What does Right in Two mean?

Tool: Right in Two Meaning

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Album cover for Right in Two album cover

Right in Two Lyrics

Angels on the sideline,
Puzzled and amused...
Why did Father give these humans free will?
Now they're all confused.

Don't these talking monkeys know that
Eden has enough to go around?
Plenty in this holy garden, silly monkeys,
Where...

  1. anonymous
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    Mar 24th 2011 !⃝

    i just want to add a quick note to this discourse: the division of the selves and of nations and so on are not the "Right in Two" being spoken of. it refers to the original division of subject/object. the whole of existence is a spark in a void, there is no division between "spirit" and "form". the other divisions follow as the expression of the desires of the mindstate impaired by the idea that it is seperate from the fabric of reality.

  2. anonymous
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    Jan 24th 2011 !⃝

    Hmmm the Line i wonder about is : Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to live to light a heaven conscious of his fleeting time here.

    I don,t get it :S What's it mean? Whoever tries to live 'right' by the Bible or wtv to get to heaven instead of using his 'ability to live' is Repugnant? Or is he being sarcastic, meaning that Is humanity's perception of things, and it's stupid? HELP! XD

  3. Roach
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    Dec 31st 2010 !⃝

    I think this song is a very important part of the concept of the album. There are 3 faces on the cover, being one single head. So there are 3 master songs on this album.
    10,000 Days: Opened by Wings For Mary, this song has a dark epic atmosphere and talks about the end of the world.
    Rosetta Stoned: Opened by Lost Keys, it is a very chaotic, freaky song. He has funny aspects and is more heavy. The end of the world could be stopped, but it isnt.
    And then, last but not least:
    Right In Two: Opened by Intension, this combines the primar atributes of the other master songs. It is dark but later heavy, has some kind of funny lyrics with serious background. It seems like this is the middle face on the album cover, using the eyes of the other two.

  4. theduckgoesquhzk
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    Oct 26th 2010 !⃝

    I think tht this song is all about how our father gave us freewill and reason and we don't really kno wht to do with it but we over use and go and use it for all of the wrong reasons.

  5. Transuniversalist
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    Sep 23rd 2010 !⃝

    I've read through most of the interpretations here, and I think that while there are a lot of good insights here, most are probably missing the main point (my humble opinion)...in a truly spiritual view of the universe (as opposed to religious indoctrination) there is only ONE THING: Reality--the universe itself. The Universe is a vast conscious quantum supercomputer, constantly experiencing itself through it's many sub-manifestations (of which "you" are one, and so am "I"). Everything is just ONE MIND (see "Reflection" by Tool for more on this). But the one FUNDAMENTAL DELUSION from which every other delusion ultimately springs is the delusion of "self" (ego). The idea that there is some distinct independent entity called "me" which interacts with "the rest of the universe" is what leads to the delusion of "self." If you believe that you are separate from "god" (universal consciousness), other people, or from "the rest of the universe" then it is possible to justify any abuse, any torture, any action. This delusion is what is responsible for all our stupidity. We don't realize that we're all part of ONE CONSCIOUSNESS...instead we must divide the ONE UNIVERSE, the ONE MIND, into TWO PIECES, which you may call "my self" and "the rest of the universe." Silly monkeys. There is no "self," except for the one consciousness, of which "you" are a very small part. Your entire "life," the sum of all your actions, thoughts, experiences...is a continuing thought structure in the one conscious mind we refer to as "the universe." But its fun (and funny) for "you" to walk around and self-importantly think of your "self" as having its own distinct existence, shape, properties, and so on. Silly suffering monkeys. But where there's ONE you're bound to divide it RIGHT IN TWO; its one of the things which you use to define yourselves as a species (humanity is that species which divides the universe into pieces), and therefore its an almost inescapable part of your self-image-delusion; its the basis of choice, and its the reason you all must suffer. Eden is the universe...(=reality=truth=consciousness=mind=quantum supercomputer=the set of all experiences/interactions), but you just gotta divide it all right in two. Silly monkeys.

  6. anonymous
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    Jun 22nd 2010 !⃝

    I feel that most of the people on this site have the right idea but I've also wondered if there is a drug reference somewhere in the meaning. I've talked with a couple of people and read numerous stories of people smoking DMT and feeling like they were being pulled in two and others say they see or hear voices of angelic/alien figures in there peripheral vision while they are being pulled into an alternate dimension. So maybe Its a reference to both religion and how psychedelics can free you from the constraints of everyday thinking and strict religious mindsets to see what life is really meant to be and how short our time is here.

  7. convolution
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    May 28th 2010 !⃝

    This is yet another expression of Maynard's
    inner struggles -- this time it is with
    religion. Don't be fooled, sheep - Maynard
    is every bit as f'd up as anyone else. He
    has a microphone and a following, which certainly
    makes a difference.

