Since Lost Key is a lead into Rosetta Stoned, and the Rosetta Stone was a key used to uncover hyroglyphics. Many people speculate Egyptians got some of their technology from "Extra Terrestrial beings," maybe Rosetta Stone-d is just an ironic play-off from the almighty truth that aliens granted the person in the song and this guy wants to express what they said but ironically fucked up because of his lack of responsibility. (Hence the drug reference)

I think this song is funny because of it's irony, the ending is great with the increasing sound "feeling." I don't know how else to discribe it.

Well first off...It's definately an acid trip. Considering the amount of time that the story went through you could say that it couldn't be DMT because of it's short lasting effects. The last time that I experimented with DMT though it seemed to speed everything up to an almost insane rate, it seemed that a lot was happening in a short amount of time. That could be what's going on here. The more likely story, it did happen over several hours on acid, and the guy was not at all prepared.
So alive in his way, like an apparition he had me crying out:
Fuck me.
It's gotta be.
Deadhead.
Chemistry.
The blotter got right on top of me.
It's got me seeing E motherfucking T.

That kinda gave it away though.

As far as Maynard not taking occult and alien matters seriously, Maynard is an awesome lyricist and vocalist, but he doesn't set the tone of many of the songs at all. From what I understood, Adam Jones does most of the writing, then Jones and Chancellor work it out, then Maynard and Carey add too it and throw in ideas, then they all rework it completely and that's what they have.

That's about all I have to offer for the moment.

This song could also be thought of as a protest against those people who miss the bigger picture, possibly because of being caught in the existence mentioned by Vicarious.

This man was given a way to save the whole human race, and he forgot the whole thing, being entirely focused on the messenger being an alien. Basically missing the whole point of the encounter.

this song is about what Hunter Thompson referred to as, 'the fatal logical flaw in the acid culture, the assumption that someone, or something is guarding the light at the end of the tunnel'

basically that some kind of all applicable truth can be found by using drugs like acid (or dmt, or mushrooms, or mescaline, or whatever)... there is no altruisms to be found in these drugs... only a little perspective...

everything after the first line of this song can be considered a hallucination...

ok, everyone go to www.toolband.com and look at the March newsletter. pretty much explains the song.

rosetta stoned is an anagram for

A or ET tests on D

-or-

Alien or ExtraTerrestrial tests on Dave

I made a couple photoshop renditions of what a "blue-grey Jackie Chan with Isabella Rossellini lips" might look like... Not something I'd want to run into in a dark alley.

http://img143.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bgjcwirlwithkids4qw.jpg
http://img117.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bgjcwirlwithbaby7qb.jpg

With breath that reeks, no less. Nice work.

thinkin alot about everyone digging too deep, mjk laughing his ass off and everybody perplexed, but just like anyone im lookin for the truth. By the way... after the first narrative cut out your left speaker, he says "holy mothership"

he (whoever) mighta been sober when he saw this, then drugged to shit with acid "lost keys(blame hoffman)" to swamp the event in his head. Anybody get anything from toolband.com's most recent post? Even so.. pretty sweet. But i did see their show on the 13th in chicago, opened with lost keys and rosetta stoned... left me speechless, mjk came out with a megaphone strapped to him, sang every word in the song, and i'm certain about the mothership part, he emphasized it and threw his arms up when he said it.

by the sounds of these forums, im the only person who actually does any drugs here....... i love acid and dmt!!! it would definitely be acid, but you do not get extremely strond visuals from acid, mainly distortions and weird body feelings........ dmt on the otherhand is quite amazing for visual effects, you dont actually see people or characters but showers of rainbows etc.

