anonymous December 20th, 2005 07:46AM  

I agree with both of you. I only would like to add on that, "crucify the ego", is simply IMO referring to letting go of a person's belief that they are better than everyone else. In retrospect he is saying that you need embrace humility before death so you can go to a better place. (Not in reference to Heaven knowing he doesn't believe in God). The whole song all together means to me, that no one is alone, and no one can live alone. We all need one another to survive. So "crucify the ego" and be a part of humanity. IMHO

AllenTehAwesome February 20th, 2006 11:44PM  

In short: Giving up your past and transcending everything that it molded you into before you fall too deep to realize the horrible state you are in.

anonymous September 20th, 2006 01:09PM  

"I have come curiously close to the end, down
beneath my self-indulgent pitiful hole.
Defeated, concede and move closer. I may find comfort here
i may find peace within the emptiness.
How pitiful."
he has become depressed and suicidal in his misunderstanding that he may find comfort in that state of mind from what ever he did/realized to make him feel this way. How pitiful.
"the moon tells me a secret.
My confidant.
As full and bright as I am, this light is not my own
a million light reflections
pass over me
it's source is bright and endless. She resuscitates the hopeless.
Without her we are lifeless satellites driiiiiifting.
And as I pull my head out I am without one doubt
don't want to peer down here serving my narcissism
i must crucify the ego before it's far too late
i pray the light lifts me out
before I pine away"
the moon represents the collective unconcious. Its not his, but everyones. He then pulls his head out of his depressed hole and realizes he must crucify the ego (crucifixion is how jesus died. Christianity/catholicism is based on one god, or one ego) before its far too late (he will be too deep in his hole to pull his head out from this depressed hole).
"so crucify the ego before it's far too late
to leave behind this place so negative and blind and cynical
and you will come to find that we are all one mind
capable of all that's imagined and all conceivable.
Just let the light touch you and let the words spill through
just let them pass right through, bringing out our hope and reason."
get rid your ego, and you will realize that we are all part of the same mind, we are one. You will realize that christianity/catholicism bases eternal love from god on fear, when in fact there is no love in fear (the belief that we will go to hell if we are not done as we are told and suffer for all eternity). If you are to leave behind these blinding cynical beliefs you will get out of your self-indulgent pitiful hole, and prevent yourself from pining away.

anonymous February 15th, 2007 11:43AM  

Someone on another lyrical analysis site found a correlation between this song and the Greek myth regarding "Narcissus." Pretty interesting if you wikipedia it, or what have you. After I read more about this interpretation, it's all I can picture now. Basically about a man in ancient Greek times who was so in love with his image, that all he'd do was stare into a lake at his reflection. He was then cursed to live out the rest of his life in that spot staring at his "perfect" image, until he "pined away". Another thing that convinces me that this story plays at least a small role in the song, besides the basis that I described above, is that Maynard does mention the word "Narcissus" in the song. Coincidence?? I don't think the song itself is about this story, but I do believe it could very well be yet another brilliant reference. Tool's songs are infinite in possibilities, and it's cool to think outside the box, and imagine Reflection to reference to this, amongst a thousand other personal interpretations.

anonymous February 21st, 2007 11:10AM  

some people have got it nearly perfect, but you are all neglecting to mention ACID!!! seriously.. "I have come curiously close to the end","defeated,i move closer I may find comfort here-within in the emptiness-how pitiful..." when tripping you feel naked scared and you see your true human self!this is crippling for those who haven't seen it before.also when one realizes he is eternal one can get full on his spiritual ego,and believe this light is his own-but Maynards saying don't be fooled by that!!!realize we are part of it all!!but just a part!!!
capable of all that's imagined and all concievable...when we all realize that, we can progress as a race and let the light shine through in art, music creations of all kinds.
this is the most beautiful song EVER wrote by a human being.hats off

OldNo7 March 20th, 2007 10:05PM  

This is probably my favorite Tool song because it's so close to existentialism, which is something I take comfort in ironically.

Maynard is expressing a feeling of total disgust and resignation to the nature of man and life. He has com 'curiously close to the end', in that he has experienced and seen enough of life and he is picking in his brain for answers and reasoning to it all. He is coming up short and whats something solid to stand on, something that is absolute truth and definite. He begins to indulge in the shallow parts of life as expressed in his views of self indulgence and pitiful egotism. He sees within himself the truth of such things, that they are empty and have no meaning. Despite knowing this, he continues on with it because it gives at least some sense, even if hollow, of purpose.

