What does Stinkfist mean?

Tool: Stinkfist Meaning

Tagged:   No tags, suggest one.
Album cover for Stinkfist album cover

Song Released: 1996


Get "Stinkfist" on MP3: Get MP3 from iTunes

Stinkfist Lyrics

Something has to change
Undeniable dilemma
Boredom's not a burden
Anyone should bear

Constant over stimulation
Numbs me
But I would not want you any other way

Just not enough
I need more
Nothing seems to satisfy
I don't want it
I...

  1. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 6th 2008 !⃝

    Most of the interpretations I have read on this page are wrong, but some of you actually realize what he is saying in this song, it's about how we have to fend for ourselves and how we should just do things that we want to and things that we need to and not be pushed around like a piece of meat buy authority, and those of you that think this song is about his drug addiction in the past need to read the lyrics of ;H; one of tools many great songs, and when you have read the lyrics, think hard about what they mean, it will come to you.

  2. guitarprodigy
    click a star to vote
    Sep 6th 2008 !⃝

    This song is an analogy comparing drug addiction to taking a fist up the ass. "something has to change. an undeniable dilemma. boredom's not a burden anyone should bear." (many people resort to drugs when they are bored with life. many people result to tabboo to stimulate themselves sexually when they get bored with normal sex.) "it's not enough. I need more. nothing seems to satisfy. I don't want it, I just need it. To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive." and "finger, knuckle, elbow, shoulder deep within the border line" (people usually begin with "gateway" drugs, like pot, and eventually resort to more extreme means of stimulation, like heroin or crack, when they burn out. people who decide to take fists up there ass begin small with the finger and eventually make there way to the elbow.) "say the word and we'll be well upon our way" ("I can quite any time I want") "blend and balance pain and comfort deep within you till you will not want me any other way" (sometimes drugs and things up your ass make you uncomfortable at first, but eventually, if you're into either one, you get used to them and feel you can't live without them...well maybe not so much the ass thing. Someone would really have to have a problem to not be able to live without that. you get the point.) "something kind of sad about the way that things have come to be. desensitized to everything. what became of subtlety?" (the addict realizes they are stuck in a sad, ungappy place. They feel numb and wonder how things got this far.) "i'll keep digging till I feel something" (i'll keep looking for newer, more extreme ways for stimulation.)

  3. TheKinkyCupcake
    click a star to vote
    Aug 1st 2008 !⃝

    It's about addiction. Whether it be drugs, sex, or something else. With all addictions there is pleasure and pain. To me, it seems more sexual because of the line, "Blend and balance pain and comfort deep within you till you will not want me any other way." Yet in the same, you don't normally hear about people getting up to their elbow. Most likely a heroin needle. Pick your poison.

  4. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jul 22nd 2008 !⃝

    I think that the song means that we can't settle for normal anymore, and that we strive for something more extreme and/or abnormal

  5. ToolGNP
    click a star to vote
    May 27th 2008 !⃝

    This song is about fucking a girl in her ass. Plain and simple. Broadening your horizons, this case sexually. "This may hurt a little but its something to get used to." "Relax, turn around, and take my hand." Honestly sometimes digging too deep is easy. Maynard doesn't always want you to dig to china.

  6. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 12th 2008 !⃝

    It's about choosing compassion over fear.

  7. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 2nd 2008 !⃝

    The song reminds me of a difficult situation and how someone that loves you will get you through it. whether its drugs or whatever, the person that loves you will tolerate nearly endless complications and still try to soothe you and get you through it. They take pain and still give more of themselves, even if you figuratively shove your hand up their ass further and further each time....

  8. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 1st 2008 !⃝

    Many of the ideas written down here are good, but does the text really have to be about a special subject? drug addiction and the problems of society are two subjects that seems to be popular to write about but, can't just the addiction and the problems be another way of seeing the text, lika a metaphor for your own problems. go deep inside yourself and try to find your problems. If you believe in the drug addiction as the meaning of the lyrics, try to think of the drugs as an other think. you can be addicted to many things. addiction to feel happy in life, but do you really have the strength to go there? and about the society meaning, if the society affects you in a negative way, that's your inner problem. My opinion is that the text reflects on many matters that's perfectly fits in into the text.

