anonymous May 3rd, 2006 03:19AM  

H is, at its core, a love song (perhaps one of the only by Tool). I think this song is about the power of another (or our intense devotion/connection to that other) to break down the walls we build when we are damaged and to give us the will to overcome the destructive power an abusive parent/lover has over us. Whether the abuser is a father, an ex-lover or even a part of ourselves, none of us are immune to the power of love. Love is very much alive. It flows within us, moves between us and guides us.

Consider this..

What's coming through is alive (Love breaking the barrier I create to shield myself from pain)
What's holding up is a mirror (I am all that stands in the way)
What's singing songs is a snake
Looking to turn my piss to wine (Still I, my own worst enemy, try to overcome my own misgivings)
....
Killing me just the same (The conflict consumes me)

The snake behind me hisses....
...Begs me.. open up my heart again (Standing behind me is pain.. pain of the abusive father, pain of the terrible lover incessently tempting me, but ahead of me is a passion, my own passion begging me to submit to this love)

Venomous voice..
...Sweet gravity (The past pulls me back, willing me to give in to the temptation of what is easy, what is known. It is easier to give in to the abuse than to believe in something pure and selfless)

I feel this coming over like a storm again (There is a breaking point, and I see it coming. I can shelter myself from it or open myself up to its power)

I am too connected to you
Slip away, fade away
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me
Considerately killing me (I am powerless to ignore my love for you and my fight against you is failing. I am beginning to see what you do for me; sweetly killing the me that was a victim, the me that could have become the abuser myself)

*Note the melody and rythym change.. Signifying the approaching climax*

Without the skin
Beneath the storm
Under these tears
The walls come down (I have chosen not to shelter my heart from this storm - the storm signifying this passionate love - and I have succumbed to this thing)

And as the snake is drowned
And as I look in his eyes
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of the times
I could have cried
I should have cried (The storm that freed me is the very storm that destroyed the abusive power that once held me, the snake. As I watch it drown, I realize that there is no need to fear, for the power it had was artificial. It is gone.)

*Here is the instrumental climax, giving this realization an epic quality*
And as the walls come down and
As I look in your eyes
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of the times
I have died, and will die.
It's all right. I don't mind.

(As my inner defenses are finally broken, and I see into the eyes of my love, the fear I had lived with fades to nothing. My solice is in the fact that, as many times as my heart has been broken, and may even be broken still, I have hope. I have immeasurable optimism that allows me peace, because the worst parts of me are now dead.)

wildbill06 May 14th, 2006 01:59PM  

I have a live Tool bootleg from Houston, TX in 97'. Maynard said to the crowd before H., "ever seen those Warner Bros. cartoons, where there is someone trying to make a decision and they have an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. Of course the angel is telling him to do the right thing and the devil is telling him to do what would not be right. Well sometimes we have this happen in real life, but its not always that simple, maybe its friends telling us what we should or should not do, but thier advice might not always be whats best for us...this song's called H."

I think the song is about using your own conciense, thinking for yourself and to not get "dragged down" by outside influences.

Thelowend5stringer July 27th, 2006 04:33PM  

Well... I came here because I had some thoughts on this song... It appears that I maybe way wrong. I could tell that it was about a battle inside of maynard... Or whoever wrote it... But I thought it was between christ, the blood, and the snake, the devil. However it seems to me that the metaphor of his son seems more plausable with tool.
I do feel however that when it talks about the snake 'turning my piss into wine' it is talking abaout how his father, the snake, is trying to make him 'better.' it would seem to me that maynard's father encouraged him to hold in his emotions and 'be a man.' however, with the birth of his son, Maynard feels the need to open up, but his father has taught him never to let his guard down emotionally. Maynard fights and fights, but eventually, the snake is drowned and Maynard realizes that it is ok to cry and has always been. 'the wall came down' refers to his emotional guard coming down. I am not certain on this... But I guess it is just my opinion.. Thanks to those of you with the information about maynard's son in regards to this song. This I guess is how I interpreted what you had already deciphered.

keepgoingspiralout July 31st, 2006 09:41PM  

I think this song is about MJK's inate craving to control his anger (or abuse in general), much like he was abused as a child (as someone has already pointed out). I think he realizes he can't help the way he feels, and is doing everything in his power to control this demon.

