Listen to the tales and romanticize,
How we'd follow the path of the hero.
Boast about the day when the rivers overrun.
How we rise to the height of our halo.

Listen to the tales as we all rationalize
Our way into the arms of the savior,
Feigning all the trials and the tribulations;
None of us have actually been there.
Not like you.

Ignorant siblings in the congregation
Gather around spewing sympathy,
Spare me.
None of them can even hold a candle up to you.
Blinded by choice, these hypocrites won't see.

But, enough about the collective Judas.
Who could deny you were the one who
Illuminated your little piece of the divine?

And this little light of mine, a gift you passed on to me;
I'm gonna let it shine to guide you safely on your way,
Your way home ...

Oh, what are they going to do when the lights go down
Without you to guide them all to Zion?
What are they going to do when the rivers overrun
Other than tremble incessantly?

High is the way, but all eyes are upon the ground.
You were the light and the way they'll only read about.
I only pray, Heaven knows when to lift you out.
Ten thousand days in the fire is long enough;
You're going home.

You're the only one who can hold your head up high,
Shake your fists at the gates saying:
"I've come home now!
Fetch me the spirit, the son, and the father.
Tell them their pillar of faith has ascended.
It's time now!
My time now!
Give me my, give me my wings!"

You are the light and way that they will only read about.

Set as I am in my ways and my arrogance,
(With the) burden of proof tossed upon the believers.
You were my witness, my eyes, my evidence,
Judith Marie, unconditional one.

Daylight dims leaving cold fluorescents.
Difficult to see you in this light.
Please forgive this bold suggestion, but
Should you see your Maker's face tonight,
Look Him in the eye, look Him in the eye, and tell Him:
"I never lived a lie, never took a life, but surely saved one.
Hallelujah, it's time for you to bring me home."



Lyrics submitted by Solarius, edited by Mellow_Harsher


10,000 Days (Wings Pt. 2) song meanings
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  • 0
    My Interpretation:This song is a final message to his mother Judith Marie. On the surface it sounds like a final ode to her, but listening a little more closely it seems to me that he's being sarcastic. His mother was very religious and pushed that on him, so now he's saying, 'No one is as perfectly christian as you are, go demand your entrance into heaven'. Every line in the song lines up with this theory. Even him implying that he had received her gift of light and that he would let it shine for her, from his atheist perspective would be like taking that constant indoctrination and throwing it back in her face. It's very clever, kind of mean, and kind of funny. All awesome.
    Flag WarBoneon May 17, 2013   Link
  • -5
    My Interpretation:Straight up- It's a tribute to satan. I like how everyone has thier own interpretation. But this is a praise for the antichrist. I'm not all big in the conspiracy theory crap but it's so out there. Stupidly out there. Explanation given upon request, however, a simple thought to open your mind won't take long 'til you realize it. Great song, not so good of a purpose for it. Love tool, but not my influence at all.
    Flagged goagainst6on February 13, 2013   Link
  • -2
    General Comment:Nice how everyone Copy-Pastes. I still think its "Collaborate Judas" instead of Collective Judas...( Whatever the fuck collective judas might mean.....:S)
    Flagged Jorrit872on January 23, 2013   Link
  • -5
    General Comment:Basically he's saying he believes there is a God, he wishes his mother to be absolved from her sins (10,000 days in the fire is long enough). He's saying none of us have been there because we're too busy rationalizing our way into heaven instead of working at it. However he's not saying religion is your answer; he specifically warns against religion:
    "Ignorant siblings in the congregation
    Gather around spewing sympathy,
    Spare me."
    Basically saying, they're in complete denial, the rules they're pretending to live by are arbitrary; they must learn the truth themselves, no one can give you the truth.
    Flagged musiclife4on January 18, 2013   Link
  • +4
    General Comment:First, people really need to listen to TOOL, APC, and Puscifer and realize that Maynard Keenan, although very spiritual, is not a fan of organized religion.
    The 10,000 Days album is not about religion, but a variety of topics, such as vicarious being about vicariously living out violence through TV (eye on the TV...cause I need to watch things die from a distance), The Pot being about hypocrisy (every line in the song pretty much being an analogy for hypocrisy), and Rosetta Stoned being an overdose from X and DMT (10 to 2 AM, X and yogi DMT and a box of krispy kremes).
    The song Wings for Marie, and 10,000 Days (Wings pt. 2), these very beautiful and powerful songs, are about Maynard Keenan's mother, Judith Marie, who suffered from a stroke that left her paralyzed and wheelchair bound until she died 27 years later, which is about 10,000 days, rounding up. He also makes a specialty wine named after his mother.
    Flag Warharton July 08, 2012   Link
  • -2
    General Comment:Another reason to love Tool: They do religious music better than religious musicians. The only religious bands I like are the ones that aren't Gospel. Gospel sucks.
    Flagged AmericanaFUBARon June 18, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:Theres also a little song called "Passive" that was about her, just saying
    Flag cosmonaut17on April 23, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Memory:This song will only ever have one meaning to me. My stepmother, who at the time is still with us, but not for much longer. She was more of a mother to me than my biological one was. She was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in December of 2010, and she doesn't have past October of 2011, and its not even looking like she'll make it through September. This will always be my song for her
    Flag Morgannic107on August 31, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:The reason TOOL has been my favorite band since Undertow is because the songs have multiple meanings to me...one line can be interpreted 4 or 5 different ways. It depends on my mood, what state of mind I'm in. I can always find some new meaning. Plus the drums just rumble...then form a tidal wave and leave you washed up on the beach...then the guitar slashes like a scythe...
    Flag OIAAIOon June 07, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Master Craftmen
    Flag OIAAIOon June 07, 2011   Link

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