roxusan November 4th, 2005 01:54AM  

Despite the song's title, it is not about transvestites or male prostitution. The lyrics "I sold my soul to make a record" are comparable to the common saying that proestitutes sell their soul to make money. Tool likens this to a musician, or more specifically, their own band: they sell their soul to make money.

"All you read and/Wear or see and/Hear on tv/Is a product" implies that we're all whores in one way or another. We sell goods like any prostitute.
Erm, that is all.
CHOW! And don't touch the sushi.

tool9386 November 29th, 2005 05:28PM  

This song is about a fan who tells Maynard that they have sold out after their first EP and Maynard says that to put out and advertise for a record IS selling out, and he sold his soul to make a record. So if he's the man, then you're the man as well for buying his CD so he can you can point your finger up your ass. Shut up and buy his new record. The song is extremely straight forward.

anonymous December 27th, 2005 04:10AM  

It's his anger at people pointing fingers at others, as in selling out. From the lines "sucking up to the the man" and "if I'm the man you're the man" and last but not least "buy my new record" are all saying if you buy the record you have no reason to talk because he's the "man" per-say and by buying his record you have just SUPPORTED him. Which if you read the first sentence again shows that if you buy the record you sold out just like he did.

anonymous March 25th, 2006 01:42PM  

I think that the boy in the song represents someone who blames another for something even though they contributed to it. Obviously, he's saying that Tool "sold out". Maynard comes back by saying "We may have sold out, but its partly your fault because you bought the record." Its basically a song about how we all need to unite and take the blame for something we all contributed to.

Thats my interpretation. Not sure how accurate it is. I agree with the submissions above also.

keepgoingspiralout July 31st, 2006 09:50PM  

This song is about fans that accuse Tool of selling out, when in fact the entire purpose and goal of bands is popularity, fame, and money. Also, MJK points out that the accuser is a hypocrite for listening to their music and supporting the band. He should just "shut up and buy my new record......Send more money."

anonymous August 27th, 2006 05:10AM  

Hooker with a penis is about a dude that came up to Maynard and said he was selling out.But the guy was wearing vans and labeled clothing,and drinking coke.So whos the real sell out?

anonymous September 8th, 2006 11:16AM  

This has to be the most absolutely straight-foward Tool song ever. I mean, Maynard didn't really run into some kid like this, it's probably a metaphor for the hypocritical "fans" of Tool's music. You know, the same people who critisize "10,000 Days" because it "lacks substance." those dicks. Point and case, Tool is only for deep thinkers, not finger-pointing, vans-wearing dickbags.

-wang

anonymous November 14th, 2006 09:22PM  

I heard someone say once that a lot of people go too deep into what Tool is talking about. I agree. This song is pretty straight-forward. To me it's saying everyone is a sell-out in someones eyes so fuck you. Even the title, as off as it seems, indicates selling out: a hooker is there for sexual favors.

Sin February 27th, 2007 01:02PM  

"This has to be the most absolutely straight-forward Tool song ever. I mean, Maynard didn't really run into some kid like this, it's probably a metaphor for the hypocritical "fans" of Tool's music. You know, the same people who criticize "10,000 Days" because it "lacks substance." those dicks. Point and case, Tool is only for deep thinkers, not finger-pointing, vans-wearing dickbags.
ya know...i think this is one of the best interpretations of this song..
especially the part where Tool is and isn't for those loud "TOOOOOOLLLL MUTHAFUCKA" concert yellers and ignorant hat-twisted-sideways people...it is because they use incredibly appealing music and a part of people connect to Tool in that sense... but it isn't because they could care less to what Maynard is saying..and I quote from a friend "Maynard just says jibberish but the music fuckin Rox" lol
And it is those Jibberish people that point fingers and say Tool sold out and such... but the deep thinkers could care less... its poetry in motion...
So ya, whether you hear Jibberish or sheer beauty... Tool's got both... so either you sell out or are taken into a journey of puzzles and knowledge..

Reaper August 10th, 2007 01:50PM  

It is pretty straightforward. Whether this conversation literally took place or not is dubious, especially with a "boy" so thoroughly consumed by commercialism.

But the meaning seems clear. To "sell out" means to forsake the message and ideals of the band, surrendering to corporate demands to produce a more accessible record and thereby maximize sales.

Can you think of ANY band today who fits this description LESS than Tool? I can't. Tool's lyrics are controversial and cryptic. Tool takes five years to make a record. Tool's songs are too long to conveniently fit into radio playlists.

So the accusation is ridiculous, and the people making it are clueless. Bear in mind that this alleged conversation took place after only a single full-length studio release.

This song is basically taking the long way around to address "fans" that believed this about the band. These fans enjoyed the exclusivity of Tool's relatively small fanbase. To them, being a "fan" of Tool was a way to be non-conformist. When "Undertow" became a smash, their little club was infiltrated by the masses and they didn't like it. Tool's popularity made them suddenly less appealing as a means of expressing individuality. So, angry at having "their" band stolen from them, they lashed out at Tool.

