There's no need to argue the point whether the lyrics are about Mary as the virgin mother or Mary as marijuana...it is, of course, both. Any writer of any decent talent doesn't even bother writing poems, stories or lyrics without giving the lines two, three or fours levels of meaning. Here, considering the 'establishment', Mary is simply a girl-friend (this is all that parental types and squares would be aware of); for the 'counter-culture', their realm of knowledge would also include soft-drugs and so they would 'get' the second level of meaning; then, for the well-educated or those with a religious background, the third-level meaning of Mary and The Warning becomes available.
The lyricist becomes an artist, and the lyrics become art, to the extent that these different 'meanings' can be supported with other lines laces with two and three-way meanings. In addition to those meanings identified here, the author--more than likely--also has a personal meaning...plus the progression of the stanzas will have a macro-meaning pointing toward an overall meaning--perhaps a stance on the counter-culture, establishment, religion or the idea of salvation via escape from isolation whether in the form of a girl-friend, mind-altering trip or appearance of the divine.
Whatever that salvation is, it is fulfilling...it transforms the empty into refreshing sweetness; which, of course, is something we're seeking (until we have children--ha!), i.e., something in our lives which rids us of our singular isolation and fills us with a zest for life...now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch...
There's no need to argue the point whether the lyrics are about Mary as the virgin mother or Mary as marijuana...it is, of course, both. Any writer of any decent talent doesn't even bother writing poems, stories or lyrics without giving the lines two, three or fours levels of meaning. Here, considering the 'establishment', Mary is simply a girl-friend (this is all that parental types and squares would be aware of); for the 'counter-culture', their realm of knowledge would also include soft-drugs and so they would 'get' the second level of meaning; then, for the well-educated or those with a religious background, the third-level meaning of Mary and The Warning becomes available.
The lyricist becomes an artist, and the lyrics become art, to the extent that these different 'meanings' can be supported with other lines laces with two and three-way meanings. In addition to those meanings identified here, the author--more than likely--also has a personal meaning...plus the progression of the stanzas will have a macro-meaning pointing toward an overall meaning--perhaps a stance on the counter-culture, establishment, religion or the idea of salvation via escape from isolation whether in the form of a girl-friend, mind-altering trip or appearance of the divine.
Whatever that salvation is, it is fulfilling...it transforms the empty into refreshing sweetness; which, of course, is something we're seeking (until we have children--ha!), i.e., something in our lives which rids us of our singular isolation and fills us with a zest for life...now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch...
@WoodmanBrown Id love to hear some of your opinions on tool lyrics. Well said man.
@WoodmanBrown Id love to hear some of your opinions on tool lyrics. Well said man.