There is a live version of this song where Maynard explains that the song is using the cartoon concept of the angel on your left shoulder convincing you to take the correct path and the devil on your right shoulder tempting you to take the path of self destruction. In this case Maynard is alluding to the birth of his son and how he is afraid to make the same mistakes as his father. The snake is the Biblical archetype in the Book of Genesis in the Garden of Eden. Which represents temptation. "Considerately killing me." The fact that he's now a parent and has a child depending on him means that the old him is dead and for good reason. So that the new him can be a positive role model for his son. Maynards's son's middle initial is H so it's a theory that the title of the song comes from that. I love this song so much. I love Tool so much that I just spent $500 on a VIP ticket to see them in Miami, FL on April 16th.

@garretthilb3132

4 жыл бұрын

K Devil yes. That too! lol! makes sense!

@americanhwyflower

4 жыл бұрын

I also bought VIP for Sacramento in June. Tool is my absolute favorite band.

@Soljarag5

4 жыл бұрын

I tried to get VIP tickets for the Houston show in 2019, but they instantly sold out... Still an amazing show though

@tee4222

4 жыл бұрын

God I wanted to go to that show so bad. I was also going to get vip tickets but I happen to be traveling for work during that time. Serious bummer.. It’s awesome that they’re playing at AAA though, last time I had to drive all the way to Orlando to see them. Great explanation btw, hope you enjoy the show!

@VatnikSlayer2799

4 жыл бұрын

Tee I flew from West Palm to Virginia last year to see them. I’m very happy they’re coming to the AAA. I’m taking Brightline too so I don’t have to worry about Miami traffic and parking.

Really been enjoying the tool videos. Your killing it l. Keep it up.

Do also want to comment, in the 25+ years of listening to this song I have never once considered the fact that the letter H is a mirrored image of itself. Brilliant!

Tool - Right In Two Tool - H.W.A.P.

@SuperJersh

4 жыл бұрын

both are on the way :)

Right In Two or Lost Keys/Rosetta Stoned next pls.

Another awesome Tool reaction. As a couple others recommended, please do the Maynard's mom quartet (possible quintet). Jimmy Judith (A Perfect Circle) Wings for Marie 10,000 Days Horizons (Puscifer) i am not sure about this one as I've never heard it before but I'll take the word of other Tool Army members. ;) This is a journey that needs to be taken

Dude you transported me to 1996. Hearing this for the first time. Enjoy this album it’s their best. Oh and you are definitely not over complicating.

I’d love to see your interpretation of the lyrics to Pushit. Another amazing track from the album Ænima.

Great reaction. I really like how you don't research the song before you hear it because most people, myself included, would not be able to get half of what you do without research on a Tool song. I'm sure you know by now it's about his son, killing his former self to become a better father. You came so close in your analysis, seriously impressed.

This song is so H.-ing good!

This song is about his son. I believe it’s about being distant at first because of his fear of not being a good dad, and then later on regretting it and wanting to have his son be a part of his life and vice versa

This is their best song

I believe this song is about his father(the snake) and his son.(my blood before me) it delves into the contentious relationship he had with his father and the effect that it had in him and his development in shaping his personality, and attributes. And in turn how that will affect how he raised his own son. The struggle is him trying recognize the toxic things his father introduced into him, and him trying to separate himself from it and not pass it on to his son. Basically breaking in the cycle. And the song deals with his own anxiety and self confidence in raising a child, especially a boy. And letting down the “walls” that he has constructed around himself so that he can be open, emotionally speaking. Maybe “considerately killing me” is referring to how his father though he was “doing the right thing” when raising him, but was actually “killing” him with the negative aspects he was instilling in him. At least this is what I’ve heard this song is about. So I could be wrong!🤔

@bath_cat3314

4 жыл бұрын

Cool interpretation. I really think it's about going from one toxic relationship to another

He was a new father. This song is clearly about his son "H"'s birth. Maynard's "days away" from his new born were killing him. But he had to do what he had to do. And that was making himself and Tool a great success.

