Tool - Schism Meaning

Song Released: 2001

Schism Lyrics

I know the pieces fit
'Cause I watched them fall away
Mildewed and smouldering
Fundamental differing
Pure intention juxtaposed
Will set two lovers' souls in motion
Disintegrating as it goes
Testing our communication
The light that feuled...

1. wardo

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   Feb 1st 2006 !⃝

   Maynard's father was a catholic priest? That's funny. He mentioned in an interview in '03 with Kurt Loder (I can't believe I have to bring that name into this) that he grew up fundamentalists Baptist. And it's also rumored that his father (or father-in-law, depending on which story you're listening to) was a holy-roller and a real creep who abused him. But there is no verification that it was sexual abuse, and Catholic priests don't have children.
2. anonymous

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   Dec 15th 2005 !⃝

   I think that this song happens to be about Maynard's relationship with god/jesus christ etc and how it was broken. I believe this because his father is a catholic priest and rumour has it that he Maynard was raped by his father who at the time was a priest. I believe that the words "I know the pieces fit 'cause I watched them fall away," simply means that as he was young, he was a believer, but when raped, he stopped believing because how could god intend such things to happen in such circumstances of the fact his father had devoted his life to being in relationship to god.
3. tonx

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   Nov 28th 2005 !⃝

   Have you been born? Have you died? Why do you run from what happens your whole life?

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
4. anonymous

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   Nov 16th 2005 !⃝

   I always thought this was just a song about hate and the world slowly falling apart. As tensions grow between groups of people, communication stops and society begins to deteriorate. As I see it, it's sort of a hippy song's evil twin.
5. cgyscreamo

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   Oct 25th 2005 !⃝

   He claimed it was just his interpretation of the music.
6. tool9386

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   Oct 18th 2005 !⃝

   Maynard has also been quoted as saying he has read some interpretations of their songs and says that they are way off, but it doesnt matter. People just need to use their brain, he hates it when people dont think.
7. der

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   Oct 14th 2005 !⃝

   I just thought this was about deteriorating relationships:
   
   "Cold silence has a tendency to atrophy any sense of compassion between supposed brothers, between supposed lovers"
   
   But, hey, after that huge entry, I dont know what to think :P

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
8. anonymous

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   Aug 22nd 2005 !⃝

   Personally, I believe it to be a relationship song. The REALITY of the situation is that no one knows what he is talking about. Hell, I know for a fact that Maynard admitted that if he were to ever say what the songs mean, then people may think he is crazy.
   
   Maynard is a little insane and the results are one great song after another. So please stop pretending like you all know what he is talking about, when most of the time he doesn't even know.
9. jewstalker@yahoo.com

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   May 9th 2005 !⃝

   If you are familiar with the "great schism" of the catholic church then you should understand this song fairly well. The church shism is merely a metaphor for two beings tearing apart from thier love due to a mere lack of communication. Therefore our differences, like the catholics, will wither us away from one another.