^^ now friend, you've gone and made yourself look foolish^^^

you claim to believe that you're the only person on this forum who has actually done any acid or dmt... and yet you're saying here, in no uncertain terms, that you don't get strong visuals from acid...

well, either you've never done it, or you took a little girl sized dose, because acid produces quite strong.... VERY STRONG, in fact, visuals... trust me friend... just trust me...

secondly... of all the drugs in the world, i'd say that dmt and lsd are among the most closely related, as far as effects are concerned. they're both tryptamines and set off the same kind of reactions in your brain. the biggest difference is that dmt has to be combined with an maoi to make it orally active, otherwise it has to be smoked, snorted, or injected. when taken any way but orally dmt lasts no more than half an hour to an hour.

claiming that you 'love' acid and dmt comes off as rather naive to someone who has done everything from Acid to Yaba (can't think of any drugs that start with Z, but you get the idea... A-Z)... drugs like these are meant for special occasions, to be used rarely and with respect... when they cease to be used in this manner you can bet it's only a matter of time before you end up another pathetic acid victim.

...oh, and that's what this song's about (just in case anyone thought i was getting off subject)

17 May, 2006 (11:05am)
LOST KEYS (BLAME HOFMANN) & ROSETTA STONED EMAIL

SUBJECT: YOU AND ROSETTA STONED

Q: "...Are you the 'protagonist' that is featured in the song Rosetta Stoned? Were you the inspiration for this song, or is it some other?"

And...

SUBJECT: ROSETTA STONED TRIP:
Q: "I don't know why but I had the urge to ask you about Rosetta Stoned, obviously the song in 10,000 Days. Was the character in the song you at one point on your life? Maybe eating Krispy-Kremes along side the old silver Coleman??? Whoever that was, sitting outside their 'need to know post' had one hell of a night in that story. If it's not you then just say so."

