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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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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Wow, misterbob...
"...you are a Christian who is good at sterotyping. Christians by definition are dimwits."
Bravo! If you can't see the complete contradiction of those two sentences, perhaps you should try another school.
"I am not a dimwit."
If you say so. Too bad I didn't get to see your response to my review to long after the fact. My e-mail was on there if you wanted me to read what you wrote. Perhaps strawmen are your thing.
Once again; j5w2k9@hotmail.com
Anytime. -
"It's interesting that a song can all but hit you over the head about it's meaning, and you still have fans of Tool defending the author's position; "It's not about that, because I read somewhere that..." "
That statement is funny, because in about two lines you are going to quote something you read somewhere about the band. Hypocritical much?
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"Please. Anyone remember "Judith?" "
Judith is about the way the people at maynards mothers church treated his mother. Judith is his mothers name. That is straight from maynards mouth on the amotion apc dvd.
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"The band has admitted to a belief in the occult,"
the band actually says believe in nothing and think for yourself, the talk about occult is a joke.
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refers to Christians as "Xians," and Maynard has said, "I sold my soul to make a record."
That was in a song. you are taking it out of context. But the devil doesn't exist. So how you sell a soul to something that doesn't exist?
Now, whether said selling was an actual pact with the Devil or not is irrelevant, though I doubt it. The principle remains; doing whatever it takes to make money-- put forth a way of thinking that is easier for the listener to accept than a life hard-earned on rigidity and morals. Mix that with a catchy tune and presto! "And you bought one..."
When Maynard played his April Fools joke on their website, stating he had given up the band for a Christian life, he spelled Jesus with a lower case j. Later, when asked about the prank he said," I'm surprised that anyone who listens to my music would think that." Well said. Only Tool fans, in their might, valor, and intellect, looking down on all who do not share their opinion,
which you are doing right now.
looking for interpretations where there are none,
actually there are.
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considering themselves artists when the extent of their art is listening and following,
I don't listen and follow, I am an artist of many mediums.
could a person actually listen to songs like this and "Judith" and say with a straight face "This message is not anti-Christ."
yes. even though the band is against religion for many great reasons. Opiate was named after the marxist statement that "religion is the opiate of the masses."
Alright. Since we're all "philosophers" here, I'm sure you know you're stuck in the first modalical heirarchy of belief: DOGMA. An unsubstantiated, unquestioned belief in a view.
DOGMA is exactly what christianity is by your definition.
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It's also interesting to hear an outsider's opinion of Christians. "Anyone who thinks of adhering to the teachings of an organized religion is not what I would consider an intelligent Tool fan." Don't talk to me about intelligence.
I was a Christian for at least 8 years. So I am no outsider. I left christianity by the time I was 19 because it is for sheep. plain and simple.
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Do something that an estimated .5% of our population could even academically QUALIFY for, let alone survive in. Then we'll talk.
And that is.........................?
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Besides, that's the great irony of all this new-age "progressive" thinking. You consider yourselves scholars and Christians dimwits, and while Christians are going to school, learning a trade that will actually benefit their communities and provide for their families, Tool fans are listening to music and writing in chatrooms. Think about it (objectively).
Your writing is thick and dripping with hypocracy, I guess you are sticking to the christian tradition.The only thing you proved by that statement is that you are a Christian who is good at sterotyping. Christians by definition are dimwits. I am not a christian, but I am going to college to learn a trade that will benefit my community and provide for my family. I am not a dimwit. And while you say Tool fans for just typing in chat rooms and not going to school, you are a christian typing in a chat room, and I am a huge Tool fan going to school. You are looking down your nose at a group of people for no reason, but that's what christianity does to you. anyone who isn't christian just isn't good enough.
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Anyways, the song is set up like this.
