zamiel December 1st, 2004 06:12AM  

From The Tool FAQ at (http://toolshed.down.net/faq/faq.html):

G27. The big question: Who is "Eulogy" about?
As with most Tool songs, the song is vague enough that can be interpreted to be anyone / anything. The song is primarily about the death of something which most probably turned out to be a fake. Regarding the rumor that the band is no longer on good terms with Henry Rollins; he has recently been heard talking positively about Tool, saying he was unaware of any bad blood. In Modern Drummer (10/93), Danny mentions L. Ron Hubbard as the object of the song. One way or another, though, the song has a message that can stand apart from any specific target; the interpretation is left to you, and the specifics aren't too important.

anonymous August 11th, 2005 02:33PM  

Well Maynard has said himself its not about Cobain or Jesus or
Christianity in general. He is attacking the "self righteous" in general.

anonymous September 19th, 2005 08:04PM  

A lot of songs by tool are left to the interpretation of the listener, don't waste time wondering what the hell something means, it only matters what the song means to one's self.

anonymous November 2nd, 2005 08:58AM  

No kidding, I think you are wasting your time acting like you are superior and the best Tool fan out there. They are a great band, don't get me wrong, and Maynard is awesome, but we are entitled to our own opinion? Don't name call because it is different than yours.

Dman12 November 19th, 2005 11:14AM  

Ok guys, I agree with the guy who said that it is left to the interpretation of the listener. And I know it sounds hypocritical from a guy who would obviosly have to go look for the meaning to eulogy to see this argument. But I still have my own interpretations on songs.

To the guy who said "Christianity is gay shit, all religion is. If you listen to tool or anything like it, your not a Christian." you can go screw yourself. I am a christian and I listen to tool. I hate insolent dicks like you who have to put-down what people believe in. If you hate christians, that's your choice but don't be a prick. Tool is an amazing band. Don't tell me to like tool, I have to make a choice between them and christianity.

anonymous November 28th, 2005 08:02AM  

Obviously, there can be more than one interpretation of a given Tool song based on the listener (as with any song in existence), but apparently we're discussing what the actual meaning is and not just what it means to you. What was MAYNARD'S meaning behind the lyrics and THE BAND'S meaning behind the song? Well, that is what this is for, discussion of that. So everyone can quit bitching and saying "you're wrong, he's wrong, shut the fuck up" because obviously it has nothing to do with the song, you're just mad that other people have different interpretations of the band and this song in particular.

tonx November 28th, 2005 05:21PM  

Who is Simon of Syrene? Silly children.

anonymous November 29th, 2005 05:40AM  

If you have ever read any interviews with Maynard with them dicussing the topic of his writing. He has stated that he takes little to no part in the lyric writing process. Danny and Adam do most of the writing. So all of you who think that Maynard writes all of these songs and thinks he is a mastermind are wrong. Maynard is a genius with the songs he writes. But Maynard himself has state he takes little to no part in this process especially with the music.

For all you people who think you have every Tool song figured out, please just stop making fools of yourselves. Obviously no one knows what each song is about besides the people who wrote it. Aenima could have been a dream that one had wild recieving an enima after falling asleep during it, who knows. Eulogy could be about anyone or anything. You have no clue, if you have ever heard Lateralus, Drawn beyond the lines of reason, push the envelope watch it bend, all you people are looking on the surface claiming to look deeper past the meaning, if you were each one of you would have a unique and new interpretation all your interpretations are the same about jesus bill hicks and Hubbard, so obviously none of your are looking deep,

This is what Tool wants they leave there songs open for interpretation, take it how you want it, the song means something to whomever wrote it and can mean something to you, what you say it means isn't necassarily what the true meaning is, so stop thinking your this all knowing supreme Tool fan who has them figured out, because honestly no one who can't get into the minds of each of the band members, will ever have them figured out.

Dman12 December 14th, 2005 08:39PM  

To my defense on my interpretation, I wasn't trying to prove I'm right, just that it was ignorant of that one guy who said chritstianity is gay. I know what Maynard says, but I can still have my own beliefs.

fucku December 19th, 2005 01:30PM  

I don't know but we all can say what we want you know, but it's all about opening up your mind to the music and have your own thought about the son. I thought it was about Hitler you know because how he say he had a voice strong and loud pointing and torling his finger at everything but his hart, but no, it could make sense, but then it could be about MLK, but fuck that. When it really hit me is when I was high, it could be about just hearing your own eulogy and life after death isn't what its all what it seems to be, but Tool may not really believe in god and all that stuff but they still think there's some after life.

anonymous December 27th, 2005 09:25PM  

Whoever it was that said Maynard takes little part in writing the lyrics should be forcefully sodomized with a broomstick. Are you an idiot? Maynard writes all the lyrics. I don't know where you heard that he takes little to no part in the lyric writing process, but you should really double check the credibility of that source.

