You're such an inspiration for the ways
That I'll never ever choose to be
Oh so many ways for me to show you
How your savior has abandoned you
Fuck your God
Your Lord and your Christ
He did this
Took all you had and
Left you this way
Still you pray, you never stray
Never taste of the fruit
You never thought to question why

It's not like you killed someone
It's not like you drove a hateful spear into his side
Praise the one who left you
Broken down and paralyzed
He did it all for you
He did it all for you

Oh so many many ways for me to show you
How your dogma has abandoned you
Pray to your Christ, to your god
Never taste of the fruit
Never stray, never break
Never choke on a lie
Even though he's the one who did this to you
You never thought to question why

Not like you killed someone
It's not like you drove a spiteful spear into his side
Talk to Jesus Christ
As if he knows the reasons why
He did it all for you
Did it all for you
He did it all for you


Lyrics submitted by Jack, edited by jenebee, VaerellisKing, LeMarkyDussod

Judith Lyrics as written by Maynard Keenan Billy Howerdel

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

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Judith song meanings
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  • +22
    General Comment

    This song is about Maynard James Keenan's mother, Judith Marie. Judith was paralyzed when Maynard was 11. She stayed paralyzed until she died 10,000 days later. She kept faith in God the whole time. Maynard had quite the hard time accepting his mother's death, and her beliefs, which often conflicted with Maynard's.

    cryingloverson May 12, 2012   Link
  • +17
    General Comment

    Judith is his mothers name. She was religious from the start but not too crazy, then she got hit with an aneurysm that left her 'broken down and paralyzed' for the rest of her life. Instead of making her question her views, it intensified her devotion.

    This song is about how baffled Maynard is that not only did this not make her question, but rather reinforced her faith.

    I think the true anger in this song is derived from the fact that when she had the aneurysm, she had to spend time in the hospital, leaving Maynard with his abusive stepfather. Her strengthened faith no doubt reinforced her willful ignorance on the subject. I cant imagine how it would feel to have 'the face of my own stability suddenly look away... leaving me with the dead and hopeless' life of being watched over by an abusive parental figure at such an age...

    Tunes24on October 09, 2012   Link
  • +8
    General Comment

    I feel like it is about his mother. Think of the song(s) Wings for Marie part one and two by TOOL. About his mother, being paralyzed for about 10000 days, and how she never waivered on her faith. This may be a hostile version, Maynard may be 'mad' at 'god' for doing this to his mother and angry at the fact that she still believed..? I dunno

    belligerentfuckeron May 18, 2012   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    This song is about Maynard's mother. She was a very religious woman. He is frustrated and is asking why even after becoming paralized, she stuck by her strong beliefs. If her god was so great, why did he abandon her and leave her like that, such a dedicated woman didnt deserve it. He is letting out anger and frustration. As for the tool songs 10,000 days pt 1&2, he actually ends up following in her path after she passed (she was paralized for 27 years, hence 10,000 days.)

    The_Patient27on January 01, 2009   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    This song to me is genius. He is asking Judith if there is so much suffering, why do you still believe in a God.

    the Edgeon March 18, 2002   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    These comments are real interesting. I can see why many are offended and many like this song. I like the music and the lyrics do offend me because I'm Christian but I think we got to just accept the point Maynard's trying to get across whether he's talking about the real Christian God or if it's a metaphor for something else. We don't have to agree with everything we listen to.

    Beowulf_Xtremeon May 20, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    at aperfectcircle.org, they have meanings for several of their songs. for judith they say "Maynard says this, "It's a real person named Judith. She doesn't know about it. And she never will. Just because of the nature of the song and what I'm speaking about, she won't know... because she won't listen." The religious references are not necessarily literal (I'm going to go out on a limb and note my opinion- i believe very little of Maynard's lyrical work can be classified as literal); the references to "your God" and "your Christ" could mean the biblical God and Christ, but could also simply be a metaphor for someone Judith has been wronged by, but still "worships" and forgives."

    lenaon March 05, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Although I haven't seen the DVD, Maynard definitely seems to be attacking his mother's faith and making a lot of biblical references throughout the song. For example:

    • He did this {GOD}
    • Took all you had and
    • Left you this way
    • Still you pray, you never stray
    • Never taste of the fruit

    Never taste of the fruit is a reference to Jesus's words in John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

    • Not like you killed someone
    • It's Not like you drove a spiteful spear into his side

    This is a reference to Jesus's crucifixion. John 19:34 says - "But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out."

    Clearly Maynard knew his bible very well and uses it to express his anger with God. The irony is that while his mother's faith allowed her to be at peace with her tragedy, obviously he is tormented by it. So her faith still won in the end.

    josegee21on June 09, 2012   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    I'm pretty sure this song is Maynard's release of rage at God. Judith was the name of his mother, who was in critical health for a long period whilst always maintaining her faith and praying to get better. Once she passed on, Maynard must have felt that God did this to her and made her suffer even though she was avidly faithful to him.

    DMX1337on July 31, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Its been awhile since sunday school, but if i remember right, judith was enlightened/possessed by god, to betray a general whos armies soon fell to gods armies. This song is brilliant!!! Its from that generals point of view, telling judith about her blind faith.

    rzatherazaon December 06, 2001   Link

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