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Tool - The Patient Song Meanings

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I think this song is about someone that is very faithful to god but doesn't see any rewards. This person is still being patient and waiting for his rewards from god, but they're just not coming, and he is about to lose all faith in god.

"If there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away
By now"

However, he is not going to lose faith he is going to "wait it out" as long as he has to in the hopes that there is some great reward for all his years of faith.

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2005-11-14 20:29:52     Rating:

You're extremely wrong my friend.

Maynard + loving "god" = no.

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2005-11-25 14:33:25     Rating:

I think it is his faith in a close loved one while he was on the right track with the worship of someone and seeing no benefit from their worship or keeping faith in that person.

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2005-11-28 21:57:03     Rating:

This could also be Maynard's version of the "It sucks to be a rockstar" song.

"A groan of tedium escapes me" - Perhaps the tedium of preforming the same songs every night on tour.

"Draining patience
Drain vitality
This paranoid, paralyzed vampire act's a little old" - Same deal, getting bored with the "Job", Maybe the vampire reference is about being in a bus all day and on stage all night.

"If there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away
By now " - If there weren't a lot of perks to being a rockstar, I would quit.

"If there were no desire to heal
The damaged and broken met along
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away
By now" - If I didn't feel that I was helping people and affecting their lives, I would quit.

I'm not saying this is the only interpretation of this, Or even saying it's correct, this is just a thought I had, besides Maynard is famous for writing songs that have several different meanings on several different levels.

Submitted by: tool9386
Added: 2005-11-29 17:06:26     Rating:

I think the great thing about Tool, especially on "Lateralus" is that his songs can have different meanings to different people.

I myself believe he is waiting for someone he loves.

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2006-01-02 01:32:31     Rating:

I believe this song can be interpreted in a lot of different ways but to me it's always seemed like a song about hope. A song about not giving up.

"If there were no desire to heal
The damaged and broken met along
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away
By now"
From this I've gotten that if he didn't have any desire to heal those that have been hurt or are hurt around him he would have quit. Help other to help yourself.

I realize this isn't the best interpretation and I could have elaborated but I have to go so I'll keep it short and hope it's at least a little clear as to what I meant.

Submitted by: Zaq
Added: 2006-01-10 20:14:47     Rating:

"The Patient" I think refers to Tool fans. Everyone reading this probably has been helped by the advice AND criticisms throughout their intelligent lyrics, deep(dare I say ... Spiritual?) guitars and mesmirizing, meditation envoking drums. Therefore I consider all of us true Tool fans patients of theirs.
i agree with the rockstar theory, personally.

"A groan of tedium escapes me
Startling the fearful
Is this a test?
It has to be
Otherwise I can't go on"
Asking "Is this a test?" refers back to the tediousness of performing the same song over and over and questioning the meaning of the song.
"Otherwise I can't go on." If it isn't just a test, if this feeling doesn't pass soon, he can't continue.
Maybe the fans are the vampire, draining patience, draining vitality.
"This paranoid, paralyzed vampire act's a little old."
The act IS a little old. Tool is sick of having to tell their fans how to act, who to be, what to believe. They want us to be ourselves(refer back to AEnima). They want us to THINK for OURSELVES for the first time. From birth we are told who to be, how to act, what to believe(Prison Sex is NOT just about... well prison sex!). We are told by our parents, our teachers, our religious leaders, the fucking media(seriously, FUCK those lying bastards), the police, psychiatrists. They tell us what is normal, what is acceptable, what is politically correct. Pollitical correctness is self-censorship. It may offend others, so I better not say it. It will only offend those who are hearing you, but not listening to you. Those with their third eye (third ear?) open will at least give you a chance and try to understand. To those who believe in being "PC" haven't even begun to realize they have a third eye, never mind trying to take a peek at the real world.

Submitted by: wardo
Added: 2006-01-11 15:44:32     Rating:

To the second poster, "Maynard + loving god = No" isn't exactly correct. If you listen to his commentaries on the APC disc, he clearly believes that there is a caring god out there. He's just extremely opposed to the way that world religions have used belief in that god to cause pain.