This pitiful farce eats away at him and he rbeaks down. He considers nature and how it is such the opposite of him. In his talk to the moon he begins to understand how selfless it is despite it's grandeur and that it is only great because of it's coexistance with other things. The moon would mean nothing if it did not have millions of people to gaze upon it and bask in it's glow. It would just be a hunk of rock floating around. The moon reveals that he is the same only on a smaller scale. The key to meaning is his effect on all that exists, and how all that exists effects him. The only way to prove your existance is through other existances.

To find peace and meaning we must become as selfless as the moon and satelites that form in union to create the beauty of our universe. We must come to realize this or we will fade from existance because we will have no impact on anything but ourselves. If we leave behind narcissism and unite in selflessness we can all prosper and find meaning in each other and our universe.

anonymous July 16th, 2007 05:05AM  

This song is exemplative of Tool to me. It represents the transcendent nature of their music. Their music is indeed a 'Tool' for your own self-discovery. They manage to mention facets of every major religion and a lot of the minor ones (christianity, islam, bhuddism, hermeticism, wiccan outlooks, alchemy even!) and one of the tenets of all religions is that by looking through yourself and your feelings, if one searches hard enough, you can find a deeper meaning to life, and connection to that everything out there, that for some reason still is such a big part of us. He talks of the process of that growth in this particular song, as a reaffirmation of the decision to work against our own selfish tendencies and transcend life itself.
"Must crucify the ego,
before it's far too late!
I pray the light lifts me out,
before I pine away..."

anonymous October 29th, 2007 11:57PM  

I have come curiously close to the end, down
Beneath my self-indulgent pitiful hole.
Defeated,
I concede and move closer. I may find comfort here.
I may find peace within the emptiness. How pitiful.
And it's calling me.
It's calling me.
It's calling me.
It's calling me

- This is obviously about someone contemplating suicide. Coming "curiously close to the end," and "sulf-indulging" refer to an adverse state of depression and narcissism. Someone is finding solace in their pitful self-dillusions about the hole that they have found themselves inAnd in my darkest moment, fetal and weeping.
The moon tells me a secret. My confidant.
As full and bright as I am, this light is not my own and
A million light reflections pass over me
It's source is bright and endless.
She resuscitates the hopeless
Without her we are lifeless satellites dreaming dreams
And as I pull my head out I am without one doubt
Don't want to be down here soothing my narcissism
I must crucify the ego before it's far too late
I pray the light lifts me out before I pine away.
before I pine away.
before I pine away.
before I pine away.
, and the idea of "ending" it is melodically calling them.

- The moon, an illustration of the light at the end of the tunnel (excuse the cliche), represents a beacon of hope. The personification bestowed upon the moon (She) could possibly refer to MJK's mother, Judith, a common symbol of hope in many of his lyrics. Regardless, some driving force of hope and faith has forced the person to transcend their insecurities and seek a new spiritual plane before their depression consumes. (The crucification reference is a mere emphasis of the religious and spiritual undertones of the song.. and whoever said that Maynard does not believe in God is merely speculating.. we know nothing of the man.. only what he writes.. and that should satisfy us.)
So crucify the ego before it's far too late
To leave behind this place so negative and blind and cynical
And you will come to find that we are all one mind
Capable of all that's imagined and all conceivable
Just let the light touch you and let the words spill thorough
Just let them pass right through, bringing out our hope and reason.

before we pine away.
before we pine away.
before we pine away.
before we pine away.

- We must trade our self-indulgence in for spirituality and become one in peace rather than in dillusion before we become our own demise.

anonymous November 13th, 2007 12:07AM  

This song is about a person who has fallen into such a well of negativity that they don't know how to get out. However, this person looks skyward and sees the moon, and realizes that just as the moon doesn't make it's own light, we don't make our own happiness. Our happiness comes from our friends and family and not from ourselves.

anonymous December 30th, 2007 07:24PM  

This is Plato's "Allegory of the Cave."

Comments?

anonymous April 18th, 2008 12:55AM  

Old Number 7, your interpretation is fantastic and well written. The last paragraph is enlightening. I agree with you and am proud of so many like minds. You all get it, but a very good big picture interpretation. All summed in the last paragraph. you can cut to the chase.

anonymous June 22nd, 2008 05:37PM  

It's about ego and killing the same.

anonymous July 18th, 2008 01:00AM  

This song has different meanings to different people. No matter how much you think about or discuss it you will never know the true meaning, that will lie only with the composers.

