Zaq January 16th, 2006 09:42PM  

This song is about how drugs can lead to satanism, which can eventually lead to nirvana, hence "The Gaping Lotus Experience."

"I had a friend once he took some ecstasy
Tried to marry me and every one in the room
He was sort of loving kinda caring."

This is the lyric that makes it all come together. The drug ecstasy leads to the loving of everyone and everything.

"kinda tried to fuck my lazy boy.
It got a bit messy all over the curtains,
arm chair covers, throw pillows, and carpeting."

This lyric refers to how people on drugs sometimes do things that are wrong. In other words, how easy it is for the righteous to go awry.

"I had a friend once he took some acid
Now he thinks he's a fire engine
It's okay until he pisses on your lighter
Kinda smells kinda cool kinda funny anyway."

This lyric refers to how drugs make you want to help people. The person on acid didn't think he was a fire engine, he was just trying to save his friends from the fire. Anywho, it turned out okay anyway, because it smelled "kinda cool" in the end, so the kid on acid was right to piss on his friend.
The satanism part comes from the "satan, satan, satan..." lyric. If you look into satanism, then this will make more sense to you, but I have niether the time nor the space to delve deeper at this moment.

"I'm bored again..." refers to how the effects of drugs wear off, leaving you bored and feeling empty, only part of what you could be.

Anyway, I'm out of cocaine and the last of it is starting to wear off, so I can't interpret anymore, and I kind of have to piss, so I'm out.
Peace.

anonymous February 19th, 2007 05:00PM  

"I had a friend once..." reminds me of someone trying to use someone/anyone else other than their often obvious selves to explain an embarrasing situation. "yeah I have this FRIEND who uhh.... got this girl pregnant, what do you think HE should do??".

anonymous September 19th, 2007 07:03AM  

Uh I think its just a song with no deep meaning at all
not ALL of tools songs are all serious, this song is actually funny

STOP READING BETWEEN THE LINES OF EVERY LYRIC IN ALL OF THEIR SONGS

paja713 October 21st, 2007 04:52PM  

Uhh no Zaq, The Gaping Lotus Experience doesn't have secret meanings. its very straightforward, there are nop metaphors, what he says is exactly what he's saying. him talking about have sex with the lazy-boy, isn't about making bad decisions due to taking drugs. rolling on ecstasy makes you very horny and you can receive sexual pleasure from practically anything when you're on it. god this song is funny though.

paja713 October 21st, 2007 04:58PM  

And Zaq... a "fire engine" doesn't do anything. a fire TRUCK puts out a fire. sometimes when people to crazy halucinogens they think they are an inanimate object. my friend once thought he was a cup, and stood for hours on end with his head in the cupboard with the door closed on his neck until it wore off. he talks about someone using a lighter to light up and the friend pisses on their lighter to put the fire out, not to save them from a fire.

anonymous July 25th, 2008 02:32AM  

Geez a little defensive are we Zaq?

I think this song is very straightforward, and quite hilarious. That's a neat thing about Tool, they send cryptic messages most of the time, until you start looking for them where there aren't any. For example, in the Gaping Lotus Experience.

anonymous September 24th, 2008 06:37PM  

I think there is a hidden meaning in the fact that there is no hidden meaning (yes I know that is a paradox but whatever)
It means that because of human nature we try to look into things too much and understand everything. We delve too deep when the answer is right in front of us. Like this song (not really with the way I put it but you know :P )

Ok I kinda thought about that but I'm doubting this myself already buy it could happen right? I mean we're all crazy at some time in our lives.

SystemofaRevelation October 24th, 2008 08:22PM  

This song is clearly about fighting Satan with a pirate sword

anonymous December 3rd, 2008 12:02AM  

i remember the first time i experienced a gaping lotus, and i emphasize the GAPING. i only lasted about 2 minutes and i think i heard her laugh, but what a slut though. cheers