This song is Tool's response to those people.

anonymous November 20th, 2007 07:18PM  

That's crazy that guy bringin' ZDLR from RATM into the puzzle. check out MJK's guest vocals on the brige in "know your enemy" on RATM's self-titled album from 1991!(lyric="I've got no patience now...) So its ovbious the two had relations in the past. Friggin CRAZY!

anonymous December 4th, 2007 04:55AM  

I like all the interpretations pretty simple song. Just wanted to say that I love how if you buy and wear a TOOL shirt that you are just that, a tool. They meant it to be this way and its brilliant. Fits right in with Aenema and others.

anonymous February 26th, 2008 05:17PM  

Thsi song is pretty interesting, ....i love it...ANYWAYS, its basically talking about "sellouts" or "wannabes"..lol
thats all I have to say...

anonymous May 22nd, 2008 02:23AM  

The song is about henry rollins and how he thought tool was selling out. I,
met a boy,
wearing Vans,
501s,
and a dope,
beastie-tee,
nipple rings,
new tattoos,
that claimed tha he
was OGT,
back from '92,
from the first EP.
And in between
sips of coke
he told me
that he thought we
were sellin' out,
layin' down,
suckin' up
to the man.
Well now I've got some advice for you, little buddy.
Before you point your finger you should know that I'm the man,
and if I'm the man, then you're the man, and he's the man as well
so you can point that fuckin' finger up your aaaaaaaaaaass!

All you know about me is what I've sold you,
Dumb fuck.
I sold out long before you ever even heard my name.
I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip shit,
and then you bought ooone.
I've got some Advice for you, little buddy.
Before you point your finger you should know that I'm the man.
If I'm the fuckin' man then you're the fuckin' man as well,
So you can point that fuckin' finger up your aaaaaaaaaaaaaass!

All you know about me is what I've sold you,
Dumb fuck.
I sold out long before you ever even heard my name.
I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip shit,
and then you bought oooooooooooone!

KNOW YOUR TOOL PEOPLE! come on now

anonymous June 1st, 2008 05:24PM  

Wang...you are a fucking idiot. I do believe that Aenima came out BEFORE 10,000 days.

anonymous June 10th, 2008 11:07AM  

I always thought that this song was about those sold-out bands which al of the USA little mutherfuckers that swears that they are revolutionary, like blink 182. In fact a friend of mine (an EMO one :S) told me that the first part of the song are references to a member of this band. So I think this is like an answer to those idiot fans that said TOOL was selling it`s soul (with completely no sense, cause the last discs are the less commercial of them), and... fuck off I doon`t know what else to sat :S

anonymous June 11th, 2008 08:57PM  

We all know what this song is about, lets all just stop posting the same thing over and over again.

anonymous January 3rd, 2009 07:41PM  

I agree Maynard wrote this in response to his tight knit group of fans that lashed out at tool after going big but... hes saying he sold out log before these fans had ever evewn heard his name, he sold his soul to make a record and the fans bought it. He is saying that no madder how non-conformist a band is, if they have even one album out they sold their soul becoming part off corporate america because they want you to buy their cd. So if you think that you are better than anybody else because you buy tool albums, you're wrong.

anonymous January 3rd, 2009 11:25PM  

I believe this song to be about the evolution of consumerism in response to our monetary system and the generation that it's breeding. This growing up Gotti, bling-bling, shop till you drop image seekers, who have no identity of thier own.

How Dare they point at us (Tool) for selling out !

We (Tool) too are victims of this system, so yeah, in order to suceed and move forward and make a living, we had to play into this monetary game as well to live you dip shit. You know sell records?

And look At You (Boy) ! You are a walking TV commercial advertisement, and you are telling me about selling out?

Then notice the whispered lyrics in the middle of the song:

"Consume, Be Fruitful and Multiply" The breeding of a dumbed down, worker/shopper generation.

And the finaly:

"All you read and wear or see and hear on TV is a product begging for your fairly dirty dollar . . . " We are so ensnared by distractions and illusions. We work 70% of our lives away just to spend the rest on What ?

This is a band writing and creating music, as much if not more for themselves than for their fan base. It's a way for them to communicate how they feel about the world. In order to reach a bigger platform to communicate from (Larger Stage, Bigger Audience) they had to play the game for the Man. I applaud them for playing it for us - I am sure thier deal is pretty sweet now though. They most certainly earned it. They were on a mission, all you know about us was what we sold you, dumb fuck.

All thier songs are trying to release something in us. Let's go digging. There is so much more that humanity is capable of. If the masses Push the envelope, it will ceratinly bend. They are screaming and frustrated at that part of our species. The majority, the slaves. Who are victims too by the way, myself included. They are helping us Free ourselves from ourselves.

This attitude that consumerism breeds is selfish and greddy and could give a fuck about anybody but him or herself. We have to figure out how to reverse this mentality before we all Pine Away.

How hypicritical we have become. Don't point at me like you know me because we are doing something with our lives, exposing ourselves! There is more to us than we ever care that you understand. We have purpose.

I have loved this song for a long time based on what I thought it meant and how it sounded. I started my analysis of some of the bands lyrics 2 years ago (What a ride), and just got to read this one. I was psyched to discover that there was so MUCH MORE to it than I thought. I don't think it's straightforward at all, at least not in the way some of the early pages refered. Thier best songs have a lot more to them than meets the initial impresion of them, which is what makes them so "well done," and almost pwrfect. Once you discover the true intention and the "why" for those intentions you become enlightend and a serious Tool fan. They are great stories "sung" by amazing musician-story tellers that are sung for a reason. I feel this is up there as one of thier better songs for sure.

anonymous May 18th, 2009 12:32AM  

I'll just write a short little interpretation of my own to add to this discussion.

When the 'kid' tells Maynard that he's sold out, Maynard replies: "Yeah, but what defines 'selling out?'
"I put my soul into this music and then sold the album to make money ("I sold my soul to make a record, dipshit") essentially selling myself for profit." (I'm paraphrasing of course.)

Tool didn't sell out, but they define the whole music business as a whore-house of musicians.

But "Hooker with a Penis", the very title of the song, is not referring to Tool, it's referring to those bands who sell out. The kind of bands who make music for the sole purpose of making money.

I might be rambling on a bit here, but I hope you get what I mean.