A: Since the late 1980s, on some fifty plus trips to the area in question (the one that is 130 miles north of Las Vegas), along with Danny Carey, I have been detained, searched at gunpoint, questioned, and severely fined (but not killed ? I'm fairly certain, but one never knows when it comes to black ops) for 'accidentally' penetrating the Restricted Zone. I have been issued (along with Danny) papers from the Installation Commander instructing me to never again trespass on the nonexistent military facility. I have a nom de plume when looking for things like the silent attack plane called "Pumpkin Seed", but no one seems to remember this. I have been gassed (?) and rendered unconscious while camping on Campfire Hill by mysterious persons in camouflage fatigues driving white Jeep Cherokees. I have found a scorpion in my sleeping bag in the morning (very funny, cammo dudes!) I have seen what I believe to be the greenish plasma glow of a secret experimental hypersonic craft which some call the TR-3B. I have seen extremely bright golden-orange globes suspected in the night sky (UAVs or infrared suppression flares?). I have peered down upon America's most famous secret base (which doesn't exist) from my 'bleacher' seat on Freedom Ridge (now part of the Restricted Zone) and signed the guest register (rock) with a black Sharpie. I have also spied on the extensive installation (hangers, radar facilities, fuel-tanks, etc.) through a Celestron telescope from the nearby "White Sides" viewpoint (also now part of the Restricted Zone). I have marked the trail leading to "Freedom Ridge" with highly-reflective metallic gold ribbons attached to Joshua trees (numerous times as the cammo dudes kept taking them down after I left the area). I have seen "Old Faithful" at 4:50 AM, but sure as hell didn't think it was anything even remotely extraterrestrial, Sean David Morton! I have passed close to silver-globed ammonia detectors and I am a human being. I have been 'sandblasted' and harassed by a modified black pavehawk helicopter equipped with "Puff the Magic Dragon." I have been tailed, listened to on parabolic microphones, videotaped, and subjected to all manner of psychological warfare tactics by security personnel near the perimeter of the base. I have blasted Philip Glass' "1000 Airplanes on the Roof" while kicking up clouds of plutonium-laden dust in rental SUVs. I have messed with motion sensors on BLM (i.e. public land!) I have seen Kat start to get naked for a photo by the 'No Photography' signs until illuminated by blinding spotlights from the (obviously gay) cammo dudes. I have eavesdropped on sensitive military channels with a decent scanner and heard conversations between "Dreamland Control" and the various JANET flights. I have witnessed all sorts of activity over both Groom and Papoose dry-lake beds from the famous Black Mailbox. I have seen meteors, exploding fireballs, astronomical chromatics, strange aerial lights, red dots, unusual jet contrails, satellites (!!!), and more stars than you can imagine (including the Andromeda galaxy) on moonless nights. I have seen Joe Travis drink more cans of Old Milwaukee and smoke more cigarettes than there are stars in the night sky (even on a moonless night). I have experienced "missing time," but don't necessarily think it was the result of boron-stealing EBEs who like strawberry ice cream. I have seen mutilated cattle on the unfenced range near highway 375 and almost hit perfectly camouflaged cattle standing in the middle of the road. I have hit too many jackrabbits to count on dirt spurs in the buffer zone and have been issued two speeding tickets at the Alamo speed trap by Lincoln County sheriffs. I have bought filet mignon from a Chevron gas station while on the way to Highway 375. I have taken the rusted springs from a melted M1 tank at LN 31.5 and used them as candle-holders. I have explored abandoned mine shafts and pondered the message of the sacred monument of the Aaronic Order. I have fired a Desert Eagle and an AR-15 with tracer rounds. I have seen the absurd ID4 ceremonies, and watched as the famous "Black Mailbox" (from the Medlin Ranch) was auctioned off for a little over a thousand dollars. I have heard tremendous sonic booms from B-2 Stealth bombers (Aurora?) that rattled the nerves of those in the Little A-le-Inn (along with the precious bottles of liquor). I have seen Norio Hayakawa sing Willie Nelson (or was it Waylon Jennings?) and other paranoid members of the anti-Illuminati give funny (unintentionally funny) speeches. I have also listened to Ambassador Merlyn Merlin II from Alpha Draconis. I have chugged cans of Budweiser while Chuck Clark sipped Diet Cokes (all the while showing me some very interesting photographs that he took in the area). I have pulled giant moths from bowls of Coyote Caf� salsa and from plastic cups of strong margaritas. I have found my missing half-full (I'm an optimist) bottle of Corona with a night vision scope. I have made a damn spicy Indian Vindaloo dinner on a sputtering camp stove. I have had spaghetti on Wednesday nights at the Inn (the best night to view tests of the Lazar/Testor "sport model UFO). I have had dozens of A-le-Inn burgers (without cheese) and sampled Pat's famous chili. I have charred hotdogs over fires, and put Pat's famous chili over charred hotdogs when I probably should have been making jackrabbit stew, BUT I HAVE NEVER EATEN A KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUT AT AREA 51 or anywhere else (and I don't own a pair of Birkenstock sandals, shoes, clogs or otherwise). Therefore, the identity of the person unfortunate (or fortunate, depending on your feelings about these things) enough to have the encounter as described in "Rosetta Stoned" is only known by MAYNARD JAMES KEENAN (and perhaps a few others). It was not I, although I once saw a similar type out by "Campfire Hill"? a good place to get gassed if that's your thing. Anyway, it's all about the boron.

This was from the offical tool site.
Someone might have already posted it but I don't know.

yeah, thas wat i was talkin about, just read it yesterday, havent really dove into it much, but i think people are losing sight of this forum. Maybe it should be called acidwars.com or something, i've never done acid or dmt so i wouldnt know, however, i think someone may have posted it, but building on egb's post, anyone remember that quote from mjk about using the drug for its trip, rather than using the single trip for a scope and spending the next ten years attempting to reach the same feeling without the drug, rather than spending the next 10 years tripping off that drug. just thought that was brilliant.

