Tool – Cold and Ugly

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Underneath her skin and jewelry,
Hidden in her words and eyes
Is a wall that's cold and ugly
And she's scared as hell.
Trembling at the thought of feeling.
Wide awake and keeping distance.
Nothing seems to penetrate her.
She's scared as hell.
I am frightened to.
Wide awake
And keeping distance from my soul.
I am scared like you.

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Lyrics submitted by Jack, edited by Mellow_Harsher

"Cold and Ugly" as written by Daniel Carey, Adam Jones, Paul D'amour, Maynard James Keenan

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

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Cold and Ugly song meanings
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58 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:it reminds me of the book East of Eden one of the characters seems like the epitome of the song because in the novel she hides behind lies and uses her charm to distract people from finding out how dark and full of hatred she is yet shes scared that people will find out about what she's done so she acts nice to trick people just read the book and you'll get what i'm saying
    Flag Agraithon November 30, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I always see this song as a companion piece to Jerk-Off. Just a freakin' awesome "FUCK YOU" type song.
    Flag Tig45on April 24, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with DatheR, it has something to do with a woman/girl being scarred or traumatized by a horrific event. And no matter how she tries to act normal, she's still hurting on the inside.
    Flag Luccelloscarlattoon August 17, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The first time I listened to this song without reading the lyrics, I heard something like this:

    Underneath the skin and jewelry
    (indecipherable)
    Is a wall that's cold and ugly
    Its the skin of Hell

    In some ways I prefer this to the actual lyrics.
    Flag keshikon August 05, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The song is taking, in a form of a girl, the fear of man from the world.
    Everything is possible, and there's a lot of evil out there, and he (Maynard) related to that.
    Flag TheMauledon April 28, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Cold and Ugly to me would be referring to two lovers who are scared to embrace there emotions for each other because of past events possibly there future guiding them to be frightened of the future. Perhaps she had already thrown him away before she lost feelings and he's trying to speak reason into her.

    Trembling at the thought of feeling.
    Some people are scared of empathy and putting there trust in others generally because down in there ego they're scared they're just going to come out of the situation whatever that may be completely shattered and broken.

    I've had experiences with this before and this song I could feel everything about it as though it was describing each and every unknown feeling to me as though it was child's math.
    Flag NateOneEighton March 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:This might sound weird, but the way I see it's about a man who developped sexual attraction to woman that pushes him away. He then starts to get really obsessed with her and decides to rape her and her soul (He sees her real personnality and his agression desires to rip her apart emotionnally). The chorus "I am frightened. I am frightened too." leads me to believe that this act of sexual assault was impulse and that the man has no idea what he is doing, thus making him as scared as the victim in the fact that he his unwinding his obession. You can also see that the victim has been scarred by the event and has since become introverted.
    Flag gtalcvcsaon October 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:well i think like in most good lyrics Maynard is generaly speaking what most of you guys aree missing.sfrom this point of view-many people are fragile from inside9if you're not one of them don't try to understand it-you w'ont) and get hurt from things that others would easily outlive.and than they will not feel empathy and sympathy and will not be able to recognize each other when they meet onb the street, becauser they hide behind a mask.
    Flag roglyoon September 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:My personal interpretation: Maynard is commenting on the fact that some despite their outward appearance, possibly exhibiting confidence, pride, etc. are in actuality scared of themselves. They are afraid of facing the person in the mirror, afraid of coming to terms with who they are versus who they want to be. So they are mindful to let anyone "penetrate" them including themselves in fear that someone will unearth the horrible truth.
    Flag lvlellovvon July 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i love the guitar riffs in this song, also a pretty good maynard yell tooo!!
    Flag DarthToke1on June 09, 2008   Link

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