Lyrics for Intolerance as interpreted by dank

Intolerance Lyrics
I don't want to be hostile.
I don't want to be dismal.
But I don't want to rot in an apathetic existance either.
See
I want to believe you,
and I want to trust
and I want to have faith to put away the dagger.

But you lie, cheat, and steal.
And yet
I tolerate you.
Veil of virtue hung to hide your method
while I smile and laugh and dance
and sing your praise and glory.
Shroud of virtue hung to mask your stigma
as I smile and laugh and dance
and sing your glory
while you
lie, cheat, and steal.
How can I tolerate you.

Our guilt,our blame ,
I've been far too sympathetic.
Our blood, our fault.
I've been far too sympathetic.

I am not innocent.
You are not innocent.
Noone is innocent.

I will no longer tolerate you
Even if I must go down beside you.
Because,
Noone is innocent.

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DatheR
03-09-2002

Rated 0 
This song is mocking the Army's pledge of "I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I tolerate anyothers who do". This comes from his upbringing in a military school.

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ananke
04-18-2002

Rated +1 
I woulda thought it'd be making a point of how (Western) society abd culture indocrinate people to endure and be silent, to never be offensive, to always be silent and take things in good humour and faih and not to rock the boat.

"I don't want to be hostile.
I don't want to be dismal.
But I don't want to rot in an apathetic existance either."

In most of our ulture, to not be WIT somone is to be against them. I don't want to be your enemy, but I don'rt wanna have to shut down just to survive you. No longer will anything be tolerated because it just adds to it all.




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bill hicks
05-03-2002

Rated +2 
anyone.... dumb enough.... to want to join the military... should be allowed in

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2 Replies
disaster
05-26-2002

Rated -1 
joining the army doesnt mean what you think. im in the army and love it. how the hell could you let someone else fight for your freedom and then spit it back in their face. if it wasnt for us you wouldnt even be allowed to say things like that.

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2 Replies
stayhuman
06-06-2002

Rated 0 
i agree to some extent with disaster. it is all too easy to take up a pacifist position, without the realization that your very ability to question such institutions is a right that has been won for you through combat and violence.

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joshthack
06-06-2002

Rated 0 
You couldn't be more right stayhuman, which is why even though I am a pacifist I realize that this violence has been necessary or we would not be where we are now. And I do believe that this world is only going to get worse before it gets better. This is the contradictory world we live in, love it and hate it but never become it. Never forget that there is more to this world than we can see

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Ar3s
06-16-2002

Rated 0 
It seems to be that it's about a "friend" that he tries to put up with, but can't take his/her dishonest ways. But just overlooks it. Then at the end just stops tollerating it.

Of course a lot of Tool songs go deeper than the actual surface words of the song ... My Analysis could be right, but it might go much much deeper ...

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EnragedGoober
06-30-2002

Rated 0 
It's about how much i enjoy to eat a big burrito, and then i'll have to poop, but it burns cause i like tabasco sauce...i never had a pet ant before...

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RimmyJice
07-12-2002

Rated 0 
I think EnragedGoober hit the nail on the head.. .. ..

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iftegod
08-07-2002

Rated 0 
take this song and focus all of your pain and anger at the person who betrayed you, scream and call me in the morining.

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ic_assasain
09-15-2002

Rated +1 
So you're saying that just because violence got us where we are today then we shouldn't try to stop it? War also produced bloody regimes, much more of those than free-speech democracies.


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ToolRulz
03-06-2003

Rated -1 
Damn all hippies! I wish I could kill everyone who gives me a funny look. Because if I could I would.

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Phily Baby
03-08-2003

Rated 0 
Well that's what the most powerful man in the world at the moment wants to be legal. So I guess once we go illegally into Iraq anyone can do what they want.

I saw this song as being about a relationship with a human, but as with many Tool, songs this is usually just a cover or metaphore for somthing completly different.

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ToolRulz
03-09-2003

Rated -1 
Fuck Iraq.Kill them all and take their oil.