The eulogy is for some idiot that Maynard knows who is still alive claiming he will die for him/them. Maynard is calling him an idiot because he is in essence saying, Shut the f#$% up and stop trying to be a martyr because I am not going to remember anything you are talking about. -
It's interesting that a song can all but hit you over the head about it's meaning, and you still have fans of Tool defending the author's position; "It's not about that, because I read somewhere that..." Please. Anyone remember "Judith?" The band has admitted to a belief in the occult, refers to Christians as "Xians," and Maynard has said, "I sold my soul to make a record." Now, whether said selling was an actual pact with the Devil or not is irrelevant, though I doubt it. The principle remains; doing whatever it takes to make money-- put forth a way of thinking that is easier for the listener to accept than a life hard-earned on rigidity and morals. Mix that with a catchy tune and presto! "And you bought one..."
When Maynard played his April Fools joke on their website, stating he had given up the band for a Christian life, he spelled Jesus with a lower case j. Later, when asked about the prank he said," I'm surprised that anyone who listens to my music would think that." Well said. Only Tool fans, in their might, valor, and intellect, looking down on all who do not share their opinion, looking for interpretations where there are none, considering themselves artists when the extent of their art is listening and following, could a person actually listen to songs like this and "Judith" and say with a straight face "This message is not anti-Christ." Alright. Since we're all "philosophers" here, I'm sure you know you're stuck in the first modalical heirarchy of belief: DOGMA. An unsubstantiated, unquestioned belief in a view.
It's also interesting to hear an outsider's opinion of Christians. "Anyone who thinks of adhering to the teachings of an organized religion is not what I would consider an intelligent Tool fan." Don't talk to me about intelligence. Do something that an estimated .5% of our population could even academically QUALIFY for, let alone survive in. Then we'll talk. Besides, that's the great irony of all this new-age "progressive" thinking. You consider yourselves scholars and Christians dimwits, and while Christians are going to school, learning a trade that will actually benefit their communities and provide for their families, Tool fans are listening to music and writing in chatrooms. Think about it (objectively).
j5w2k9@hotmail.com -
Its obviuos that anti-christians take every opportunity to try to defame Christ, and use circular reasoning to make songs agree with their beliefs. First of all, if a member of the band said it was about L. Ron Hubbard, what is left to interpret? Second of all, these particular lyrics have nothing all all to do with Jesus in documentation or any other form "Standing above the crowd,
He had a voice that was strong and loud.
We’ll miss him. (2x)
Ranting and pointing his finger
At everything but his heart."
Show me anywhere in the Bible where this is true. There was never any instance of Jesus finger-pointing, or even being loud. As a matter of fact, it was the Pharisees that did that, and the Pharisees and Jesus did not get along because of this. Jesus was called "a friend to sinners", he ate with them, and got on the level that they were fingering. Not only that, "No way to recall
What it was that you had said to me", that kind of rules out Jesus as well, because I doubt if they conversated. Then there was the "why are you suprised to hear your own eulogy?" Jesus was not suprised that He died at all, especially since He resurrected. Then there's the "would you die for me?" Jesus did die for us, whether you believe that or not is besides the point, because he actually did die in an effort to save others. You would only ask the question of "would you die for me?" to someone who is either still alive, or never proved that their devotion was that strong. -
You don't have to be anti-christian to like Tool first off. That's stupid. Just because you're christian doesn't mean you can't appreciate their art. All songs are left to interpretation. Band members don't have to explain a thing about their songs. Maybe that is the point of it. They want you to think about it! That is how all of their songs are, aren't they? The point of discussing what it's about is to figure out what you think it's about and to tell others what you think to try and enlighten them.
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The poster above just said exactly what I would have said right before reading the lyrics another time. As a Christian, this song has typically been the hardest for me to stand (this and two others off of Opiate and Undertow). I love Tool, they are my favorite band of all time and I think all of them are absolutely incredible muscians and philosophers. That said, I don't think that this song really is about Jesus, or about Christians in general. And, for the record, this isn't justification for hypocrisy - I'm not attempting to claim that this song isn't defaming Christianity simply because I am a Christian, but I happen to like Tool a helluva lot.
So, first off, from a literary standpoint, there is absolutely no reason to claim that Maynard has a "higher power" he is looking on from that isn't the same "person" saying the heavy shit at the end of the song. There just isn't.
