Tool

Lateralus

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Lyric discussion by Starwatcher23

by Starwatcher23

13y ago

This is one of the most brilliant songs ever written. Like a complex novel, it operates on many levels, but the central theme of the song is evolution, both personal and on the grand scale. First we'll examine the music itself. Note that in the beginning the background beats/rhythms sound almost like a bubbling swamp, which is the source of life. As the song progresses, those rhythms become more tribal, then more mechanical, till near the end we hear what sounds like robots in a factory. Thus, the music is about the evolution of the human species to the point where we are either replaced by machines or become machines ourselves.

Now, the lyrics reinforce this theme on a few ways. The song starts out: "Black then white are all I see in my infancy, red and yellow then came to be reaching out to me, let's me see." On a very literal level this is exactly how vision evolves in each human. Babies see in black and white, with their ability to distinguish colors arising as they age. But this is also true of the human species in a philosophical and spiritual sense. Edward O. Wilson has written about how the most primitive tribes have words only for black and white; the next most advanced tribes have words for red and yellow, on up to the point where we recognize there is a near infinite color spectrum, which the most advanced cultures recognize. Thus, the most morally developed beings recognize that issues can never be easily divided into black and white; that's much too simplistic. There are, of course, people who still see moral issues in black and white, but they are throwbacks to our primitive heritage. So as technology advances, if we do not evolve morally too, we lose our connection to nature more and more and become little more than machines. Computers too view things in simplistic black and white terms (or bits and bytes if you prefer).

Thus, in that context the song is about personal growth--spiritually, morally, and philosophically speaking. when Maynard sings about pushing the envelope, he is saying that he is attempting to push beyond the 2-dimensional mores and prudish religious nonsense that still holds us back as a culture. True spiritual growth cannot come from without; it must come from within, and no one else can define what is right or wrong for you. In that sense this sing is kind of a companion piece to Hermann Hesse's novel 'Demian.'

As the song approaches its denouement, Maynard approaches something on the order of mystical ecstasy and again the music reinforces the lyrics. Note how the pitch of Maynard's voice, moving up and down rhythmically, compliments the "spiral out" he's singing about. He leaves the rest ambiguous. What lies beyond the simplistic black & white world we live in? Who knows? But the point is, we must push ahead anyway, no matter what, because the alternative is that we're no better than the machines we build to labor for us. We MUST stop looking at the world as if it can be divided into easy categories. The truth is never that simple. We may not like what we find as we move on; nevertheless, we advance or we die, spiritually speaking.

This is one of the most brilliant songs ever written.  Like a complex novel, it operates on many levels, but the central theme of the song is evolution, both personal and on the grand scale.  First we'll examine the music itself.  Note that in the beginning the background beats/rhythms sound almost like a bubbling swamp, which is the source of life.  As the song progresses, those rhythms become more tribal, then more mechanical, till near the end we hear what sounds like robots in a factory.  Thus, the music is about the evolution of the human species to the point where we are either replaced by machines or become machines ourselves.

Now, the lyrics reinforce this theme on a few ways.  The song starts out: "Black then white are all I see in my infancy, red and yellow then came to be reaching out to me, let's me see."  On a very literal level this is exactly how vision evolves in each human.  Babies see in black and white, with their ability to distinguish colors arising as they age.  But this is also true of the human species in a philosophical and spiritual sense.  Edward O. Wilson has written about how the most primitive tribes have words only for black and white; the next most advanced tribes have words for red and yellow, on up to the point where we recognize there is a near infinite color spectrum, which the most advanced cultures recognize.  Thus, the most morally developed beings recognize that issues can never be easily divided into black and white; that's much too simplistic.  There are, of course, people who still see moral issues in black and white, but they are throwbacks to our primitive heritage.  So as technology advances, if we do not evolve morally too, we lose our connection to nature more and more and become little more than machines.  Computers too view things in simplistic black and white terms (or bits and bytes if you prefer).