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EYEBAW
03-14-2003

Rated +1 
I reckon it could be about a general dislike and distrust of the human race.'i must go down beside you',and 'im not innocent' well thats saying being a human,doing things like lying,cheating,stealing like the rest of them,hes like them,hes not innocent.
And ToolRulz your an ass .what have you got against hipppies anyway

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EYEBAW
03-14-2003

Rated 0 
I reckon it could be about a general dislike and distrust of the human race.'i must go down beside you',and 'im not innocent' well thats saying being a human,doing things like lying,cheating,stealing like the rest of them,hes like them,hes not innocent.
And ToolRulz your an ass .what have you got against hipppies anyway

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linkinparkdeftones
03-17-2003

Rated -1 
Hey does anyone no what Maynard's views on the war with iraq anyway i believe that violence is not the answer but what else can we do Saddam is a powerful man with nuclear weapons that hates americans

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1 Reply
linkinparkdeftones
03-17-2003

Rated -1 
Hey does anyone no what Maynard's views on the war with iraq anyway i believe that violence is not the answer but what else can we do Saddam is a powerful man with nuclear weapons that hates americans

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ToolRulz
03-21-2003

Rated -1 
Damnit when will everyone learn that war solves everything.

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joshthack
04-15-2003

Rated 0 
Yes it does. Everything except anything.

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Medium
06-11-2004

Rated 0 
I think that Maynard believes American/Bristish action to invade Iraq symbolizes a desperate attempt to hold power in the middle East and that in some respects America holds similarities to the Roman Empire- trying to educate and control the planet in an expansionist fashion. As saudi Arabia is the worlds largest exporter of oil in the world and its Royal family who hold sovereignity of power are in direct threat from rebellious factions, the Americans need a foothold in the middle east and Iraq was the perfect excuse. Even though Sadamn is indeed a murderer and a tyrant, the intelligence on his supposed nuclear capability were not just grossly but completely fabricated. Now for simple morons like ToolRulz, this means that the CIA are liars.

As for the song, this intolerance that Maynard feels is being predominantly directed at the elite(the army being linked to the elite of course.) It is today evident that the elite in most countries, particularly America are responsible for murder(war), lying to the public perpetually as a way of surviving, cheating( look at the last American election) and stealing( creaping towards health care, invading countries and plundering and certainly manipulating the economics in the world to Americas advantage. All these actions are being shrouded by virtue and people still sing and praise their glory. Maynard is saying that even though he like all of us tries to stay in line(and we have to whether we like it or not) he will not tolerate these people who lie, cheat and steal. The way in which he defies what he disagrees with is through his music and everyday choices. The very fact that this song exists is a such a great benefit for all those interested in it. Refering to "no one is innocent" , i think this can be put in context when we look at the mentallity of the elite and the military who believe because of their status and "nessesity" that they are innocent. I think maynard is trying to say that we are all capable of doing bad things however the elite and the military are the only ones who are not subject to the same punishment that we all are. They create the laws but do not obide them and he in his own way will not tolerate this, whether he can do anything about it is another story. But writing a song like this is a bloody good start. Lastly,if you choose to interpret this as intolerance of an individual, you need to remember that the predominant focus of Maynerd;s self expression is being human and being part of humanity. I think we should interpret it both ways and leave the possibilty open, as we can learn how to make choices based on personal relationships, as well as views on the status quo.

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1 Reply
N3m3s1s
10-19-2004

Rated 0 
this song is badass

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floydkr
12-20-2004

Rated 0 
This is the right answer and I personally verified it with MJK:
MJK served in the military for 2-3 years and was accepted to the United States Military Academy "Prep School." The school exists for active duty enlisted personnel and post high-school athletes to prepare them for the Academy (aka West Point).
The West Point honor code states, "A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal nor tolerate those who do." This is NOT the army motto, but rather the Academy policy. By either lying, cheating, stealing or tolerating those who do, a cadet will get expelled.
Upon graduation from the prep school (1 year in length), cadet candidates are either appointed (accepted) or not. MJK was appointed, but turned it down because he felt he couldn't turn in his friends if he had found out they broke the honor code. The 1 year school finished MJK's committment to the military and he promptly was discharged.
The song reflects his views on the subject and inability to accept the policy. Believe it or not, I actually emailed MJK (in 1998 or 1999) and asked directly what this song was about since I was a West Point cadet at the time. About 6-7 weeks later, he replied to the effect that I have dictated above.

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Enjoi353
04-13-2005

Rated 0 
thats sick.. u have maynards email.... im deff jealous dude

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parabola 17
05-14-2005

Rated 0 
Yeh ok Floyd, yeh u have maynards email...everyone has maynards email ok whatever man. But i agree wih you haa

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