Tool: Parabola Meaning
Song Released: 2002
Parabola Lyrics
We are Choosing to be here right now. Hold on, stay inside...
This holy reality, this holy experience. Choosing to be here in...
This body. This body holding me. Be my reminder...
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this song is an interpretation of Plato's doctrine of forms and arguments for the immortality of the soul. Maynard uses philosophy for inspiration but it dosen't appear as if he is forwarding plato's views because he beleives them; he is mearly making them known. Parabola is more correctly an artist interpretation of Plato's theory.
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I have found that if you listen to parabol/parabola when you are high, it does kinda give it a new sound.
Instead of doing this however, 1 month ago, I had a serious eye injury. I was put on bedrest and couldnt move around very much so that a clot in my eye wouldnt tear. In order for me to stay sane, all I did was listen to lateralus, aenima, and 10,000 days trying to understand their meaning.
It was while I was doing this that I found a differnt perception of the world. It happened after I had not moved from my bed for 4 days, sleeping in and out, having those cds on repeat.
I heard Parabol, one of my favorite songs. As it was playing, I faded into a wierd kind of mind where I saw very little, but I heard everything around me, the people outside, birds, even the air seemed to be alive. Then I heard Parabola switch and it all made sense to me. It is hard to explain in words, but after you go to sleep, listen to those two songs and you will get something more. I felt as if I did what the lyrics were always talking about, achieving spirituality. I couldnt remember what happened before that (precious) moment. I realized that all my pain was an illusion and that I was eternal. I embraced the moment. For 1 month I have been trying to do it again, but it just is not the same. -
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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Parabola may either symbolize one's birth into this world, or one's spiritual awakening. It describes a person in a state of breathing meditation (probably buddhist), feeling the air and chi move within him (it is later detailed and explained how in Lateralus). Parabola may simply be the moment (lack of a better term since that state is timeless), one gets into absolute, deep meditation. Which includes 9 months within a mother's womb.
Also there's references to reincarnation. So the birth theme is very likely.
"we barely remember, who or what came before this precious moment..."
thanks for reading. -
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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Parabol and Parabola, to me, represent the duality of life. Like one of the dudes up there^ said, the first represents reality and the second represents everything beyond reality. Parabol is like the calm meditation leading to the mind's enlightenment, which becomes the surrounding, exciting feel of Parabola.
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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this song is about life. "We barely remember who or
What came before this precious moment"
its telling you that this holy experience in this vehicle called you body is something you are choosing and is something to embrace.
even though it can be rough at times and painful, it is all an illusion.
"This body holding me reminds me
Of my own mortality
Embrace this moment
Remember, we are eternal
All this pain is an illusion" -
I think parabol and parabola make us to think how our human shape takes place in this world as a short period of time compared with eternal life; in adition, the physical form that was given to us must be thankful in a spiritual way and believing that this chance is incredibly wonderful, I mean, as another interpreter said they´re optimistic lyrics that drive us to think about the gift of life as a simplistic present but at the same time as a complex demostration of divinity.
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Before I say anything I am not being hostile, big headed,or boasting in any way shape or form.
I have listend to tool for a few years now every day. Lateralus changed my life.it was a literal turning point in my state of mind. Parabol and Parabola in my opinion cannot be played without each other. Any one who smokes as much weed as me or take acid or mushrooms a lot will understand what I mean when I say, at the end of the night when you are completely slashed you lie on your bed or any flat suface and you start spiralling in no paticular direction.This song is displaying 2 states of mind. "Reality", and the other side. Parabol is showing you the state of mind you are in when you are in "reality" the as it switches into Parabola,the entire purpose of the link between the 2 songs on the album,(In my opinion) to transfer you smoothly to the other side and onto the spiral. Thanks for reading. :) -
Plenty of Ritual Magik references laced throughout this song as well. "This pain is an illusion" is a refernce to the power of our minds. "This body holding me reminds me of my own mortallity" refernces how are body is just a vehicle to hold until we reach divinity. Do a simple study on Ritual Magik and almost every Tool song will hold a different meaning to you than before.
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Tool the living legacy, best band of all time more than just a band to me, Parabola is a song that I think really highlights the gift of life and the spirtual awaking a individual can recieve just by taking a breath of fresh air. And in the end not much really maters rember all this pain is an illusion. Dont take the only thing you really have for grainted, life. To all the true tool fans out there I know you feel what I feel when we turn on any matter peice of Tool's. futher more this is one of tools more optomistic songs, as well as the Album itself. Keep the hope alive people heres a salute to real music!
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