By trying to decipher the messages in the lyrics, you fail to appreciate it for what it is. Music

When you look at a beautiful view, you don't pull your hair out over what it means. The best you can do is understand what it means to YOU! Just enjoy the song.

anonymous October 4th, 2008 01:14PM  

"crucify the ego" whats missing?

Traditionally the crucifixion is tied to the Christ mythos and if one is to gaze deeper into this lyric then one might see that following the crucifixion there came a resurrection. I'm not speaking literally but more so from a metaphoric standpoint. maybe Maynard's message here is not to abolish the ego completely but to cleanse it and refine it into something new. Maybe an ego that is tamed, one which the self actualized person controls instead of vice versa, the age old analogy of the philosophers stone. The ego I understand to be essential for creating anything and also for reason to create anything. Think of one who has a refined ego as being similar to a chameleon, able to adapt their identity willfully to fit any situation for the best results in contrast to the unrefined untamed ego choosing to act as it wishes leading to awkward negative or even dangerous scenarios where self control is thrown on the backburner. what do you think?

lastofsix October 7th, 2008 05:38AM  

WOW.. The moon symbolizes a reflection of so many lights below. The moon only shines from reflection. To crucify the ego is to let go of all the self important, self serving impulses that drive mankind into the abyss.

anonymous October 31st, 2008 01:20AM  

I have not read the ones before. If I mimick anyone else, I apologize.

We, I (humanity) have come curiously close to the end . . Down. (End - We are approaching something) We don't know how such a force as us could exist this long supressed and powerless (It is curious how). Down.

Ah . . Beneath my "SELF INDULGENCE" pitiful hole. Maybe that's how. Fear . . Totatlly deafeated and maliable. (KO tattooded on the forhead coming out the gate) Might as well stay down, or never had stood up in first place.

I concede (surrender, give in, get walked all over) Move closer (somewhat willingly. You have a choice) to this pitiful hole, the end. I might find comfort there (kidding self) I may find peace within this emptiness (who are you trying to convince ? ? How f-ing pitiful am I?)

It's calling me. Not to have to suffer anymore, give in . . concede

(Or maybe what's calling you is the desire to stand up and resist this path toward darkness and death) I could see it either way.

[ This is where it KICKS IN ]

And in my darkess moment (so close to the end) right before I submit and concede. The moon tells me a secret. It whispers an idea (simply by what it represents as a celestial body. It's existance. What it does) My Confidant, someone (the only one? We are so cut off from others in this pitiful state) reaching out to me.

It "reflects" a very small fraction of what is the all powerful life force . . The Sun and it's rays. They bring life (fact). In all this darkness, (night-fear-hopelessness) where the power and light and strenghth of the sun's rays are not present and it seems so hopeless and pitiful is really just an illusion . . The passing of time, the moment. Here is a taste that tells you the light (enlightenment) has not gone. It is still there burning, radiating and producing life. You are just temporarily away from it. It's guidance and light respresent all of the opposite of everything mentioned in the first lines of the lyrics, dark and pitiful holes of defeat amd such.

Moon talking - "As full and bring as I am. This light is not my own." Meaning he/she/it/moon are merely passing on to us a power and light from a much more powerful force and source (The Sun). The light is just washing over the moon flowing toward us still. A million light reflections, a flow of light, constant . . continuous (Millions)

It's Source (The Sun) is bright and endless. It resuscitates the hopeless. It's power and warmth represents enlightenment and courage and growth (opposite of fear and despair) and has the ability to wake us and revive and inspire us. Turn us around. Crawl out of our dark and pitiful holes.

Without her (The Sun) we are lifeless satilites dreaming dreams (No Sun. No life)

As I pull my head out (The Moon facing the Sun?) or as we pick up out heads out of our pitiful holes, we realize we don't want to spend (waste) our precious time here soothing (pampering) our narcicism and our egos.

We MUST crucify that pattern of thought and behavior (Turn around) bury and forget it before it really is far too late to turn back and resist and grow.

I pray the light lifts me out before I pine away. I hope I die before that happens (the pampering and soothing of ego . . Slow, drawn out, painful wasting away).

