Lyrics for Vicarious as interpreted by DarkAntiCrista

Vicarious Lyrics
Eye on the t.v cuz tragedy thrills me.
Whatever flavor it happens to be.
(like)
Killed by the husband...
drowned by the ocean...
Shot by his own son...
she used a poison in his tea, Then she kissed him goodbye.
That's My kinda story
It's no fun till someone dies.

Don't look at me like I am a monster.
Frown out your one face but with the other you
Stare like a junkie into the t.v.
Stare like a zombie
while the mother holds her child. Watches him die.
Hands to the sky, cryin' "why, oh why?"

Cuz I need to watch things die, from a distance.
Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies.
You all need it too don't lie.

Why can't we just admit it?
We won't give pause till the blood is flowing.
Neither the brave nor bold nor brightest of stories told,
We won't give pause till the blood is flowing.

i need to watch things die, from a good safe distance.
Vicariously, i live while the whole world dies.
you all feel the same so why can't we just admit it?

Blood like rain come down. Drum on grave and ground.
Part Vampire, Part warrior, Carnivore, and Voyeur
Stare at the transmittal. Sing to the death rattle

Credulous at best, your desire to believe in angels in the hearts of men.
Pull your head on out your hippy haze and give a listen.
Shouldn't have to say it all again.
The universe is hostile. so Impersonal. devour to survive.
So it is. So it's always been.

We all feed on tragedy. It's like Blood to a vampire.
vicariously, I live while the whole world dies.
Much better you than i.

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rather_dirty_nation
04-18-2006

Rated +1 
Woo, first comment.

Incredible song, I'm pretty sure it's about how we all sit on the couch, hypnotized, watching TV and all the tragedies that are broadcasted that we take pleasure in viewing. Vicarious shows a sarcastic view of this.

I can't wait for the new album to be out!

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Luca303
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
spot on rather_dirty_nation Vicarious is about living life vicariously through your television. The word vicarious means experianced or gained through someone else. It's about how we all sit in front of our tv's 24 hours a day gathering useless information instead of getting up and actually doing something meaningful. If we don't do anything with our lives we might as well be dead yet we think were better off than those people we watch on tv who die trying.

Wicked first track! hope the new album's this good.

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maxxx
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
The song isn't about getting up and doing something though, Luca303. It isn't about thinking we're better off than the people we watch on TV.


The song is about how we all love to watch the garbage on TV, even though many refuse to admit. There's no point judging people who relish in it; we can't change.
"Your desire to believe in
Angels in the hearts of men
But pull your head on out..."

The world is dying and there's nothing we can do except sit back, watch, and enjoy from a distance.

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chutters
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
one lyric i rekon is wrong:

"Shot by his own son he used to poison"
And in his dream

should be

Shot by his own son he used to poison in his tea.....

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2 Replies
so__veryeclectic
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
I LUV THIS SONG LOLZ.
It's a good song.

No srsly. I want the latest comment.
ARGHFBARFGABABBLE!

Kbye.

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SLATE
04-18-2006

Rated -1 
This song means to me that I need to change my underwear cause I just soiled them

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incu
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie -tool has a suprise for all on may 2

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incu
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie -tool has a suprise for all on may 2

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lipanconjuring
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
This is more down to earth than usual from Maynard. It hits hard because it is not about hidden meanings. At first, the lack of mystery is almost disappointing for a die-hard. But the song itself is devastating and true tool. The meaning, as I see it: we consume information about the world's tragedies like vultures because, in part, it satisfies a need of ours. Why can't we just admit it? Because this vicariousness is horribly shameful. So we (la, la, la) lie about it. Maynard tells us to accept the truth, though, he really doesn't need or want to 'say it all again'.
This is a song about a human need that Maynard thinks is timeless ('so it is, so it's always been'): living vicariously off other people's tragedy. He does not hope for change, he demands recognition of this ailment. Because maybe we really should be ashamed.