RestlessSeaOfThought January 30th, 2006 05:54PM  

I think it's about Hitler and how he hypnotized people("swallowed his fascade") to follow him by making him self out to be something that people have been looking for("eager to identify...") and how his sense of being powerful("...someone above the crowd) attracts people to him. But in the end it was nothing but a bunch of lies("he had a lot of nothing to say")

SocialD85 February 9th, 2006 10:39PM  

I can't stand when people say that "Christians are stupid" thinking they're "SO MUCH MOR INTELLIGENT THAN THE FEEBLE MINDED." You don't have to make a choice between Christ and Tool. I certainly don't, and quite frankly, I consider that "thinking for myself." I make my own decisions about my beliefs and what I like.

On to the song.

TO ME, this song means basically people who "pretend" to be martyrs. Kurt Cobain is a great example. He's become a martyr for Rock n Roll. But lets face the facts, he was a selfish asshole who got a lot of credit because he died (I'm sorry, its true).

Elvis Presely is another one. Held up by many, but he practically killed himself.

These people aren't true martyrs. They're just people who did something stupid that ended their lives and people hold them up on some pedestal for it.

Anyways, that's MY PERSONAL interpretation. I'm not reflecting interviews or anything. Just what I take from it (which is what art is supposed to be).

Zaq February 17th, 2006 08:49PM  

It doesn't really matter who it's about, all that matters is that you find some meaning in the song. Whether you think it's about Elvis, Cobain, Hitler, Jesus, Hicks,L. Ron Hubbard, Simon of Syrene, or any random idiot with his head held high... just doesn't matter. As long as YOU are the one thinking it, as long as you ARE thinking, then Maynard... or Danny... or whoever the Hell wrote the damn song would be happy.

Zaq February 25th, 2006 09:42PM  

As a moderator, I think you should listen to wat I have to say...
(J/K)
Personally, I think this song was intended to be about an anonymous person. Maynard knew that the lyrics would be analysed, studied, and stressed over, so he PURPOSEFULLY wrote it so that no one would be able to figure out who it's about.

wearethestories March 2nd, 2006 11:38PM  

The poster above just said exactly what I would have said right before reading the lyrics another time. As a Christian, this song has typically been the hardest for me to stand (this and two others off of Opiate and Undertow). I love Tool, they are my favorite band of all time and I think all of them are absolutely incredible muscians and philosophers. That said, I don't think that this song really is about Jesus, or about Christians in general. And, for the record, this isn't justification for hypocrisy - I'm not attempting to claim that this song isn't defaming Christianity simply because I am a Christian, but I happen to like Tool a helluva lot.

So, first off, from a literary standpoint, there is absolutely no reason to claim that Maynard has a "higher power" he is looking on from that isn't the same "person" saying the heavy shit at the end of the song. There just isn't.

Secondly, everything about the Jesus-thing seems a little too tight and convenient. I find it hard to believe that just because Maynard has had some very negative experiences with the Catholic Church (as obvious in "Opiate"), that he would continue in this vein to create a very simple song that warns people of the "foils and lies of Christianity". He's done that, he spent a record and half an EP to do that. I think he's done with that (at least until APC's "Judith", and even that has a lot more compassion for people [even Christians] than "Opiate" or "Sober" do).

Third: I think it's important to recognize that this entire CD (AEnima) is dedicated to "The Late Great Bill Hicks: Another Dead American Hero" (or something like that), as seen in the insert to the album. It is true that "AEnema" and "Third Eye" are explicitly Hicksian in nature - each overarching theme comes directly from some sort of the comedien's philosophy.

Fourth: the statements about the person whom the eulogy is about "rants" and "raves" and "takes a stance on every little thing". This, as Maynard would know from actually studying the Bible (and he has), is completely fallacious. Even people who do not subscribe to the Christian faith recognize that Jesus Christ was a real person who expounded love, forgiveness, and genuine brotherly acceptance of EVERY person. In fact, the basic laws of every society ever is based upon the Golden Rule that is laid out in the Bible: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". It's not that they took that from the Bible, but that the Bible spells that concept out. Maynard doesn't have a problem, per se, with Christ, just with the "middle men of religion". Those people defame Christ more than Maynard ever could.

Fifth: The song is irrational any way you choose to look at it. It isn't cohesive. I think it makes much more sense for it to be a song that is cryptic in meaning about a friend who died suddenly and left Maynard (alone?) --- someone who was "strong and loud" who had a "lot to say" but who ultimately died and went away. I don't think Maynard would be cryptic about his feelings toward Christianity --- he hasn't been so in the past, or in the future.

Anyway, if you read all of this, thanks.

anonymous March 4th, 2006 06:25PM  

You don't have to be anti-christian to like Tool first off. That's stupid. Just because you're christian doesn't mean you can't appreciate their art. All songs are left to interpretation. Band members don't have to explain a thing about their songs. Maybe that is the point of it. They want you to think about it! That is how all of their songs are, aren't they? The point of discussing what it's about is to figure out what you think it's about and to tell others what you think to try and enlighten them.

anonymous March 10th, 2006 05:40PM  

Its obviuos that anti-christians take every opportunity to try to defame Christ, and use circular reasoning to make songs agree with their beliefs. First of all, if a member of the band said it was about L. Ron Hubbard, what is left to interpret? Second of all, these particular lyrics have nothing all all to do with Jesus in documentation or any other form "Standing above the crowd,
He had a voice that was strong and loud.
We’ll miss him. (2x)
Ranting and pointing his finger
At everything but his heart."

