Tool: Schism Meaning

Song Released: 2001

Schism Lyrics

I know the pieces fit
'Cause I watched them fall away
Mildewed and smouldering
Fundamental differing
Pure intention juxtaposed
Will set two lovers' souls in motion
Disintegrating as it goes
Testing our communication
The light that feuled...

1. anonymous

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   Apr 4th 2007 !⃝

   Everyone is going to have a different interpretation on the way they look at these songs.
2. burningpeaches

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   Feb 20th 2007 !⃝

   I think this song is actually pretty cut and dry if you actually read the lyrics. It basically tells you what it's about in the title, if anybody is ambitious enough to look it up. A schism is an unhappy seperation between to people or parties.
   
   In the first stanza, the lyrics say how disintegrating communication can cause relationships fall apart, and then next:
   
   I know the pieces fit because I watched them tumble down
   No fault, none to blame it doesn't mean I don't desire to
   Point the finger, blame the other, watch the temple topple over.
   To bring the pieces back together, rediscover communication
   
   The pieces of the relationship are tumbling, its no one's fault, but both people still blame each other as the relationship continues to 'topple over'. To recover the relationship, 'rediscover communication.
   
   Then there is a little bit of a romantic/masochistic twist, describing the beauty of the argument itself, the happiness in the sadness, beauty in the dissonance.
   
   Cold silence has a tendancy to atrophy sense of compassion. The lyrics are saying that if you have an argument with someone and then you refuse to talk to them, you will be less and less compassionate, less and less understanding of their point of view.
   And then, at the very end, just to make sure we now exactly what the song is talking about, the lyrics state:
   
   Between supposed lovers
   Between supposed brothers
   
   Which is exactly what the song is about, a schism between supposed lovers and supposed brothers.
3. anonymous

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   Feb 3rd 2007 !⃝

   I am not very sure if this song has an actual meaning or not. As many have said, it seems as if it is for the own perception of the listener. I have had a theory cross my mind that it was made to confuse some, for a purpose or not. First rambling about love, and then moving on to lyrics that would seem rather nonsensical to some.

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

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   Jan 8th 2007 !⃝

   You can keep fighting about who's right and who isn't but the music was made for personal interpretation and this song isn't the exception. I mean the whole of you may be right but may not. Just feel it and the meaning can be so far that we think it's supposed to be. So just hear it and feel it
5. anonymous

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   Nov 16th 2006 !⃝

   This song is about the band taking a break as the protestant church left catholicism.
6. anonymous

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   Aug 11th 2006 !⃝

   This is very different from everyone else's interpretations, but I think the song is about Maynard. I was thinking he was dissapointed in himself "I know the pieces fit, cause I watched them fall away". Meaning that he used to be a better man and he's trying to get back to the way he used to be...
   
   I know the pieces fit
   'cause I watched them tumble down
   no fault, none to blame
   it doesn't mean I don't desire to
   point the finger, blame the other
   watch the temple topple over
   to bring the pieces back together
   
   my temple is another way of saying, my body...
   So I'm thinkin that somethin happened to him to make him feel like he's inferior to everyone else, maybe he desires to blame a drug, or a person, who knows...
   Well that's the way I see it...
7. anonymous

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   Aug 1st 2006 !⃝

   I think he is either reffering to racism of our mankind,
   or the differences between our countries
   
   it can go either way
   it started with adam and eve, and grew from their, plenty of generations, and split off, and so on. We formed our own kingdom, and fought our own family's we are all family according to the bible and we have been torn apart, he knows we all belong together because he watched us break apart, I have a feeling that he is seeing it from God's point of view,we have adapted to our places, and have formed culture's and races, and their is no real reason, fault line, to blame we have been ripped apart by our own hate and greed.
8. Abyss

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   Jul 4th 2006 !⃝

   I think this song's about the Tower of Babel and Maynard's wish for all people to have the same language again and to finally reach the point of Godliness through rebuilding the temple but without second guessing... being better prepared for when God's wrath comes so people can overcome God.
9. mightymuffin5042