And this song very much seems about a person who understands faith and the price that it requires. As a Christian fan of Tool, I relate to this song probably better than any other that Maynard has written. I think it is very much about his struggle to maintain his path when what he believes in is being challenged and he feels too tired to go on.

Submitted by: infinitepaths
Added: 2006-01-22 01:13:15     Rating:

If Maynard was not open to the fact that there might be a God, then he would sing," God sucks, he really really sucks" but he is not, he sings of hope in Lateralus, anger in all, but open to all possibilities always. In his songs that seem angry and downing of God, they are misunderstood, he speaks against the people that follow and the religion itself, damn, any organizied religion is actually spoke against in the bible itself. Religion is a foundation that you live by so that you feel that you have a purpose and are working in a direction rather than not having any direction. If we knew how and exactly why we were here, then there would be no reason for disscussion. let them follow what they want, it is their faith. Whether they follow a dream, so be it. maybe we are all wrong and they are right, but you know what, we have all fallin' short of perfect, so do not point your finger with hate, have some respect for your "reflection". "What is this but my reflection? Who am I to judge and strike you down?" Get angry, but do not persecute. --Kate

Submitted by: infinitepaths
Added: 2006-01-22 01:30:14     Rating:

Oh and one last thing, when you are in your most "desperate moment fetal and weeping", you better not even have one tiny single cry to God for help. Look at what you speak. I have been in jail and I can tell you that I was alone and when we realize all the things we have and all the things that we take for granted, it is ridiculous. I bet you are in your warm house that your parents pay for on the computer that they bought you, bitching, while your hand is in a bag of cheetos. Listen, there are people in other countries, fuck, right here in this one too, that are being beaten, being abused in other ways, starving, dying of cancer, addicted to drugs, homeless, that can only dream of what you have. And if you think that it is only in the movies, your a sheltered little boy. Look around you. Be thankful, oh shit, I think I might have quoted the bible.--Kate

Submitted by: RestlessSeaOfThought
Added: 2006-01-28 23:44:25     Rating:

To me, it's about waiting out the the bad times, depression in particular.

NOTE: THIS IS WHAT THE SONG MEANS TO ME, so if you have a different view or disagree thAts fine, just don't get angry about it
--------
"Is this a test?
It has to be. otherwise I can’t go on."
You will be tested constantly throughout life, and if you know your going to be tested you can prepare and be ready.

"Draining patience. drain vitality.
This paranoid, paralyzed vampire act’s a little old."
The vampire he speaks of seems to be the draining power of negative feelings that one sometime can't turn back or even keep at bay. Being unhappy drains a person both physically and mentally. The act being old refers to him being tired of constanly being drained and losing his will, but it powerless to stop it.

"But I’m still right here, giving blood and keeping faith. and I’m still right
Here."
The blood he is giving might be his will to go on. His happiness, mental strength, or emotions.

"I'm gonna wait it out.

If there were no rewards to reap"
But he doesn't give up since he knows there is a reward for all that he is goign through. Since he will reap the benfits of his suffering he continues to wait through it.

"No loving embrace to see me through this tedious path I’ve chosen here,
I certainly would’ve walked away by now."
The loving embrace that allows him to pull through could be friends, the band, his fans, anyone who is out to help and guide him.

"If there were no desire to heal
The damaged and broken met along this tedious path I’ve chosen here,
I certainly would’ve walked away by now."
His frinds that are urgin him on may be 'damaged and broken' in a very similar way to him. He feels encouraged by the fact that he is not alone in his suffering.

"If there were no rewards to reap"
So his knowledge of light at the end of the tunnel and that he has help allows him to pull through his despair despite its unceasing grip upon him.

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2006-01-29 14:58:02     Rating:

I think that all music is preceived differently by all people... a song can mean totaly different things with different people.. So personaly I think this song is about waiting for his death.. because he is tired of the life he has chosen "This tedious path I've chosen here".. He may think this life is difficult because its a test.. Its testing him for something that wil come later.. He refuses to beleive that life is tough for no good reason "Is this a test? It has to be Otherwise I can't go on"... but he chooses to "wait it out".. "be patient" don't walk away from it, just wait for it to end.. I think... well that's what the song means to me..