FinalOblation November 25th, 2006 04:53AM  

I believe that this song is very open to interpretation just as any art is. I have mixed ideas of how I think this song should be interpreted. It could be one, the other, or even both.
I believe this song is about a third wheel, to a degree. It is kind of a narrative of the thoughts that a guy or girl has on the outside of a relationship. It could be an ex that he/she is still very attached to or an infatuation that the person secretly holds. And there is very obviously a battle of conscience.

"I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,
And considerately killing me."
There is a connection between the narrator and something. It can be assumed that this is about another person.

"They're both totally void of hate,
But killing me just the same."
This could be observed as the view of the couple that the narrator is referring to. They are completely in love and it is killing him/her.

"The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again. "
I see this as the Angel and Devil on his shoulder. This is a conflict of conscience. There is obviously either an issue of right and wrong or an issue of past and present, hence the snake "behind" him and the blood "before" him. The relative position of the snake and blood could be meant as time orientation or good/evil alignment.

These could be the battle of what he/she should do about this situation. Choose the honorable choice of the blood before him, the painful option where he/she just deals with the anguish of not being with this person that has such power and connection to them. Or they could make a move; give into the evil side, the lure of the snake.

"Without the skin,
Beneath the storm,
Under these tears
The walls came down."
I see this as the person describing a collapse of their emotional and mental defenses. Under the skin = not of the body. Beneath the storm = the affect of the conflict. Under these tears = build up of anguish. The walls come down = feelings breaking free or thoughts breaking in.

"And the snake is drowned and
As I look in his eyes,
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of those times.

I could have cried then.
I should have cried then.

And as the walls come down and
As I look in your eyes
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of the times
I have died
and will die.
It's all right.
I don't mind."
This is where I try to make my theory concrete. The first part “And the snake is drowned and As I look in his eyes, My fear begins to fade” this part shows the snake did not win, which means the painful path was chosen. When the walls come down and he/she looks in "their" eyes he/she realizes "My fear begins to fade Recalling all of the times I have died and will die. It's all right. I don't mind." he/she has dealt with this pain before and over and over come through it, so why not bite the bullet, deal with the pain. They have for so long and yet they haven't shown a care so far...so why should they mind now?

After all he/she is still too connected to slip away or risk the loss, so they just let it go on with the person of their infatuation considerately killing them.

anonymous January 22nd, 2007 04:13PM  

I have an interesting interpretation...

if you have ever heard of the greek story of perseus and medusa (im sure that you have)

(medusa has the snakes on her head and whoever she looks at turns to stone....anyway perseus wants to kill her so he comes into her cave with a mirror shield and so medusa actually looks at herself and turns herself into stone)

with the lyrics

whats coming through is alive (not stone)
what's holding up is a mirror (shield)
but whats singing songs is a snake (on her head)
looking to turn this piss to wine (perseus claiming medusa)

the snake behind me hisses (on her head)


other than that I can't really come to any other connections but if you think about it you can see how this fits


but idk.....think for yourself

anonymous March 13th, 2007 09:06PM  

The song does not have one specific meaning to every person. It has one meaning relating to Maynard himself, but it was created to be open to interpretation and, therefore, would have a separate meaning to any person listening to it. To Maynard himself, the song is about his relationship with his son, Devo, whom he had to overcome becoming abusive towards and become a better person than his father (the snake), who was abusive towards Maynard when he was a child. So, the blood is beckoning upon Maynard to open up his heart to change, and when he finally does and destroys the abusive temptations that he had inherited from his father, he doesn't mind because of the better person he is for it. But, to a fan or any other listener, the song can just as easily transition to a relationship between two people in which a person is having an internal plight between submitting to what they're already familiar with and allowing hesitation rule their judgment, thus preventing them from opening up their heart to the other person, or they could decide to launch themselves into something that's unknown to them, and possibly more meaningful and benevolent, which is how the song relates to me currently in my life.