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1 Reply
bishk
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
"This is more down to earth than usual from Maynard. It hits hard because it is not about hidden meanings. At first, the lack of mystery is almost disappointing for a die-hard. But the song itself is devastating and true tool"

I completely agree with Maynard in that TV news will only report the negative events and none of the positive. Viewers, who all live vicariously, find this much more interesting because they live off the people's tragedy.

When I hear about rapes and shootings in my home city every day on the news, I can't help but think who gives a s**t. The news also likes to hype stupid events and make them into some huge controversy, like Dick Cheney's hunting incident, or some stupid teen celebrity getting into a car crash.

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Bob_Geldof
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
Anyone think the intro is a direct rip off of "Eye of the Needle" by Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists. I saw King Crimson open for Tool in Berkeley a couple years back and I know they respect Fripp. No complaints, of course. This song is bitchin'. Seams a little too obvious what it's about, given Tool's track record, but even if there's nothing more to it, that's cool by me.

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Technicolor_Dreams
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
This is a fine tune, and I'm more than anticipating 10,000 days

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deathbear
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
It's upfrontness (when we expect hidden meanings) is what makes it that much more powerful, that were weren't ready for it. It feels so emotionally charged (like much other tool's songs) and amazing. The time signatures in this song are amazing, and they give the song a sort of a dark bounce to it.

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Termin-X-man
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
This song is a lot more straitforward than most, it's about how that people are entertained by death and tragedy that's shown on the news, "he" has admitted this, and he doesn't understand why others call him a "monster" when inside they are the same way, but won't admit it themselves.

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Termin-X-man
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
AND: that we like to keep a safe distance on our couches and enjoy others problems.

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Endorphoenix
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
These lyrics are not correct, try these ones.... the only thing that might not be 100% is the, "She used a poison, in his tea, and kissed him goodbye" but I know it's not "he used to poison, and in his dreams" or whatever you got up here, another thing, it's, "Credulous, Divest" not "Credulous at best"

Tool - Vicarious

Eye on the T.V. 'cause tragedy thrills me.
Whatever flavor it happens to be like..
"Killed by the husband",
"Drowned by the ocean",
"Shot by his own son",
"She used the poison in his tea
and kissed him goodbye".
That's my kinda story.
It's no fun until someone dies.

Don't look at me like I am a monster.
Thrown out your one face,
But with the other.
Stare like a junkie into the T.V..
Stare like a zombie,
While the mother holds her child.
Watches him die.
Pleads to the sky crying:
"Why, oh why?"

Cause I need to watch things die... from a distance.
Vicariously I live while the whole world dies.
You all need it too - don't lie.

Why can't we just admit it?
Why can't we just admit?

We won't give pause until the blood is flowing.
Neither the brave nor bold, or writers of stories told.
We won't give pause until the blood is flowing.

I need to watch things die.. from a good safe distance.
Vicariously I live while the whole world dies.
You all feel the same so..

Why can't we just admit it?

Blood like rain come down.
Drown on grave and ground.

Part vampire.
Part warrior.
Carnivore and voyeur.
Stare at the transmitter.
Sing to the death rattle.

Lie (4x)

(Background news headline)

Credulous, divest your desire to believe in
Angels in the hearts of men.
Pull your head on out.
Your head believes it give a listen.
Shouldn't have to say it all again.
The universe is hostile,
So impersonal.
Devour to survive, so it is,
So it's always been.

We all feed on tragedy.
It's like blood to a vampire.

Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies.
Much better you than I.

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7bo7benn7
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
why'd you guys delete the thing that was up yesterday?

Shame on you.

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cri0626
04-18-2006

Rated 0 
social criticism...the meaning is obvious..."why can't we just admit it?" Now we can, but I don't like it; the problem "we" have. Is it human nature? Or a disease?
The music is powerful and awesome!