    This song decries the violence of humans but
    more importantly solidifies the fact that Maynard
    is repressing his deeply held Christian views that
    were undoubtedly pounded into him throughout his
    childhood. This resounding theme occurs time and
    time again in Tool/APC songs (Opiate, Judith, Eulogy).

    Maynard will convert back to Christianity before all
    is said and done (e.g. when he kicks the bucket).

  8. liberalmormon
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    Oct 14th 2009 !⃝

    I like the message here about mankind and how humans were blessed with rational thought and the abitiy to trust is our basic natural rights and yet we still choose such a selfish and violent life. The comparison to religous language (angels and "Father") and more contempory science ("monkeys" in reference to humans through evolution) is another artistic treat from Maynard. Also as far as the music, the song starts like the blank slate of a child or innocence and then evolves into a harder song with more rage almost... I don't know, this song gives me chills. :)

  9. anonymous
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    Aug 23rd 2009 !⃝

    I agree with the Depeche Mode comment.

    Anyway....If you seriously didn't IMMEDIATELY know, the second he said "These talking monkeys" that it meant human beings, you are severely out of touch with Western culture and therefore, reality. Snicker to yourself all you want and pretend it's close-minded but the Christians have ruled Western culture for 2000 years and are still the largest religion. Things like Dogma and referring to human beings as the most favored of all God's creatures and talking about how we've squandered our gifts are deeply ingrained in any educated person in this hemisphere. I'm Jewish and even I know that.

  10. Cyber_7
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    Aug 19th 2009 !⃝

    This is one of my favorite song for this album and I'm just writing what I think this song means.
    1-Maynard talks about how we(humanity)must always let our material possessions control use and that no matter what, we will always divide what we think belongs to us in two such as marriage,war,religion etc.

    2-how given the chance of our own free will we will end up just fucking shit up anyway,that it is in our nature of being human to destroy,devour and ultimately kill this world because in a sense we are just a larger cancer.

    3-lastly my own personal though is that maybe there was no place on earth that was the garden of eden but maybe the entire planet is the garden of eden but we cannot see that anymore because it has been destroyed by poisons such as the media,material possessions etc.

  11. anonymous
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    Aug 16th 2009 !⃝

    Real briefly I'd like to touch on the word "monkey" some have said is an evolutionary jab a Christians. Not all who believe in a Jewish/Christian god refute evolution. In Genesis it refers to two separate creations of man, the first says man is created from the dust of the earth, the second states man is made in the image of god. I see this as a dual creation the creation of the animal or "monkey" body and its evolution then the creation of the human spirit or soul "in the image of god". In the end we're nothing more then primitive barbaric Monkeys given a god like mind we use to hurt one another.

  12. anonymous
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    Jun 27th 2009 !⃝

    In the close interpretation of "Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here", I have come to see "It is offensive to God to even believe you can suddenly believe in heaven, knowing you are about to die."

    This is my interpretation, granted I could be wrong. Just a thought though.

  13. connifer
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    Jun 11th 2009 !⃝

    This is my favorite tool song. In my mind it means that humans haven't changed or gotten any smarter, though we've advanced technologically, we are too selfish and wanting to realize the needs of others, and the fact that all humans need to realize this is the one earth we get, the one chance we get to make it work and unless we realize it soon it will be too late. "Don't these talking monkeys know that Eden has enough to go around?" Though Maynard and the rest of the band usually stray away from religion, this has several meanings, one, the fruit of evil is where is supposidly began to go down hill, two, Edan, to my knowlege, was in Iraq, where we are now at war. "Forge a blade and beat their brother, down" I believe the blade is symbolic of either political power, tribes, gangs, armies, something capible of destroying easily.

  14. pera13
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    Jan 28th 2009 !⃝

    It has the same message as "people are people" by Depeche Mode in my opinion.. As a whole, the song is wonderful, brings me a certain peace of mind..

  15. mouse357mag
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    Dec 12th 2008 !⃝

    When he says angels on the sidelines
    talking about actully monkeys looking
    at the human race and saying hey they are no
    better than us

    we know the difference of right and wrong but yet
    we still stay on our destructive path

    monkey killing monkey killing monkey over pieces of the ground
    is just everyone killing each other over the simplist of things that really no one owns

    given thumbs
    They forge a blade
    And then there's one bound to divide it
    Right in two
    we create tools to survive but there's always one
    who will turn that tool into a weapon

    Silly monkeys give them thumbs
    They make a club
    And beat their brother down
    once they find out that its a weapon they kill one another
    for the simple reasons of greed

    Fight over the clouds, over wind, over sky
    Fight over life, over blood, over air
    Fight over love, over sun, over another
    Fight each other,
    here greed is the focus over humans trying to own what
    is really not there's nor can be owned

    Angels on the sideline again
    Been so long with patience and reason
    Angels on the sideline again
    Wondering when this tug of war will end
    those monkeys are still watching and learning
    maybe they will take over once we kill each other off

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway



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