anonymous April 20th, 2007 08:43PM  

somewhere I heared the song name "H." is meant to mean half full/half empty" but however you read it I guess

anonymous July 16th, 2007 07:30PM  

It looks like no one has been on for while so this might be pointless. The great thing about Tool is that you can listen to a song a thousand times and get something different each time, and have them mean somthing different This song though h - and I beleive it is in lowercase for a reason, definitely goes along with the theme of the Aenima CD in that is about cleansing and that sometimes you got to get past all the $hit that gets in the way. I feel and have always felt that this song is definitely about the birth of his son Devo and the mixed emotions that come in when something so pure, holy, and beautiful as a child has chosen you to be their parent, when on the inside we feel so underserving and unworthy for such a gift.

Another great thing about Tool is all parts are crucial to the life of each song. As h starts the guitar is dark, distorted, and dirty, representing him, then it comes into a pure and beautiful sound representing the baby. The guitar also resonates this later in the song sounding like a baby. The music is as important as the lyrics....

Whats coming through is alive - the baby
whats holding up is a mirror - a pure reflections of himself
Whats singing songs is a snake, looking to turn my piss to wine. - obviously he had dark issues at this time and is facing that with his son.

Their both totally void of hating - if you have a child you would understand.
Killing me just the same - understanding the responsibility and the future that is ultimately leading to death.

Snake behind me hisses what my damage could have been - what if he let darkness from his past rule the choices in his present.
My blood before begs me open up my hear again - The babies purity and holy connection is pulling at his inner purity.

And I feel this coming over like a storm again - emotions fromt he past, everything confronting him.

Considerately killing me- we are all dying and he realizes this, and even though we are all dying we have the chance to love in this life.

Venoumous voice, tempts me, drains me, leaves me cracked and empty, drags me down like some sweet gravity. (my fav line) - Satan, the darkside, whatever is a snake using things we want, dressed in sheeps clothing to tempt us from our destinies, and only leaves us broken.

Snake behind me hisses what my damage could have been, but my blood before me begs me to open up my heart again, and I feel this coming over like a storm again now, and I feel this coming over like a storm again now.

Well I am too connected to you to slip away, fade away, days away I still feel you, touching me, changing me, considerately killing me. - pretty self explanatory here. The connection with our children is eternal, in blood, and in a way draining us of life as we give our lives to them.

Without the skin here - No ego
Beneath the storm - the chaos of life
under these tears now - even beyond my own emotions
the walls came down - Everything we put up to guard our emotions and our selves.

And as the snake is drowned - defeating the past the voice in our head
And as I look in his eyes - the gateway to heaven - peace
My fear begins to fade - everythings gonna be allright
Recalling all of the times. - all the hurt,

I could have cried then - Overwhelmed with love
I should have cried then - remembering he was overwhelmed with love.

And as the walls come down and - all the barriers we build
As I look in your eyes - in the present, still the same
My fear begins to fade - peace and understanding come with pure love
Recalling all of the times I have died - We have many deaths to who we think we are in our lives
and will die - and who we will be
It's all right - nothing else matters now
I don't mind - nothing else matters now

I am too connected to you to - eternal and true
Slip away, to fade away - To slip into the darkness of our minds
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me, - as our children grow, we grow

And considerately killing me - and no matter what we are all on the path to death, are you enjoying yours??

anonymous August 15th, 2007 03:03PM  

Devo, Maynard's son's middle name is "H", the song is about his son, but he gave his son that strange middle name to remind him how much Heroin effected his life. I am a piece of shit Heroin addict myself, and when I first heard the song I too thought it was about Heroin. For any of you who have had the misfortune of trying Heroin, you'll know that whats "coming through" that needle "is alive." Gravity does feel sweet. (in fact it seems to be the only thing keeping you from floating off into the clouds). And if your trying to quit or going through withdrawals the mere thought of H makes you "feel it coming over like a storm again." It is quite obvious why people think the song is about H.

