"10000 days in the fire is long enough..."

[Mosis]

Which fire?

What are some different interpretations of this line?

I know it may scream "obvious," I want to know what other people think.

[Nate-dogg21]

i have a literal interpretation....

i dont really know what to think of this, its like 10,000 days in the fire (reference to hell), then after that charging up to heaven with a fist in the air thinking u did not recieve justice and demanding your place in heaven, demanding your wings.

Ive been looking up things from 1979 (which was 10,000 days ago) and one thing that took place was the hostage situation that took place in Iran. Makes me think (10,000 days in the fire is long enough), maybe hes saying its time for all of this violence to end, its time for peace?

Maynard keeps referring to "the chosen one" in all of his songs. Ive heard many people say the anti-christ is alive right now and living (bin laden), i think a lot of ppl believe that, and im wondering if maynard is saying its time for "the savior" to stand out and make a change. This is how ive felt for a long time and its crazy that maynard is so insessantly writing about this theme in his songs....

[Nate-dogg21]

well, ive been reading around, and obviously this song is about 'nard and his mother, who suffered a stroke at 32 and spent (10,000 days), 27 years in a wheelchair, paralyzed. Its written so abstractly tho, it really can mean many things

[Vegama]

I guess you guys missed that review that said all of these songs' lyrics were more personal than with past CDs. (i.e. stfu with the politics)

[panocha21]

I think this song is about George Bush earning his wings as a pilot. They denied him when he was in the airforce, they will not anymore! Give the man his wings!

[svet-am]

i really don't read too much into the 'fire' reference. i just see it as being pain/strife, not as a direct reference to Hell. It's an indirect reference to Hell because being in a wheelchair and not being able to get around and do as you please was probably like Hell on Earth.

[bogsnarth]

before reading this thread and nate-dogg's comment about maynard's mom, i was thinking it was a reference to someone who committed suicide around the age of 27.. i took "the fire" to be a reference to the world or life in general.. it's been used thus traditionally, stemming from heraclitus's idea that the "substance" of the universe was fire, i.e. that everything is in constant change or flux.. also i think some eastern traditions hold that the world is a fire that is constantly burning..

but yeah, nate-dogg seems to have hit the nail on the head.

[spiralout11235]

I agree with Bogsnarth on "fire" being a reference to the world or life. It's one of the five elements in Eastern philosophy too--earth, wood, water, metal, fire.

[lysergide dreams]

I think this song is about George Bush earning his wings as a pilot. They denied him when he was in the airforce, they will not anymore! Give the man his wings!


you got me. i admit it, i laughed.

[Nate-dogg21]

I guess you guys missed that review that said all of these songs' lyrics were more personal than with past CDs. (i.e. stfu with the politics)


hey man, lyrics are open for interpretation.

[Tayloe41800]

when i heard this and read the lyrics i assumed the fire refered to being in hell

[Mosis]

when i heard this and read the lyrics i assumed the fire refered to being in hell

To tell you the truth, the first image that came to mind was Hamlet (yes, Shakespeare).

When the Ghost speaks to Hamlet, he speaks of the fires of purgatory burning away a lifetime of sins.

In this case, 10,000 days of purgatory before the soul is sent home (i.e. cleansed of their sins, and go to Heaven).

Mind you, that's not really applicable to this song, as she wasn't dead, but it's just an image.

[Nate-dogg21]

no, it is perfect sir. A lot of people believe that this world is all there is... And you can make this place hell/heaven. And think about it, if you are comotosed, then it is just like kind of rotting away while you are waiting for your soul to go where the destination is

[deadtime]

It's his about his mom in the wheelchair for 27 years. End of discussion.
...and the fire is probably a reference to the purgatory, as was noted above.

Wikipedia: In Roman Catholic theology, Purgatory is a process of purification of the soul after death, following the particular judgment and ordinarily a requirement before entry into Heaven.

[bogsnarth]

It's his about his mom in the wheelchair for 27 years. End of discussion.
as any avid tool fan knows, just because maynard wrote a song about something particular does not mean that's the only thing it's about. he packs in the levels of meaning like joyce or crowley.. also, as maynard himself has said over and over again, it doesn't matter what the song means to him, but what it means to the listener..

so sorry to burst your bubble, but it's far from the end of the discussion.

[tooljunky]

i have a literal interpretation....

i dont really know what to think of this, its like 10,000 days in the fire (reference to hell), then after that charging up to heaven with a fist in the air thinking u did not recieve justice and demanding your place in heaven, demanding your wings.

Ive been looking up things from 1979 (which was 10,000 days ago) and one thing that took place was the hostage situation that took place in Iran. Makes me think (10,000 days in the fire is long enough), maybe hes saying its time for all of this violence to end, its time for peace?

Maynard keeps referring to "the chosen one" in all of his songs. Ive heard many people say the anti-christ is alive right now and living (bin laden), i think a lot of ppl believe that, and im wondering if maynard is saying its time for "the savior" to stand out and make a change. This is how ive felt for a long time and its crazy that maynard is so insessantly writing about this theme in his songs....

I can bet you Maynard is not talking about Osama bin laden..