Secondly, everything about the Jesus-thing seems a little too tight and convenient. I find it hard to believe that just because Maynard has had some very negative experiences with the Catholic Church (as obvious in "Opiate"), that he would continue in this vein to create a very simple song that warns people of the "foils and lies of Christianity". He's done that, he spent a record and half an EP to do that. I think he's done with that (at least until APC's "Judith", and even that has a lot more compassion for people [even Christians] than "Opiate" or "Sober" do).
Third: I think it's important to recognize that this entire CD (AEnima) is dedicated to "The Late Great Bill Hicks: Another Dead American Hero" (or something like that), as seen in the insert to the album. It is true that "AEnema" and "Third Eye" are explicitly Hicksian in nature - each overarching theme comes directly from some sort of the comedien's philosophy.
Fourth: the statements about the person whom the eulogy is about "rants" and "raves" and "takes a stance on every little thing". This, as Maynard would know from actually studying the Bible (and he has), is completely fallacious. Even people who do not subscribe to the Christian faith recognize that Jesus Christ was a real person who expounded love, forgiveness, and genuine brotherly acceptance of EVERY person. In fact, the basic laws of every society ever is based upon the Golden Rule that is laid out in the Bible: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". It's not that they took that from the Bible, but that the Bible spells that concept out. Maynard doesn't have a problem, per se, with Christ, just with the "middle men of religion". Those people defame Christ more than Maynard ever could.
Fifth: The song is irrational any way you choose to look at it. It isn't cohesive. I think it makes much more sense for it to be a song that is cryptic in meaning about a friend who died suddenly and left Maynard (alone?) --- someone who was "strong and loud" who had a "lot to say" but who ultimately died and went away. I don't think Maynard would be cryptic about his feelings toward Christianity --- he hasn't been so in the past, or in the future.
Anyway, if you read all of this, thanks. -
Hello all. I have received much joy from reading y'alls interpretations of Eulogy... but I believe I may have found the most accurate.
For the past couple hours I have been trying to decipher this song because it resonated soooo deep within me once I read the lyrics. It didn't just touch my heart, it grabbed a hold of it and squeezed until I could hardly breathe. Not because I love it... but because I absolutely FEARED these lyrics. Why? It is the epitomy of my worst NIGHTMARE. It describes it almost completely. And I couldn't stand for this. I couldn't stand for my fear... I had to solve it. So I submitted myself to it's mercy until I found a cure.
After speaking with my bandmate about it's potential message, this is what we both decided on... collectively ;-)
Although I think that Bill Hicks MAY have been the initial inspiration to create this song, I believe that it runs MUCH deeper than that. Deeper than Maynard's beliefs or even the entire band's thoughts on the matter. It is about Christianity and it's people. It is a timeless tale with a focus on the time of Christianity from the point of view of many involved. I will attempt to quote every part of the song so as to PROVE this theory.
Lyrics: "He had a lot to say. He had a lot of nothing to say. We'll miss him."
Interpretation: Maynard speaks from the point of view of his higher self. The self that now knows that Christians, it's priests, and even the Bible's version of Jesus' martydom was a whole lot of nothing. And even though it was nothing, from this higher perspective he still has compassion for that point of view (the view of the Christian)... Hence, "We'll miss him." Like, "That view is gone... but I still love you."
L: "So long. We wish you well."
I: Goodbye to you and your belief. He's still saying this from the "higher" perspective. From a timeless point of view that actually KNOWS now. He wishes all of the Christians (who still exist at our current point in time) well.
L: "You told us how you weren't afraid to die. Well then, so long. Don't cry. Or feel too down. Not all martyrs see divinity. But at least you tried."
I: Maynard is speaking to Jesus, and in turn, the Christians on this one. 'Cause "Jesus died for the world and God" according to Christians. So in turn, they die for him... and the Bible... and the Christian Code. Jesus said that he wasn't afraid to die on the cross (according to the Bible). And if you talk to the general Christian today, they will say that they are not afraid to die for Jesus. So Maynard's like, "Well then... So long. Adios! But don't cry when you find out differently. Don't be too down when you find out that what you were dying for (as a martyr) didn't lead you to the divinity (Heaven) that you had in mind. But atleast you tried." He's saying this as if they are dead... but still alive. It's almost as if he is enlightening them through this song, I believe.
