Tool: Parabola Meaning

Song Released: 2002

Parabola Lyrics

We barely remember who or what came before this precious moment,
We are Choosing to be here right now. Hold on, stay inside...
This holy reality, this holy experience. Choosing to be here in...

This body. This body holding me. Be my reminder...

1. anonymous

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   Dec 6th 2006 !⃝

   this song is an interpretation of Plato's doctrine of forms and arguments for the immortality of the soul. Maynard uses philosophy for inspiration but it dosen't appear as if he is forwarding plato's views because he beleives them; he is mearly making them known. Parabola is more correctly an artist interpretation of Plato's theory.
2. anonymous

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   Oct 1st 2006 !⃝

   I have found that if you listen to parabol/parabola when you are high, it does kinda give it a new sound.
   
   Instead of doing this however, 1 month ago, I had a serious eye injury. I was put on bedrest and couldnt move around very much so that a clot in my eye wouldnt tear. In order for me to stay sane, all I did was listen to lateralus, aenima, and 10,000 days trying to understand their meaning.
   
   It was while I was doing this that I found a differnt perception of the world. It happened after I had not moved from my bed for 4 days, sleeping in and out, having those cds on repeat.
   
   I heard Parabol, one of my favorite songs. As it was playing, I faded into a wierd kind of mind where I saw very little, but I heard everything around me, the people outside, birds, even the air seemed to be alive. Then I heard Parabola switch and it all made sense to me. It is hard to explain in words, but after you go to sleep, listen to those two songs and you will get something more. I felt as if I did what the lyrics were always talking about, achieving spirituality. I couldnt remember what happened before that (precious) moment. I realized that all my pain was an illusion and that I was eternal. I embraced the moment. For 1 month I have been trying to do it again, but it just is not the same.
3. anonymous

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   Aug 25th 2006 !⃝

   As with almost all Tool songs this one can have 2 meanings as well...
   
   Along with the spiritual awakening/rebirth meaning it could also be about a very deep relationship
   
   "we barely remember who or what came before this precious moment" when they are with each other all the past, pain and people (accidental alliteration :o)
   they are literally in "the heat of the moment".
   
   "this body holding me be my reminder here that I am not alone" ...Feeling alone in the world the one person that completes you...
   "feeling eternal all this pain is an illusion" relates to above
   
   "this body holding me reminds me of my own mortality.
   Embrace this moment. Remember. We are eternal.
   All this pain is an illusion" embracing the moment they are together...Even after death (we are eternal, reminds me of my own mortality) as long as they are together "all this pain is an illusion"
   
   i thought of this interpretation listening to the song and thinking of someone I have a similar compassion for...
   
   Enjoy

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
4. anonymous

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   Aug 23rd 2006 !⃝

   Parabola may either symbolize one's birth into this world, or one's spiritual awakening. It describes a person in a state of breathing meditation (probably buddhist), feeling the air and chi move within him (it is later detailed and explained how in Lateralus). Parabola may simply be the moment (lack of a better term since that state is timeless), one gets into absolute, deep meditation. Which includes 9 months within a mother's womb.
   
   Also there's references to reincarnation. So the birth theme is very likely.
   "we barely remember, who or what came before this precious moment..."
   
   thanks for reading.
5. keepgoingspiralout

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   Aug 7th 2006 !⃝

   A fantastic song reminding us that life is a holy gift, and we should "embrace this moment remember, we are eternal, all this pain is an illusion."

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
6. anonymous

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   Jun 30th 2006 !⃝

   Parabol and Parabola, to me, represent the duality of life. Like one of the dudes up there^ said, the first represents reality and the second represents everything beyond reality. Parabol is like the calm meditation leading to the mind's enlightenment, which becomes the surrounding, exciting feel of Parabola.
7. anonymous

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   Jun 20th 2006 !⃝

   QTOOL666 I think that your interpretation was stupid. You say it changed your life? how? by becoming a stoner?? I can fully understand this song without having to be baked. You should try it sometime, try to understand the music moreso then just get high, lie down, then let the music trip you out. Alot of tools music has sent my life in a different direction, a much clearer path that I much more enjoy then I ever did,
   Stephen, 15

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
8. anonymous

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   May 14th 2006 !⃝

   this song is about life. "We barely remember who or
   What came before this precious moment"
   its telling you that this holy experience in this vehicle called you body is something you are choosing and is something to embrace.
   even though it can be rough at times and painful, it is all an illusion.
   "This body holding me reminds me
   Of my own mortality
   Embrace this moment
   Remember, we are eternal
   All this pain is an illusion"
9. anonymous

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   Apr 30th 2006 !⃝

   I think parabol and parabola make us to think how our human shape takes place in this world as a short period of time compared with eternal life; in adition, the physical form that was given to us must be thankful in a spiritual way and believing that this chance is incredibly wonderful, I mean, as another interpreter said they´re optimistic lyrics that drive us to think about the gift of life as a simplistic present but at the same time as a complex demostration of divinity.
10. QTOOL666

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    Apr 8th 2006 !⃝

    Before I say anything I am not being hostile, big headed,or boasting in any way shape or form.
    I have listend to tool for a few years now every day. Lateralus changed my life.it was a literal turning point in my state of mind. Parabol and Parabola in my opinion cannot be played without each other. Any one who smokes as much weed as me or take acid or mushrooms a lot will understand what I mean when I say, at the end of the night when you are completely slashed you lie on your bed or any flat suface and you start spiralling in no paticular direction.This song is displaying 2 states of mind. "Reality", and the other side. Parabol is showing you the state of mind you are in when you are in "reality" the as it switches into Parabola,the entire purpose of the link between the 2 songs on the album,(In my opinion) to transfer you smoothly to the other side and onto the spiral. Thanks for reading. :)
11. tool9386

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    Mar 24th 2006 !⃝

    This song is definately about spirituality. I think it's about the awakening of your own spirtuality. You must recognize this as a holy gift.
12. AllenTehAwesome

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    Feb 20th 2006 !⃝

    Plenty of Ritual Magik references laced throughout this song as well. "This pain is an illusion" is a refernce to the power of our minds. "This body holding me reminds me of my own mortallity" refernces how are body is just a vehicle to hold until we reach divinity. Do a simple study on Ritual Magik and almost every Tool song will hold a different meaning to you than before.
13. anonymous

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    Jan 31st 2006 !⃝

    Tool the living legacy, best band of all time more than just a band to me, Parabola is a song that I think really highlights the gift of life and the spirtual awaking a individual can recieve just by taking a breath of fresh air. And in the end not much really maters rember all this pain is an illusion. Dont take the only thing you really have for grainted, life. To all the true tool fans out there I know you feel what I feel when we turn on any matter peice of Tool's. futher more this is one of tools more optomistic songs, as well as the Album itself. Keep the hope alive people heres a salute to real music!

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