Thus, in that context the song is about personal growth--spiritually, morally, and philosophically speaking.  when Maynard sings about pushing the envelope, he is saying that he is attempting to push beyond the 2-dimensional mores and prudish religious nonsense that still holds us back as a culture.  True spiritual growth cannot come from without; it must come from within, and no one else can define what is right or wrong for you.  In that sense this sing is kind of a companion piece to Hermann Hesse's novel 'Demian.'

As the song approaches its denouement, Maynard approaches something on the order of mystical ecstasy and again the music reinforces the lyrics.  Note how the pitch of Maynard's voice, moving up and down rhythmically, compliments the "spiral out" he's singing about.  He leaves the rest ambiguous.  What lies beyond the simplistic black & white world we live in?  Who knows?  But the point is, we must push ahead anyway, no matter what, because the alternative is that we're no better than the machines we build to labor for us.  We MUST stop looking at the world as if it can be divided into easy categories.  The truth is never that simple.  We may not like what we find as we move on; nevertheless, we advance or we die, spiritually speaking.

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by 6GUNSALLY 13y ago

VERY nice, except when you spoke thru your skinny arse: "he is saying that he is attempting to push beyond the 2-dimensional mores and prudish religious nonsense that still holds us back as a culture." Please enlighten the masses on how we are a "prudish" society that is held back. LOL. Due to all our freedoms, we have a lovely share of disease; abortion; adultry; greed; sloth; theft; lonliness; addiction; etc. Seems to me we haven't been held back, but would be much better off if we had some restraint, which God has suggested (and shown to be good...

by Starwatcher23 13y ago

God does not exist, at least not in any form that can be quantified. The fact that a large part of society still hasn't accepted this fact is the source of much conflict. How many modern wars do you know of that don't have religion or ideology at the heart of them? Anyway, the vices you list have always existed, even under the theocratic rule of the Church. Read your history. These things will always exist because we are animals at heart and have animal needs.

God does not exist, at least not in any form that can be quantified.  The fact that a large part of society still hasn't accepted this fact is the source of much conflict.  How many modern wars do you know of that don't have religion or ideology at the heart of them?  Anyway, the vices you list have always existed, even under the theocratic rule of the Church.  Read your history.  These things will always exist because we are animals at heart and have animal needs.

Moreover, you misunderstand my point.  I am not saying the song justifies an 'anything goes for everyone' society; I certainly don't.  What the song is saying, I think (and I agree with this), is that everyone must find his own path to inner balance and enlightenment.  There is no one-size-fits-all spirituality or morality, and the fact that we still have all these organized religions telling us we have to live such-and-such a way and tons of stupid laws against victimless crimes demonstrates that we ARE still being held back.  Not everyone can use drugs without becoming addicted, but some people can and can find enlightenment that way.  And too many people are still judgmental about alternative sexualities, lifestyles, etc.  That social judgment and cultural disapproval does hold some people back, because believe it or not, not everyone is apathetic enough not to care what society thinks of them and thus sadly never reach their full potential.

Perhaps I am speaking out of my "skinny arse" and perhaps not.  This site solicits opinions about the meanings of song lyrics.  I gave mine.  That you replied so obnoxiously is precisely what I've come to expect from so-called religious people and merely reinforces my point about who is truly enlightened and who isn't.

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by idgy 13y ago

Starwatcher, thank you for such an intricate analysis, I never considered this song as you describe. However, despite religious beliefs or societal adherence to moral restrictions, are you suggesting abandonment of reason as being the evolutionary culprit of advancement? I would consider the ability to reason and a precise evaluation of consequences rendered from erroneous actions to be responsible for progress and not for the mere persuit of. Your synopsis of the linguistic element is profound and definitely a big high five, but also it is thought that the discovery of fire by our primitive ancestors actually is responsible for...

by Starwatcher23 13y ago

You're welcome. No, I don't reject reason at all. Quite the contrary. Reason is necessary for advancement, but by the same token, surrendering entirely to reason would cause us to lose our humanity as well. We as a society and as individuals must strike a balance, but doing so is no easy process. In fact, I believe it's something we have to work for all our lives, because the moment we think we have all the answers, they collapse in front of us like a house of cards. Very Taoist of me, no? :)