain, especially not enough to write a song about him but that's just my opinion. Bill hicks had a lot to say, he was a political comedian.
Ok now assume that it is about bill hicks and they were all good friends. look at the lines where he says we'll miss him, we're gonna miss him. Now why would he say "we" instead of "I". To me that is further evidence that even though Maynard is the singer he is more of just a spokesperson for the entire group, meaning he isn't the only one with a hand in the lyrics and its not just what he cares about that he sings about, he sings for the whole group, its a collective effort. And that is all very congruent with being against authority.
And just one more thing. Just an observation. I think that what you think a song means, is more reflective of who you are rather than what a song is about. A huge Nirvana fan will no doubt think this song is about Kurt. People like music because they relate to it. Whatever your closest relation that song is, is no doubt what you are going to believe the song is about, it shouldnt be any other way.
bob
retrobird2007@aol.com -
2TOP RATED
#2 top rated interpretation:It doesn't really matter who it's about, all that matters is that you find some meaning in the song. Whether you think it's about Elvis, Cobain, Hitler, Jesus, Hicks,L. Ron Hubbard, Simon of Syrene, or any random idiot with his head held high... just doesn't matter. As long as YOU are the one thinking it, as long as you ARE thinking, then Maynard... or Danny... or whoever the Hell wrote the damn song would be happy.
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3TOP RATED
#3 top rated interpretation:Well Maynard has said himself its not about Cobain or Jesus or
Christianity in general. He is attacking the "self righteous" in general. -
It might be about himself. Maynard's own death. And perhaps, not the death of his entire body. Just his soul, preparing himself to be a nice cozy receptacle for Satan.
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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Interpretation and opinion is like ass. Everyone has its own. Luckily, none of your opionios differ or matter in any ways towards this song. Eulogy is abou Ron L. Rubbhard and if you guys were inteligent enough to do a full research, instead of throwing up stupid assumptions about a song as clear as cristal, you all would by now already know that the song is OBVIOUSLY not about jesus nor about hicks. The album being dedicated to him doesn't mean that every single song in it is also dedicated to hicks.
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Hitler
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Why then are you so surprised when you hear your own eulogy? He had/has ALOT to say..He had/has ALOT of nothin' to say...Anyone else think it's possibly about Maynard, himself? Think about it.
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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Whoever said its about that wacky cult leader L. Ron Hubbard is absolutely correct. I can't believe that anyone has interpreted it in any other way. I had to read the lyrics again to make sure I was singing them correctly in the shower but it's clearly a position taken on Scientology. (Also I think it's odd that the auto fill capitalized Scientology, it's a cult like the rest of these "organized religions"). We're monkeys that lost our tails and learned to fuck facing one another. Deal with it. 46&2 just ahead of me-
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When I was in 8th grade (right now) I had a friend who left my group. And this was before I heard this song. When I heard this song it told me what was gonna happen and if he was gonna come back or not which he is. Who knows if Maynard went through this same experience??
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That's funny- don't really think that Maynard has to think as much as you assholes-you're reading way too far into it- it's about Henry Rollins and his big ass mouth, not Jesus - get a life
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I believe this song is about all of the people who preach about how we all sin, which is true, but they point their finger at very person, everything, but their own heart. Most of those people tell us the only way to rid of your sin is to try to live as Jesus did, by being willing to die for someone else or for what's right. But those people who preach this most likely won't die for you or for what's right. So those people don't want us to step out of line and sin, by lieing, cheating, stealing ect, but it's our nature, and that includes even the most highly thought of, of people. Also I think this song tells those preachers to get off the "cross" if they are not willing to die for others or what's right. But this is just my take on the whole song others may disagree and that's ok, everyone thinks differently.
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Most of you are just wrongheaded and wrong. It's an ironic and sometimes sarcastic tome for bill hicks who died from cancer a month before cobain killed himself. No one paid much attention to hicks, whom the band respected as a genius commentator on life and its bullshit, which he was, but instead of giving hicks the respect he deserved, all the dumbshit fucktards out there freaked out about cobain, who had nothing like what hicks had. Thus the irony. Cobain got all the attention hicks should have gotten, just to prove hicks right about who people give their adoration to--those who don't deserve it, because most people are ignorant lemmings. Fuck cobain for stealing hicks' time of mourning. Rip bill hicks.
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wasnt maynerds dad a preacher?
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After I listened to this I thought it was a song against Christianity and how Jesus Christ died for our sins. And I was a little torn being a Christian and loving the song. Im surprised after reading this forum that Im not alone in feeling this way. I am relieved to see that was not the intended meaning for this song. Thanks for all the posts.
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This is ridiculous. It's about Hubbard and his Scientology bull. Read the lyrics and grow a brain. Or don't, and succumb to religions in your idiotic lives.
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why is everyone beating around the bush? im pretty sure its about Jesus. "You must be crucified....you said you would die for me" obviously Maynard is trying to convey the message that the whole Jesus thing is bullshit. thats what he is saying, nothing else. even if he said that's not it, its because tool says all their songs are up to the listener's interpretation.
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