Show me anywhere in the Bible where this is true. There was never any instance of Jesus finger-pointing, or even being loud. As a matter of fact, it was the Pharisees that did that, and the Pharisees and Jesus did not get along because of this. Jesus was called "a friend to sinners", he ate with them, and got on the level that they were fingering. Not only that, "No way to recall
What it was that you had said to me", that kind of rules out Jesus as well, because I doubt if they conversated. Then there was the "why are you suprised to hear your own eulogy?" Jesus was not suprised that He died at all, especially since He resurrected. Then there's the "would you die for me?" Jesus did die for us, whether you believe that or not is besides the point, because he actually did die in an effort to save others. You would only ask the question of "would you die for me?" to someone who is either still alive, or never proved that their devotion was that strong.

misterbob April 6th, 2006 11:18PM  

"It's interesting that a song can all but hit you over the head about it's meaning, and you still have fans of Tool defending the author's position; "It's not about that, because I read somewhere that..." "

That statement is funny, because in about two lines you are going to quote something you read somewhere about the band. Hypocritical much?
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"Please. Anyone remember "Judith?" "

Judith is about the way the people at maynards mothers church treated his mother. Judith is his mothers name. That is straight from maynards mouth on the amotion apc dvd.
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"The band has admitted to a belief in the occult,"

the band actually says believe in nothing and think for yourself, the talk about occult is a joke.
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refers to Christians as "Xians," and Maynard has said, "I sold my soul to make a record."

That was in a song. you are taking it out of context. But the devil doesn't exist. So how you sell a soul to something that doesn't exist?

Now, whether said selling was an actual pact with the Devil or not is irrelevant, though I doubt it. The principle remains; doing whatever it takes to make money-- put forth a way of thinking that is easier for the listener to accept than a life hard-earned on rigidity and morals. Mix that with a catchy tune and presto! "And you bought one..."

When Maynard played his April Fools joke on their website, stating he had given up the band for a Christian life, he spelled Jesus with a lower case j. Later, when asked about the prank he said," I'm surprised that anyone who listens to my music would think that." Well said. Only Tool fans, in their might, valor, and intellect, looking down on all who do not share their opinion,

which you are doing right now.

looking for interpretations where there are none,

actually there are.
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considering themselves artists when the extent of their art is listening and following,

I don't listen and follow, I am an artist of many mediums.
could a person actually listen to songs like this and "Judith" and say with a straight face "This message is not anti-Christ."

yes. even though the band is against religion for many great reasons. Opiate was named after the marxist statement that "religion is the opiate of the masses."

Alright. Since we're all "philosophers" here, I'm sure you know you're stuck in the first modalical heirarchy of belief: DOGMA. An unsubstantiated, unquestioned belief in a view.

DOGMA is exactly what christianity is by your definition.
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It's also interesting to hear an outsider's opinion of Christians. "Anyone who thinks of adhering to the teachings of an organized religion is not what I would consider an intelligent Tool fan." Don't talk to me about intelligence.

I was a Christian for at least 8 years. So I am no outsider. I left christianity by the time I was 19 because it is for sheep. plain and simple.
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Do something that an estimated .5% of our population could even academically QUALIFY for, let alone survive in. Then we'll talk.

And that is.........................?
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Besides, that's the great irony of all this new-age "progressive" thinking. You consider yourselves scholars and Christians dimwits, and while Christians are going to school, learning a trade that will actually benefit their communities and provide for their families, Tool fans are listening to music and writing in chatrooms. Think about it (objectively).

Your writing is thick and dripping with hypocracy, I guess you are sticking to the christian tradition.The only thing you proved by that statement is that you are a Christian who is good at sterotyping. Christians by definition are dimwits. I am not a christian, but I am going to college to learn a trade that will benefit my community and provide for my family. I am not a dimwit. And while you say Tool fans for just typing in chat rooms and not going to school, you are a christian typing in a chat room, and I am a huge Tool fan going to school. You are looking down your nose at a group of people for no reason, but that's what christianity does to you. anyone who isn't christian just isn't good enough.
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Anyways, the song is set up like this.

The eulogy is for some idiot that Maynard knows who is still alive claiming he will die for him/them. Maynard is calling him an idiot because he is in essence saying, Shut the f#$% up and stop trying to be a martyr because I am not going to remember anything you are talking about.

SMRT April 11th, 2006 09:43PM  

Wow, misterbob...

"...you are a Christian who is good at sterotyping. Christians by definition are dimwits."

Bravo! If you can't see the complete contradiction of those two sentences, perhaps you should try another school.

"I am not a dimwit."

If you say so. Too bad I didn't get to see your response to my review to long after the fact. My e-mail was on there if you wanted me to read what you wrote. Perhaps strawmen are your thing.

Once again; j5w2k9@hotmail.com

Anytime.