L: " Standing above the crowd he had a voice that was strong and loud. We'll miss him. Ranting and pointing his finger at everything but his heart. We'll miss him."
I: Over time, as the church collected power, they began to "stand above the crowd" with a voice that was so strong and loud. Again, "we'll miss him"... That compassionate Higher Maynard talking about the nearing ancient artform of Christianity. The Church and Christians pointed their fingers at everyone else, condemning them for their sins, but totally missed the truth of their own hearts.
L: "No way to recall what it was that you had said to me, Like I care at all. So loud. You sure could yell. You took a stand on every little thing and so loud."
I: Now this is where the point of view begins to shift from Maynard's bird's-eye-view. He's starting to climb back into the mind of the Christian Self. He doesn't remember what sort of lies, truths, or promises the Christian Powers had told him... He doesn't really care anymore. But they sure were loud... and they had an answer for everything (from their Bible and Church). It's almost as if now, Maynard is speaking on behalf of the minds of Christians. He is empathically feeling what it was like to be them... Hear what they heard, believe what they were told. And wouldn't that make sense? We ALL fight these beliefs wherever we go in this world. Wherever we go there is someone on a pedistal telling us "The Truth".
L: "Standing above the crowd, he had a voice so strong and loud and I swallowed his façade because I'm so eager to identify with someone above the ground, someone who seemed to feel the same, someone prepared to lead the way, with someone who would die for me."
I: Again... even deeper into the perspective of a Christian but also from a non-believer. The Christian saw Jesus (from the Bible's point of view... which I keep saying because I believe that Jesus/Yeshua/Sananda was VERY different from what the Bible made him out to be) as the Answer. The martyr that said he'd die for them. And then from the point of view of the non-believer (which is probably the most accurate view of Maynard's former-self) towards the Christian: the Christian claimed to have the Answer... Saying that if a non-believer believed, then they would be saved. And he WANTED to believe this. He WANTED to believe that someone would match his own desires to lead the way, to find the truth, and to die for him. To have such a "love", that they would die for him.
L: "Will you? Will you now? Would you die for me? Don't you fuckin' lie. Don't you step out of line. Don't you fuckin lie."
I: I like what is happening now. This is where he really starts to express the pain that was caused from even considering this ideal.. and possibly even believing in it. "So will you, Jesus?? Will you, Christian?? Will you non-believer??" All points of view are starting amalgamate here. "And don't you dare lie to me! Don't you dare hesitate!" He's starting to see that maybe Jesus WOULDN'T actually DIE for everyone. That the Christians WOULDN'T actually DIE for anyone. He's smelling the lies.. kind of egging them on saying, "So if you'd die for me... Then why don't you? If your faith is so flawless... Then go ahead! Die! And don't step out of line! Because you're faithful, right? You (Christians) believe that Jesus died for you... and you die for him by following him... So why don't you do it? Why don't you DIE for him!" He's almost tempting them now, testing their faulty faith.
L: "You've claimed all this time that you would die for me. Why then are you so surprised to hear your own eulogy? You had a lot to say."
I: It comes together. "So if you (Jesus, Christians)said you will die... and ARE dying for a faulty cause... Then technically, you're already dead. As long as you believe this way... you are dead." And in a sense, from the higher perspective a part of their eternal souls is dead... because they're constantly handing themselves over to a book and belief that have been raped, translated, and handed down wayyyy too many times to be completely true. "So if you say that you will die, and are dying for this ideal... Then why are you so suprised to hear that a part of you IS already dead?? But gosh... you had a lot to say!" Hehe.
L: "You had a lot of nothing to say. Come down. Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr. To ascend you must die. You must be crucified for your sins and your lies. Goodbye..."