"la la la..." May 2! you got it right...I'm excited too!
cri0626 | 04-19-2006 @ 12:13 AM UTC

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BrianNeville
04-18-2006

Rated -1 
I am a huge Maynard fan ... He is proabably the most true artist of my generation. I have one question though??? Does this song sound like crap to anyone else but me? I'm not talking about the lyrics but the music is too loud and over powering over Maynard's lyrics which are the true genius. Don't get me wrong I love good guitar riffs and and drum beats ... but this song makes me wish I could hear Maynard sing it acapella. The beats sound old and redone ... and all I want to hear is Maynard's words ... Talk crap on this post ... I say your not a true Maynard fan... F@#k tool ... F@#k APC ... Maynard is what we true fans want to hear ... I find it funny how people today are debating lyrics when it is nearly impossible to hear Maynard's voice over the music... I really hope on May 2, Maynard realizes this song sounds like crap... and holds it another two weeks so I can hear his lyrics (tell me I'm not right) I own every cd with maynard on it and everything else I can only get off the net... I'm a fan of the man ... his bands are secondary... Seriously ... i want to hear a good arguement about what I've said...Or even more that i'm exactly right... I'll stop ranting here but expect some later with bullshit fake fan coments....

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2 Replies
kmk_natasha
04-19-2006

Rated 0 
Why are people so stupid? If the lyric is wrong post it in the report thread so it gets corrected. Argh!

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Horizon6
04-19-2006

Rated 0 
Great song, the meaning is a lot more obvious than most of Tool's older work. Also I kinda agree that the music is a little loud and overpowering over Maynard's voice, which is what I'm most interested in hearing. I still like the song, though.

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cherbe
04-19-2006

Rated 0 
Regarding what BrainNeville has pointed out, I also agree that vocals in the song are on the background. But this is not something new for Tool at all. There are many examples where Maynard used his voice like an "instrument with words". My examples would be Reflection, You Lied, No Quarter and parts of other songs to.

Interviews have also shown that Tool has aimed to use Maynard's voice like an instrument via effects and tricks. My counter argument is that we have to stop idealizing Maynard which makes us unable to concentrate on the music that these 4 talents make.

This is teamwork and why do we always have to see an idol, a frontman. Maynard is no Kurt Cobain. It's his style. Every single individual in Tool sees that all the other guys have suplendid talents and they like to present the whole picture. I appreciate and agree that Maynard has a extraordinarily divine voice and love listening to him like I'm hearing messeages from above.

However, due to the reason that Maynard is not a frontman in Tool, and should not be, Maynard's voice should not override those of others. And still, I believe there are adequate (although when it comes to Maynard I never get enough) songs to hear him.

I hope this new album will be another chance to hear Maynard's voice both infront of all others and as an instrument by himself. I take it either way.

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thekep1014
04-19-2006

Rated 0 
i think this song is great and i think that the music sounds great with maynards voice. People who say, "all i want to hear is maynard's voice" and "Maynard is what we true fans want to hear" are wrong because without the other 3 members TOOL (Danny Carey possibly the best drummer to come out of the 90's) wouldnt of made all of those great records in the past and been what they are today; which i believe is the greatest rock and roll band to come out of the 90's. The band is TOOL and this songs rocks... this isnt the maynard james keenan show. but dont get me wrong i thing maynard is a genius.

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Horizon6
04-19-2006

Rated 0 
Yeah, I'm not as crazy as BrianNeville about it, I just thought Maynard was a little quiet in this one because at times I have trouble hearing him or understanding what he's saying. I don't wanna just hear Maynard sing, I love Tool for all it's members, but I like to be able to actually hear and understand the lyrics of any song. Which I can at most parts of this song, so it's not a big deal.

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aefong44
04-19-2006

Rated 0 
BrainNevelle, if you just want to hear Maynard sing without the other 3 members then you aren't a Tool fan. Tool is one of if not the best band out there because of all it's members. Danny Carey may be the best drummer ever, and without his complex and powerful polyrythms Tool and Maynard would have no backbone to their songs. Same goes for the gripping and thundering guitar riffs and baselines by Adam Jones and Justin Chancellor. You have no right to call anyone a fake fan.. if people are true fans, they listen to the whole band. Not just Maynard, don't get me wrong, I still think he is a god, but you have to get the whole picture. If Maynard wanted himself to be more prominent he would have done so. You probably have no appreciation for songs like Reflection on Lateralus.

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