To leave this beautiful, miraculous place (Eden, Heaven) behind so negative and blind and cynical would be and "is" a crime.

Once you crucify your ego, you will come to find that we are really are all one mind (one life force with nature, one consciousness and intelligence) capable of all imagined and all conceivable. There is NOTHING that can't be done.

Proof is in the pudding. We have imagined flying in airplanes . . Done. We have imagined and conceived of the exact procedure needed to get us and our current technology to the moon and back . . Done. Done to a precision that is so exact and perfect it's laughable. We can't even begin to imagine what still could be possible or what we could be and are capabile of achieving.

So listen to my words (The moon talking? Tool talking?) and let them pass THROUGH you (understand and analyse them) and let us let our hope and reason shine through us and illuminate us and guide us down a much more preferable path for all.


Before we all pine away

anonymous November 8th, 2008 04:48PM  

I just submitted the above interpretation. I have one correction to make. I went from this site lyrics, I have always known them to be and think the actual is (Could be wrong): "We are lifeless satelites DRIFTING." NOT dreaming dreams - just went with what was provided without thinking. Please insert the above into the prior interpretation. All of the planets and thier satelites would be lifeless without her. THANKS

Pozorious December 7th, 2008 02:43PM  

I have come curiously close to the end, down
Beneath my self-indulgent pitiful hole,
Defeated, I concede and
Move closer
I may find comfort here
I may find peace within the emptiness
How pitiful

It's calling me...

He has come curiously close to the end of his egotistic, ignorant hole. He realizes that it is leading him in the wrong direction, it's destroying him. Once he realized that he could no longer satisfy his spirit with ignorance, and couldn't find anything else, he was left with emptiness. Spiritual hunger. Finding peace within spiritual hunger is indeed a pitiful thing.

Our collective conscience is calling him. Our common logic that wants us to love and to harmonize: God.

And in my darkest moment, fetal and weeping
The moon tells me a secret - my confidant
As full and bright as I am
This light is not my own and
A million light reflections pass over me

Its source is bright and endless
She resuscitates the hopeless
Without her, we are lifeless satellites drifting

He's not comforted or enLIGHTened by the darkness. He's fetal and weeping in the darkness. He has no one to go to, and he notices similarities between himself and the moon.

He's using the moon as a metaphor for himself. The moon seems like this big wondrous thing, but really it is just a big rock drifting around in space. What makes the moon such a wonderful thing is that it reflects light from the sun.

The sun is bright and endless. It resuscitates the hopeless, those fetal and weeping in the darkness, and with without the sun's light, the moon would just be a lifeless satellite drifting.

And as I pull my head out I am without one doubt
Don't wanna be down here feeding my narcissus away.
I must crucify the ego before it's far too late
I pray the light lifts me out
Before I pine away.

So crucify the ego, before it's far too late
To leave behind this place so negative and blind and cynical,
And you will come to find that we are all one mind
Capable of all that's imagined and all conceivable.
Just let the light touch you
And let the words spill through
And let them pass right through
Bringing out our hope and reason ...
before we pine away.

As he pulls his head out from his self indulgent pitiful hole, he is absolutely positive that that is not where he wanted to be, feeding his narcissism. He must crucify the ego because he realizes that life is not all about him. He must put an end to his selfish ignorance, and realize that he is just another cell working to make humanity as a whole live and accomplish all that's imagined and all conceivable. He wants to embrace the light and leave behind the useless pit of his old, ignorant self. The sun that lights humanity is our collective conscience. And once you embrace our conscience, let its light touch you, you will understand so many more things, and the words will spill through, and you will gain so much hope, and so much reason. You will realize the damage that your ignorance causes. You will realize the worthlessness of physical things. You will become joyful and content. I know from first hand experience.

Great song. Probably my favorite.

Lucabarzini December 17th, 2008 09:01AM  

Well I definetly don't think it's someone contemplating suicide at the beginning. But I can say this... "As Full and Bright as I am... this light is not my own" IMO is an example of the ego that one develops after an experience in which coincidently your engagement with some feeling on another state of mind to which you normally would never be happened to progress you in some way.. in something. The person described in this song knows that their ego could destroy them. Theirs alot of emotion in this song and all Tool songs are open to interpretation.. thats my take on that segment.

howieinc2000 December 26th, 2008 02:56PM  

You ever been tripping and looked into the mirror? It can make you see your self in a new light, Thats my opinion as to what inspired this song