Professor Alan Watts described the effects of DMT as "Load universe into cannon. Aim at brain. Fire."

but my general take on this song is DMT is the "rosetta stone" for the "E motherfucking T" being to communicate with us we all know what the rosetta stone is, so maybe DMT is the "new rosetta stoned".

severrin.. how many times must this subject be breached... there are no references, however abstract, to dmt SPECIFICALLY...

there are several OVERT references to LSD though...

(intro Lost Keys (Blame Hofmann) a reference to albert hofmann, the creater of lsd, and the line 'must be, deadhead chemistry'... and you can bet that lsd was far more common among 'deadheads' than dmt...)...

and as i have stated, the effects are quite similar, so it really doesn't make much difference... the bottom line is you could not end up in a psych ward (as is inferred by the intro) and STILL be catatonicly high from taking dmt... it's far too short lived...

i love when it goes into the "Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position.
Such a heavy burden now to be, the one." awesome stuff

This has nothing to do with the song, just trivia...
...LSD was tested (quite sucessfully!) at a mental hospital in, Saskatchewan (Canada for the geographically challenged) by Dr. Humphrey Osmond. It was used on patients suffering from depression, alcoholism, etc. They be strapped down, given the dose, and then monitored by nurses as they went on their trips...

"Strapped down on my bed.
Feet cold and eyes red.
I'm out of my head.
Am my alive? Am my dead?
Sunkist and sudafed.
Gyroscopes and infrared.
Won't help the braindead.
Can't remember what they said.
God damn, I shit the bed."

These lines caused me to remember this goofy little fact...Oh yeah- and the line repeated at the beginning is "HOLYFUCKINSHIT"--not wachen sie auf--I'd bet my left nut on it...if I had a left nut.

Alrighty then
Picture this if you will

10 to 2 AM
And actually eating up an old box of Krispy Kremes
And my need-to-know potion.
I was just outside Area 51
Contemplating the whole chosen people� thing
When a flaming stealth banana split the sky like, wide open.
I never expected to see it in a place like this.
I do believe I spilled a diamond sundae
Or something wet on my Birkenstocks
And [you're yelping]
Holy fucking shit

Then the x-file beings who were like
some kind of blue-grey [Jackie Chan]
With Isabella Rossellini lips and breath that reeked
[They're wicked-shot terrorists all by making the sound]
abananadabanana so when I opened up my bug eyes, my gaping jaw and my sweaty lower and upper lip
And all I could think was
I hope that my partner here doesn't notice
that I pissed my fucking pants

So alive in this way
Like an apparition
You have me crying out
Fuck me
It's got to be
Dead head
Chemistry
The blotter got
On top of me
Got me seeing
E mother-fucking T

And after calming me down with some orange slices
And some fetal spooning
The ET revealed to me his singular purpose
He said you are the chosen one
The one who'll deliver the message
A message of hope for those who chose to hear it
And a warning for those who do not
Me, the chosen one, they chose me
And I didn't graduate from fucking high school

You had better...
You had better...
You had better...
You had better listen

When he looked right through me
With somniferous almond eyes
Don't even know what that means
Must remember to write it down
This is SO REAL
Like the time they floated away
See, my heart is pounding
Cause this shit never happens to me

I can't breathe right now

It was so real
Like I woke up in Wonderland
All sort of terrifying
I don't want to be all alone
When I tell the story
And can anyone tell me why
It was a repeat experience
will I ever be coming down
This is so real
Finally it's my lucky day
See my heart is racing
Cause this shit never happens to me

I can't breathe right now

You believe me don't you
Please believe what I just said
See they're telling the truth
And this wasn't all in my head
See they took me by the hand
And invited me right in
Then they showed me something
I don't even know where to begin

Strapped down to my bed
Feet cold, eyes red
I'm out my head
Am I alive am I dead
Can't remember what they said
God damn shit the bed

hey hey

Overwhelmed as one would be placed in my position
Such a heavy burden now to be the one
Born to bear and read to all the details of our ending
To write it down for all the world to see
But I forgot my pen shit the bed again
Typical

Strapped down to my bed
Feet cold and eyes red
I'm out of my head
Am I alive am I dead
Sunkist and Sudafed
Gyroscopes and infrared
won't help the brain dead
Can't remember what they said

God damn shit the bed

I Can't remember what they said to me
Can't remember what they said to make me out to be A HERO
I can't remember what they said to me
Can't remember what they said


Not sure if that's exact, but it's really, really close. It'll probably help a bit too.