anonymous November 4th, 2007 05:08PM  

Well hell, I guess it is about his son. Coulda fooled me, I thought for sure it was about heroin. and to me that's what it will always be about, when I was struggling with H this song is one of the things I'd look to when I needed help. So many aspects of heroin addiction are addressed and nailed right on the head. I always thought it was interesting how Maynard could explain addiction when he has never been hooked. maybe that's not what he was trying to do but that's what I got out of it.

"My blood before me begs meopen up my heart again. And I feel this coming over like a storm again. considerately"

my blood before me is like watching the blood come out of your arm on the draw back, comin over like a storm again is that awesome rush when you slam it in, "venomous voice, tempts me, drains me, bleeds me, leaves me cracked and empty, Drags me down like some sweet gravity" exactly what heroin does to you.
"As the walls come down there's a look in your eye my fear begins to fade recallin all the times I have died, and will die, its alright"
This would be the realization of your addiction and the fucked up things you've done and will continue to do if you don't quit the shit...sick song I get the chills every time I hear that last part. I got two years off that bull shit and I give a lot of credit to tool for their awesome songs which when interpreted can pretty much be made to address any problem.

Amy November 12th, 2007 03:28AM  

I love the Wuthering Heights interpretation. If you take away Heathcliff and Catherine, though, and take it as being about any relationship with such intensity, so much love that it's deadly, and obvious to both lovers from the beginning (yet they don't mind), then you have my interpretation. H. Is the most passionate love song ever written. And it is my favorite song.

paja713 November 28th, 2007 11:52AM  

This is definitely one of my favorite TOOL songs. and I think the lyrics in this one are probably its best. I think that this song has more than one meaning. like almost the whole song is a constant metaphor for two things. I think its a lot about heroine addiction. when the song says, "once the snake is drowned, there lies a looks in its eyes, my fear begins to fade..." I always thought this was about overcoming addiction and realizing all that's happened during your time of addiction. but the next part I feel is more directed to his son, "as the walls come down, and as I look in your eyes, my fear begins to fade, recalling all of the times I have died, I will die, its alright..." so maybe I think this song is keeping addiction away to take better care of his son. He says, "I will die, its alright, I don't mind." which I think he means he knows he will someday die but it won't be from drugs, despite the fact its hard to stay away from heroine (days away I still feel you, touching me, changing me). oh and then about the verse, "without the skin, beneath the storm, under these tears, the walls came down," I think it means that during very harsh withdrawal he managed to not use which brought "the walls down." its pretty scattered but that's my interpretation.

newparadigmplants January 20th, 2008 01:35PM  

Turn this piss to wine could be symbolic of the vedic Soma cult and their practice of consuming Amanita muscaria AKA Manna, The holy Grail, The Round Table, The Blood of Christ, The Tree of Knowledge. Prolly not but the songs are here for us to experience the divine. No absolute only transfinite understanding.

anonymous April 2nd, 2008 05:15PM  

This song is about his evil ways and his cruelty towards others.
this is the literal meaning of the song in order.

his past is true, he's looking at what he has become, the snake is his soul, which turns his sins and bad things to good or at least makes them better. His soul says what could have happened if he were different, his future begs him to love and care again, he feels his caring, loving soul coming back again. His soul also says how easy being evil and cruel is and that being caring takes effort. It makes him think to the point of depression. He's connected with being cruel and evil, he can't escape it. The temptation to return to his old ways is killing him. His soul is giving up, he stops fearing the evil, he recalls all the time of him being evil and cruel. He should have showed love. His evil subsides as he stares into his heart, he doesn't fear evil anymore. He remembers all of the evil times that could have been good. His soul has died, he will die, he doesn't care because he knows he's ruined others lives so his shouldn't be spared.

anonymous April 20th, 2008 01:22AM  

I agree that this song most likely has multiple meanings. I liked the Medusa and Wuthering Heights posts. Many of you interpreted this song with a positive ending and I did not. Anyway, here is how my interpretation changed over time:

-when I first heard it (and loved it) I thought it was about a person tempted to return to a toxic relationship and eventually gives in.