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   May 14th 2006 !⃝

   Not sure if this is of any relevance but I figured I'd post it up for the hell of it. I just happen to find this article while looking for a Tool gif from their mainpage. It talks about a 10,000 member church, communications reunited of the sun, and the man they talk about it known regarding cults and alternate religions. Go nuts. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_8_119/ai_85106545
10. spicybrown84

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    Apr 5th 2006 !⃝

    Who knows why Everyone in the world speaks different languages? I dont. A priest said that the reason we do is because a long time ago everyone spoke 1 language whatever it was. They all decided to build the worlds largest tower to see GOD.
    
    "I know the pieces fit because I watched them fall away
    Mildewed and smoldering. Fundamental differing."
    
    As they were building God did not want them to complete this. GOD then spread everyone out in different places and gave them different languages so they could not do that again.
    
    "Disintegrating as it goes testing our communication
    The light that fueled our fire then has burned a hole between us so
    We cannot see to reach an end crippling our communication."
    
    Since then, we have learned other languages and are able to complete this tower.
    
    "Point the finger, blame the other, watch the temple topple over.
    To bring the pieces back together, rediscover communication"
    
    "Doomed to crumble unless we grow, and strengthen our communication."
    
    True? Who knows.
11. oogodmitch

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    Mar 29th 2006 !⃝

    tool was about to break up...then they followed dan brown in a quest for some swiss cheez, unfortunately tom hanks had recently named the cheez his savior, after tom cruise and katie holmes banished him to a deserted island, dropping him in the middle, where hanks befriended a rat he named thelema. In a selfless act of courage, hanks shared his only bag of food with thelema, to help out the rat. Unfortunately the rat was lactose intolerant and shortly thereafter croaked. mr. Hanks saved the piece of cheez to remind him of his mortality, and at this moment the world became transparent, luminating brilliant colors, speaking in waves/rythmic patterns.
    While on tour with APC, Maynard Keenan needed a break. He ran into a few scientologists, changing them with a single touch. They immediately repented, including the whereabouts of a certain "man with one red shoe." Being an avid collector of souls, Maynard decided to stop his jabbering and soon was whisked away as the winds encircled his being. Not much longer, he returned with a gump in hand. Inviting mr. Hanks to dinner proved to be that "coincidence" he had been looking for.. Whilst enjoying a few glasses of shiraz, Hanks pulled out the script of the new movie in which he had been cast, yet unknown of,: the davinci code, along with the only two things he now possessed, a very moldy piece of swiss cheez and the cup he had used to get water and catch fish.. not only was it heavy, it glowed...Maynard asked Danny Carey to check it out, and the world may never get a chance like this again..Carey stopped and pointed without the words to express,.. no one got it except for the fortunate that fateful day. Henceforth Lateralus was born (insequentially) or coincidentally. schism is about how the band made it thru the tough burden/ grudge thanx to Mary Magdalene Catin.

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

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    Mar 20th 2006 !⃝

    I'm sorry but I tend to interpret every peice of Maynard's work to religious or spiritual interpretation. Forgive me if I'm wrong or way off, but there seemed to me to be a small relationship to this song and the tower of babel in the bible. The communication was broken by god because they tryed to build a tower to heaven. Some sort of cowincidense, <---- I know that was the worst spelling! sry.> or an underlying element? Just a thought.....
13. Zaq

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    Feb 24th 2006 !⃝

    ... What does a manta ray sound like?

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
14. Zaq

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    Feb 24th 2006 !⃝

    Check out the new "Mantra" song-meaning page for more info...
    HOWEVER, I probably won't give away the meaning of this track to the uninitiated...
    I WILL post some riddles and you can e-mail your answers to me at: zaq_bishop@yahoo.com

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

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    Feb 24th 2006 !⃝

    honestly, I've listened 2 mantra I still don't get it. I told my friend, hez hardout into tool as well. he duznt get it either. I just hear these noises like manta rays. I think its just manta rays..

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