I always related this song to heroin. Not only is H one of its street names but the lyrics just really resonate... “Days away I still feel you touching me, changing me, considerately killing me...” if that’s not opiate related, it could be!

This is another song for me that is one of my favorites just because of what it means to me. As others have written, this song is about MJK's son being born and how it caused him to change. I experienced something like that as well with the birth of my daughter. It is a life changing experience and was a major transition in my life.

Hey. If you'd like to take a thematic journey through very closely related songs by Maynard (no spoilers ;) ), I'd recommend this sequence: Jimmy [Tool] Judith [A Perfect Circle] Wings for Marie Part 1 + 10,000 Days (Wings... Pt.2) [Tool] Horizons [Puscifer]

@americanhwyflower

4 жыл бұрын

Ohhh i didn't know about horizons.... But yes, I do also recommend the Maynard's mom quartet (quintet?).

@krzyszwojciech

4 жыл бұрын

@@americanhwyflower "of the Village"? Is that the Vin and Sori tribe? ;)

@FatBoySlim696

4 жыл бұрын

The Patient would also slot in there after Judith

@americanhwyflower

4 жыл бұрын

@@krzyszwojciech why yes, I am the Carmen of the Vin and Sori village. I assume you are part of the village too?

@krzyszwojciech

4 жыл бұрын

@@FatBoySlim696 He's already reacted to The Patient. Besides, while certainly the circumstances common for these songs were a big part of the inspiration for The Patient as well, I've always felt like it's a more generalized lyrics, less specific, more universal - for one thing, he doesn't address _her_ in any clear and obvious way.

Damn you’re good at the interpretation, I mean it’s subjective but you definitely get the gist of Tool songs........

Right In Two pleas? Those lyrics are cut and dry, but their meaning is profoundly moving in that song. Their music and lyrics are timeless.

TOOL ARMY HERE.THIS SONG IS ABOUT THE BIRTH OF HIS AND HOW HE FEARS HIS PAST WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM AND MAKE HIM A BAD FATHER AND INFLICTING HIS ISSUES ONTO HIS SON. CONSIDERATELY KILLING ME IS A METAPHOR MEANING KILLING HIS OLD SELF AND BECOMING A BETTER PERSON - FATHER. PLEASE CHECK OUT TOOL NO QUARTER IT IS A COVER OF A LED ZEPPELIN SONG EPIC.

@mkswk09

4 жыл бұрын

Lita Wells I agree, but why are you yelling?

@litawells8803

4 жыл бұрын

@@mkswk09 I want to make sure I'm heard it worked you heard me!!!!!!!!!!

SerperJersh chek out Led Zeppelin's song No Quarter then check out TOOL's cover. It would be really interesting to me. Thanks. ✌🤞

@americanhwyflower

4 жыл бұрын

Yes!!!!

Listen to Judith (A Perfect Circle) and then Wings for Marie and then come back to this one and see how your interpretation changes. (An additional clue: Maynard James Keenan's name at birth was James Herbert Keenan.)

@americanhwyflower

4 жыл бұрын

Don't forget Jimmy

@claytonthegnome

4 жыл бұрын

Jambi is related as well...and don't forget about "Horizons" by Puscifer...

Outstanding, as usual!

Death as a metaphor could mean change. He looks back at what could have been and sees the snake causing him to grow stronger and become fearless as time goes by, while he also looks into "your" eyes and is okay with all the times he's been forced to change through the death of the ego, etc. A lot of the lyrics are introspective, and causes the writer and the audience to address their negative traits and experiences along with the positive ones. Aaand, check out Pushit if you need more Tool suggestions.

The mirror imagery with the physical letter H was a thought provoking idea. Thanks again Mr. Jersh!

Bro. I’m a Tool fan since the late 90’s. This album in particular is one of my favorites of all time. I loved this song and I go with the interpretation of this song being written about his son. Him trying to reconcile with his past for a better future for someone else who is killing the man he used to be but he embraces it. BUT....when you made the comment about the H and mirrored objects of each other, blew my fucking mind. Granted I’m pretty high but holy shit. That’s a good pick up on your part! 🤘

When I first heard this song in 1997, I thought it was a song about heroin, but after learning more about Maynard it seemed more likely to be about a relationship with someone close to him. But still this song would also make sense as a song about heroin.