I: He's still speaking to Jesus/Christians (The Christ Complex) "But still... It was a whole lot of nothing. So come down now. Get off your cross. Stupid ass... It's for the next ass to climb upon." Now here is where he once again seperates himself from this belief system... "To ascend YOU must die. YOU must be crucified for YOUR sins and YOUR lies. Goodbye..." Basically, he's severely pointing out their point of view on ascension. THEY believe they must DIE for it! THEY believe that they must be crucified for THEIR "sins" and "lies"! "Fuck you man, I don't believe in that shit anymore. I'll leave you to your business... Goodbye..."
And that's basically it. I know that it's kinda jumbled at parts but I really tried to integrate this timeless tale into every peice of it. And as I hope you can see... The pieces fit.
Thanks for sitting through this with me... like I said, it came from the depths of my soul... and it actually helped bring a lot of light into that dark spot within me. I believe that that was Maynard/Tool's message also, to help bring and light a light under the stagnant followers of Christianity. It also helped him a lot to express this song, I bet. To get out that shit that we've all felt and still feel sometimes... That looming thoughtform that's so heavy in our world... especially at this time. But now we see, don't we?
Thanks TOOL.
Timelessly,
Levi
P.S. I HATE it when the artists leave art to interpretation solely. I think it's cool to a certain extent... but the artist has a duty to their audience to explain where THEY were when they created their peice. What THEY were thinking and feeling during it. It adds so much more value and fruitfullness to the art when they share their mind along with it. Fucking Maynard made me WORK for this one! Haha! Peace'n'war. -
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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As a moderator, I think you should listen to wat I have to say...
(J/K)
Personally, I think this song was intended to be about an anonymous person. Maynard knew that the lyrics would be analysed, studied, and stressed over, so he PURPOSEFULLY wrote it so that no one would be able to figure out who it's about. -
The lyrics to Eulogy, track two on Tool's Aenima album, are hotly debated among Tool fans. But I will settle the debate right now: The song is about Hitler. When Tool mentions "I Swallowed his facade because I'm so eager to identify with someone above the ground, someone who seemed to feel the same, someone prepared to lead the way, with
Someone who would die for me." it is speaking from the mouth of the German people. In the months after WW 1 , as is known, the German people experienced horrible times after the collapse of their economy and the extreme inflation of their currency. These lines come strait from the mouth of the poor and hungry German who sees the only way to escape his fate in Adolf Hitler. Hitler's "facade" was obviously a bit extreme at the time, but something that could be tolerated by someone with very few other choices.
As is well known, the people under Hitler were sent off to fight for the blue eyed, blonde haired Arian race and the extermination of the Jews. The line: "Get off your fucking cross. We need the fucking space to nail the next fool martyr." speaks as the voice of the leader himself. The "fool martyr" is the soldier who fought and died for Hitler's folly.
Of course I don’t need to say that this is only my interpretation. The lyrics do lend themselves to other meanings. There are also some other lines that I have trouble integrating into my interpretation. My only argument for that is that the lyrics could have been changed simply because it flowed better in the actual singing of the song. -
I can't stand when people say that "Christians are stupid" thinking they're "SO MUCH MOR INTELLIGENT THAN THE FEEBLE MINDED." You don't have to make a choice between Christ and Tool. I certainly don't, and quite frankly, I consider that "thinking for myself." I make my own decisions about my beliefs and what I like.
On to the song.
TO ME, this song means basically people who "pretend" to be martyrs. Kurt Cobain is a great example. He's become a martyr for Rock n Roll. But lets face the facts, he was a selfish asshole who got a lot of credit because he died (I'm sorry, its true).
Elvis Presely is another one. Held up by many, but he practically killed himself.
These people aren't true martyrs. They're just people who did something stupid that ended their lives and people hold them up on some pedestal for it.
Anyways, that's MY PERSONAL interpretation. I'm not reflecting interviews or anything. Just what I take from it (which is what art is supposed to be). -
I think it's about Hitler and how he hypnotized people("swallowed his fascade") to follow him by making him self out to be something that people have been looking for("eager to identify...") and how his sense of being powerful("...someone above the crowd) attracts people to him. But in the end it was nothing but a bunch of lies("he had a lot of nothing to say")
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