I think of the "Lesser Keys of Solomon" when I think of "lost keys" and the stigma that goes along possession of the body from demons - sounds like this guy is speaking in tongues.... believe what thou will

This song explains about a guy that had vivid hallucinations about extra terrestrial life possibly landing on Earth, from tripping on L.S.D. In Lost Keys, it explains that he is still in shock, however there isn't anything phisically wrong with him. The title of the song in the brackets (Blame Hoffman) is indicating that it is an L.S.D. trip, as Dr. Hoffman was the creater of the drug. This is the obvious meaning of the song, not sure of any other interpretations, maybe there's a hidden message or something but it looks like its just a simple lyrical song about that. Aside from all that, it is a really good song in all generality.

Hawk er 8-there is a hidden thing in this song. I'm pretty sure (correct me if I'm wrong) that there was a post on toolband.com about a hidden secret in this song.

its Holy Mothership, balance your speakers to the right, he said it live too

it's pretty plain to hear that he's saying 'holy fucking shit'...

he has been known to change up the lyrics to the songs when playing live...

i like this song more each time i hear it...

This song is about some dude an an abduction experiment. The 'terrible' secret in that Tool newsletter wasn't that hard to find.

If you go to that website and view the source code, you will notice that there is an embedded flash animation. Copy and paste the link into your Internet Explorer window and press enter.

You're right though, guys. Rosetta Stoned did have an anagram of sorts, but who woulda thought it was in the name?

Rosetta Stoned = A OR ET TESTS ON D

I think D relates to one of the band's friends called Dave. I think it's all in that newsletter.

Hmm, I think everyone took the interpretation of this song in the wrong direction. Instead it's become one big drug discussion. I don't even think that this song has anything to do with drugs. How hard is it to believe that the speaker is not on drugs and is simply recalling an alien encounter of the Fifth kind?

Wikipedia's defination: A close encounter of the fifth kind involves direct communication between an extraterrestrial intelligence and a human being. This is the rarest and most controversial form of close encounter

Where on Lost Keys/Rosetta stoned does it indicate the use of hellucinogens? I don't do drugs but from the nurse's description of the speaker (No obvious signs of physcial trauma and Vital signs are stable), he seems fine to me.

My interpretation of the song also ties in with the idea that greater, otherworldy powers have been watching over human beings ever since the beginning and have played a major part in our growth and progression. The speaker gets abducted by extra-terrestrials and they give him information that can save the future of mankind from an impending danger. People who are abducted don't remember the experience and pass it off as merely a dream. Most of the time, people who claimed to have been abducted by aliens can actually recall the experience with the help of hypnosis. In some instances, people can remember it vividly on their own and it's usually a traumatic one, such as the speaker of the song.

Going back to the point, I don't see any evidence in Lost Keys/Rosetta stoned that the speaker is on an LSD trip. I mean seriously, think about it. Say the same thing happens to you and you go to the doctor and tell them that aliens abducted you, chose you to be the bearer (chosen one) on information that will save mankind. Do you think they'll believe you? No, cause it sounds ridiculous and they'll simply come to the conclusion that you've been doing drugs or on an LSD trip. Hence the title "Blame Hofmann".

Just to add one more thing, we all know what the Rosetta stone is right? I've read somewhere in one of the posts saying that that LSD is the Rosetta stone for "extra-terrestrial messages". IMO, the speaker IS the Rosetta stone but he sounds more like he's been doing drugs, hence the "Stoned" part.