Submitted by: AllenTehAwesome
Added: 2006-02-20 23:30:08     Rating:

Personally, I am of the belief that this song is about being different than most people, being more intelligent and being more open-minded than most. You'll never truely fit in and will always struggle with society, but there has to be some sort of reward after going through all of this. But at the same time, you still have to have some sort of support and someone to love.

Just my personal interpretation of course, but it works for me and helped me through some hard times.

Submitted by: oogodmitch
Added: 2006-03-29 02:33:27     Rating:

the cosmic egg...we believe so little and too much>seems to me anyone who has ever been "enhanced" or "awakened" to realize they are alive soon realizes THEY ARE ALIVE AND HUMAN, which is not an easy task...In fact, sometimes life sucks. Especially when choosing some divine way. There always seems to be that-well, I figured it out, why am I still here sense. don't get frustrated. Suicide=back again, wait it out, be patient

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2006-04-25 16:11:02     Rating:

The song is about how things don't come quickly or easy, you have to keep goin, you will get there in the end but it takes time and effort. Todays world has made people afraid of effort and long waits

Submitted by: Mira
Added: 2006-05-03 11:33:11     Rating:

Has anyone thought about whether or not this song is an interpretation of Jesus' internal struggle during "the Temptation" and the crucifixion? If you think about it, it makes a little sense. Jesus was a man and a god: huge internal struggle when coupled with the temptation of Lucifer.

So many people who followed him during his life were lost without him. His struggle was a difficult one for he could not show fear or trepidation lest he scare his followers. Lucifer played into this fear and urged him to cast off his humanity and stand as the all powerful god he was. Jesus' refusal was not without great physical difficulty, as he continued to bleed/drain himself (from every pore). Even at the crucifiction, the struggle continued. He would not have chosen that tedious path were it not for his desire to see us (humanity) through. The compassion of Christ that healed the damaged and the broken is the compassion that sacrifices for the future of all Christiandom.

His struggle is not without purpose, for he would have walked away if there was no reason. Still, the human, the frail, the fallible in him asks God "why has He forsaken me?" This is his doubt. Still, he reminds himself of his purpose, and continues to see it through.


From a theological perspective, this song could portray the inner emotions/motives for so many great religious leaders.. Christ, Mohammed, Buddha, etc..

~ Miranda

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2006-05-17 09:27:01     Rating:

I think its probably said through the eyes of his mother Judith during her life.

Submitted by: narduzzi1120
Added: 2006-05-30 01:26:01     Rating:

I think "The Patient" is about meaning of life, and waiting for the answer. "A groan of tedium escapes me, startelling the fearful." Tedium means boredom. So he's saying that people around him are afraid to think beyond reality and consider the greater meaning. When he questions the meaning of life (a groan of tedium), the narrow minded people surrounding him don't understand and are "startelled". They don't understand that there has to be more to life.

"Is this a test? It has to be." Hes saying that there has to be more to life, something beyond what we see as reality. And if this is it, then that sucks.

The same connection can be made with the rest of the song. If you dissagree with this, be gentle, I'm only 14 and this is just how the song speaks to me.

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2006-07-28 22:11:50     Rating:

In this song, I believe he is referring to someone who is investing too much into one specific "path" in life. This person is beginning to question his now "tedious path", but immediately supresses these thoughts by saying he should just learn to "be patient". I believe the line "this paralyzed, paranoid, vampire act's a little old" refers to religion specifically. In the christian religion, "they" expect you to believe you should be fearful of the disapproval in your actions by a power greater than your own ("paranoid"), you should have no rational thought that isn't directly governed by god or the church("paralyzed"), and that you must worship in order to recieve your "life force"("vampire act").
But that's just me. You'll take from it what you want from it anyways. I know I did.

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2007-02-17 14:52:53     Rating:

This I think is about someone who is very sick from a disease and how he's tired of being in a hospital. He's talking about if he had no desire to heal then he would or left the hospital. It may not even be in a hospital. just in generally. He's tired of doing to same thing every day to help and fix he's problem. and if he felt like he didn't what the problem to be fixed he would of stopped the stuff he did everyday to help it. It talks about how he's just gonna do it and wait it out no matter how bad it is.
Clue the name "The Patient" maybe in a hospital.

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