Being gone from his kid on tour.

Tool - Maynard's D

No worries Jersh...I like your ability to just go with a first impression. TOOL has always used double meaning wit and sarcasm. I feel they encourage the listeners to seek their own meaning. I’m from the early days where they didn’t publish liner notes with the cd. Pre-internet so you couldn’t research at all. Still to this day I don’t believe the band has officially released confirmed actual lyrics. Maynard whisperers and it’s all conjecture. “Bob help me!” Lol .... I love hearing the army’s interpretations.

This song is about the relationship with. His step dad, and the transition from that volatile situation and it's lessons, to him now becoming a father and being the opposite of that as a father to his son. H is the middle initial of his sons name. Also...it can be taken as an alterior meaning...H for heroin, and overcoming it's addiction. But he wrote it for his son.

Early TOOL SuperJersh. Anything off of their first EP Opiate or their first album Undertow. ✌

from what I understand this song is about his struggle with changing who he is as he goes into this new world of becoming a parent. He's letting go of his negative and dark self to let in the new light that is his new family. He feels an obligation to his child to kill off his old self, he's doing it as a consideration for his baby his blood. In earlier music you will hear his darker attitude unlike the stuff you heard at the beginning of this journey that is more 'uplifting' and positive.

So SuperJersh have you joined TOOL's army yet?

The lyrics really elevate this song

If you go back to Undertow album, react to “Prison Sex” and “Swamp Song”

When you change you become something new, so the old you dies in a way...that's how I see "touching me, changing me, considerately killing me".

Please react to Zao the rising end!! You be the only one and the first one

Credit to the Tool FAQ: G30. OK, they have a song called "H." What's it stand for? The working / early title for this song was "Half Empty." The H likely stands for that (or "Half Full"). It may represent the old "half-empty is interchangeable with half-full" notion. Of course, it could also stand for anything else. It's a safe bet that it does not stand for Heroin. G31. "H." is great, but what's it about? When introducing this song live in 1996, Maynard touched on the idea of having an angel sitting on one shoulder and a devil sitting on the other. In at least one interpretation, the song is about being very close to someone who is tearing you apart, someone you can't bring yourself to leave, but someone who will destroy you because you can't leave them. It is the price you pay for being close to them; they aren't doing it on purpose: "considerately."

SuperJersh Adam plays more like Gilmore. He paints murals with his guitar. If you're not familiar with David Gilmore check out Pink Floyd. ✌

"What's coming through is alive, what's holding up is a mirror ". Aka his son being born

So SuperJersh are you a Strat or Telecaster or perhaps a Gibson guy?

@SuperJersh

4 жыл бұрын

i've just played what i could afford and don't have a preference as long as it works lol

Basically he is mad at his mother.

Soon to be dad scared about having to be an adult

Katatonia - In The White

Keep in mind anything Maynard says about his lyrics or the band must be taken with a grain of salt.

SuperJersh Floyd and Zeppelin for future reactions please. ✌

Not sure but he’s seems scared of letting go of who he is as he has a new son but the son is his new path that he too is scared of??? Or something like that?

Deftones - Beware

@SuperJersh

4 жыл бұрын

beware is recorded and will be out next week :)

Eths - Animadversion

the lyrics r not hard to understand... he is saying he was a bad angry person with a horrible life and having his son changed him into a good person, his son was the first person in his life he would die for... he named his son H.

@SuperJersh

4 жыл бұрын

Oh did it say he named his son H in the song? Cause it seems like u don’t think it’s hard to understand because u had outside knowledge

@jonathanlindsey463

4 жыл бұрын

SuperJersh no, i learned that later... i’ve just had years and years of loving music and understanding lyrics to help me break them down is all

This song is about habitually getting into toxic relationships