    As said before, I think that the many meanings of the text are just different ways of telling the same things. It could be about love between a couple, drug addiction and problems of today, but think about it, it all is kinda linked together, it all has the same meaning, and its that meaning that binds them who is (as my opinion) the real messages in this song.

  9. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Apr 5th 2008 !⃝

    Homzd is the closest. Zaq, I have to corect you though. "Think for selves" although TOOL stress that a lot, the bit you hear on Salival is Timothy Leary. The fact you quoted the saying I figured you were referring to that.

  10. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Apr 1st 2008 !⃝

    Yes, this song can have many meanings and interpretations, but honestly . . .

    "Boredom's not a burden anyone should bear"

    "over - stimulation numbs me
    but I would not want you any other way"

    "Nothing seems to satisfy."

    "Finger deep within the borderline.
    Show me that you love me and that we belong together.
    Relax, turn around and take my hand"

    "change tired moments into pleasure"

    "Blend and balance pain and comfort deep within you"

    "This may hurt a little but it's something you'll get used to"

    Anal fisting, anyone?

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  11. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Feb 26th 2008 !⃝

    I think that it means that you are getting deeper and deeper into shit, and by the end you just get consumed by the shit until you are no more.

  12. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Feb 10th 2008 !⃝

    I'm surprised... I don't think anybody mentioned how this song embodies borderline personality disorder. If you all take a moment to look up the condition and re-read the lyrics, you'll save me some time. The story of fisting could very well be the "parable" used to express BPD on an individual or societal scale. The taboo would be typical of Maynard, as with Prison Sex. That song's not shallow either, by the way.

  13. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jan 22nd 2008 !⃝

    It's about being Hedonistic and trying to satisfy yourself by indulging in physical pleasures. Always wanting the higher high, the better sex. In a literal form in the song it's nice finger banging, deep finger banging, fisting and it's not satisfying just doing more of the same type of pleasure. You need to find out what's real in life that's the whole point. Everyone has to be spiritual to be joyful... Not religious.
    That's just what I get from it.

  14. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jan 15th 2008 !⃝

    Lets face it, this song has no meaning. It is just a song that has been created and delivered to us, the fans, possibly maybe to see what type of people we actually are in ourselves, people who are saying it is a song about being 'fist fucked' may just be immature and addicted to sex whereas people who say it is a song about life and society in its self think deeper and harder about things and therefore are more likely to understand the true meanings of things.

  15. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jan 9th 2008 !⃝

    I Believe A Good Interpretation Is Just Rearranging The Lyrics A Bit

    "This Undeniable dilemma has to change; Boredom's not a burden anyone should bear. Constant over-stimulation numbs me, it’s not enough. I need more, nothing seems to satisfy. I don't want it; I just need To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive. Finger deep, Knuckle deep, Elbow deep, Shoulder deep; Blend and balance pain and comfort deep within you till you will not want me any other way. Something is kind of sad about the way that things have come to be desensitized. What became of subtlety? How can it mean anything to me, if I really don't feel anything at all? Relax. This may hurt a little but it's something you'll get used to. I can help you change tired moments into pleasure.
    Say the word and we'll be well upon our way. I’ll keep digging ‘till I feel something."

    Desired > Addicted > Required > Tolerated > Immune

    Pain, Drugs, and other physical feelings, but it can imply emotions as well(compassion,society)

    Well That's All I Have To Say




More Tool songs »


 


Latest Articles

 


Submit Your Interpretation

[ want a different song? ]




Just Posted

Steve's Going to London anonymous
Yes I'm A Mess anonymous
Droppin' Plates anonymous
Rat anonymous
Cry for the Moon anonymous
And the Snakes Start to Sing anonymous
Gingerbread Man anonymous
Not Like the Movies anonymous
This Masquerade anonymous
Birthday Suit anonymous
Dollhouse anonymous
Death anonymous
Copy Cat anonymous
I Hate Jimmy Page anonymous
I Hate Jimmy Page anonymous

(We won't give out your email)