-then I noticed Maynard says "As I look in HIS eyes my fear begins to fade" and I thought maybe he was gay, but then heard the song was about heroin and in the end he gives in and begins using again.

-then I heard the song Prison Sex and read that it's suspected that Maynard was sexually abused by his step-father and that is what Prison Sex is about, but the end of that song suggests that the person who was once abused later became the abuser. I thought about h in this sense as well, and maybe the song is about someone who was once abused being tempted to abuse another child ("his eyes") and in the end he gives in even though it kills him in a sense. Anyway once I came to that conclusion I was totally weirded out and stopped listening to Tool pretty much completely because I thought Maynard was a child rapist (but I do love Schism). What do you think??

evilsauron88 May 8th, 2008 02:59AM  

Some interpretations are very close but since I am telling you Maynard's interpretation from his own mouth this is the right one. The song is indeed about Devo his son whose middle initial is H. I have heard from many people that this is about heroin which is way wrong listen to the lyrics. The song is not about a desire to treat his son as he was treated by his father but about a fear of being a bad father, because of a lack of knowledge of how to be a good father, based on his own childhood with a lousy father. "What's coming through is alive" (He is writing what he is feeling while watching the birth of his son) "And what it's holding up is a mirror" (He is fully realizing that this creature is a part of himself) "But whats singing songs is a snake, that's, been looking to turn my piss to wine" (Instead of feeling joy, the fear of being like his father is all he feels. His father was military and was constantly trying to make Maynard change to what he thought was right, hence looking to turn my piss to wine) "They're both totally void of hate but killing me just the same." (Though he didn't have a great father he knows his father wanted what was best for him, the baby is completely innocent so they are both void of hate, but this is killing him) "The snake behind me hisses what my damage could've been." (The phrase every father says at least once to his son "You don't know how good you had it, The are a lot of people that were worse off than us" His father is the past (behind him)) "My blood before me begs me open up my heart again" (His child is his blood and his future (hence before him) "And I, feel this coming over like a storm again......Considerately" (He feels this fear engulfing him ...... But it's not as though his son means to make him panic). That the basic idea I have to go but I'll try to get back on soon and break down the rest of the lyrics. If I don't get back just want to say that I believe MJK to be the greatest song writer in the world with his ability to turn ordinary situations and thoughts into extrordinary poetry and this song is a prime example.

ArKonIte June 6th, 2008 01:00AM  

To me, this song is about getting so close to something or someone that you yourself turn into them. Even if you are days away, you can still feel them touching you and changing you. Even when you killed the temptation (symbolism of the snake) to be like them, you still feel connected to them. You don't mind that you're like that person but really, it's considerately "killing" you.

Killing the person you used to be.

anonymous June 16th, 2008 11:54AM  

Uhhh I dunno what deep thinking accomplishes except obviously getting your head stuck up your own ass. I really truly deeply believe that the song H is about the H bomb. Everything he says in it refers exactly to heroin from the feeling you have on it then the feeling when its over. Shit even the song is climactic like right after you kick that shit. Its the same way with Stinkfist. Just place your bets on heroin for the DEEP SPIRITUAL meaning you were looking for. Don't make Maynard sound like one of you "tools". I'm pretty sure he knows whats going on. You think people just up and make awesome records without heroin??? WAKE UP!

hatefuldisposition December 19th, 2008 07:23PM  

i interpret this as a love song to heroine or can be a love song in general. because ive done it i know how it feels this song describes it pretty well. "considerately killing me, i dont mind" "days away i still feel you touching me changing me" the song is called H. come on guys. go blow a line of H and youll understand the song.