[svet-am]

bin Laden is not and never has been anything anywhere on the scale of the Anti-Christ. Sure, he's a terrorist...but he's only a terrorist mastermind, not one who is actually willing to lay his own life down for the ideals he espouses. If bin Laden was so fervent about what he believes, he would've been ON one of the planes on September 11, 2001.

To say bin Laden is greater than he actually is is simply to play into his delusion of grandeur.

[deadtime]

damn straight

[filter]

It's simple really. The tool album is released in 2006. It's entitled 10,000 days, about 27 years right, simple arithmetic: 2006+27 equals 2033, the Gregorian calendar marks two dates in Christian belief that are most important, Good Friday and Easter; in 2033 coming exactly 2000 years after Christ was crucified and resurrected. So now we must wait patiently in this fire that we vicariously live by (refer back to vicarious). In the hope and faith that Jesus and the Mehdi speak.

I thought the guy that went 27 years back to 1979 gave it a good go. Somehow his is more immediate contentwise with the whole Iran thing.

[varg]

i have a literal interpretation....

i dont really know what to think of this, its like 10,000 days in the fire (reference to hell), then after that charging up to heaven with a fist in the air thinking u did not recieve justice and demanding your place in heaven, demanding your wings.

Ive been looking up things from 1979 (which was 10,000 days ago) and one thing that took place was the hostage situation that took place in Iran. Makes me think (10,000 days in the fire is long enough), maybe hes saying its time for all of this violence to end, its time for peace?

Maynard keeps referring to "the chosen one" in all of his songs. Ive heard many people say the anti-christ is alive right now and living (bin laden), i think a lot of ppl believe that, and im wondering if maynard is saying its time for "the savior" to stand out and make a change. This is how ive felt for a long time and its crazy that maynard is so insessantly writing about this theme in his songs....

Aw come on. You're not that american, are you?

[Garguantua]

I'm taking that line in a literal sense, just 27 odd years of suffering, and debility. Although it's such a great, effective metaphor for his Mum's tribulations. It alludes to her belief system at the same time. 10,000 days in the fire...wow.

I always thought Maynard was a fantastic, and original lyricist, but this song is really ....out of this world.

[Nate-dogg21]

You guys are brutal, i think all you do is critique critique critique... You dont understand what its like to be a musician.

Ive been playing guitar and singing for about 4 years now, writing songs of all sorts. I may not be as big of a musician as Tool, but i believe both of us grasp a similar understanding of song writing. Its not about writing something and having it mean ONE particular thing. Its about creating something that is special to you, but can also connect with other out there. And yes, this song may be about 27 years in a wheelchair, but who cares what you can break it down to. Its all about how you connect with it, and what it does for you, not the artist. If they didnt care about their fans at all they wouldnt bother to put music out. Theyre not falloutboy who just wants to sell records, theyre tool who is trying create art for spectators to observe and enjoy and connect with.

[Chris_Brightwell]

I'm taking that line in a literal sense, just 27 odd years of suffering, and debility. Although it's such a great, effective metaphor for his Mum's tribulations. It alludes to her belief system at the same time. 10,000 days in the fire...wow.You nailed it.

[blair's man sausage]

I can bet you Maynard is not talking about Osama bin laden..

we didn't start the fire?

i think mjk is talking about billy joel....

seriously I agree with brightwell and the others on this one

[Chris_Brightwell]

seriously I agree with brightwell and the others on this oneWell if you do a little bit of math, you figure a few things out.

For starters, Maynard was 11 when she had the aneurysm. That explains a *lot* of what's going on in jimmy (read it as something she might've written to him).

What was it like to see
The face of your own stability
Suddenly look away
Leaving you with the dead and hopeless?

Eleven and she was gone.
Eleven is when we waved good-bye.
Eleven is standing still,
Waiting for me to free him
By coming home.

She died 27 years later, which is roughly 10,000 days.

His mother, who he loved dearly, was a loyal Christian until they day she died. He apparently resented that ... and that resentment is no clearer than in Judith.

Oh so many ways for me to show you
How the savior has abandoned you
Fuck your God
Your Lord and your Christ
He did this
Took all you had and
Left you this way
Still you pray, you never stray
Never taste of the fruit
You never thought to question why

It's not like you killed someone
It's not like you drove a hateful spear into his side
Praise the one who left you
Broken down and paralyzed
He did it all for you
He did it all for you

Wow. Since I've come to understand that song (and the situation) a bit more, that song send chills down my spine every single time I hear it.

It's also interesting to know that MJK changed the lyrics (in most cases, anyway) from "fuck your God" to "thank your God" after she died. He caught a lot of flack form this when the Lohner remix showed up on Underworld, but I think it's a very appropriate change.

There are a few more threads you can see woven through Tool and A Perfect Circle, if you have the patience to do some research, but I'll leave those as an activity to the reader. :)

[tool25]

i love judith, great song... anyways i hear a few apc references on 10,000 days and quite frankly i like it

[blair's man sausage]

Well if you do a little bit of math, you figure a few things out.


It's also interesting to know that MJK changed the lyrics (in most cases, anyway) from "fuck your God" to "thank your God" after she died. He caught a lot of flack form this when the Lohner remix showed up on Underworld, but I think it's a very appropriate change.

:)

i've gathered all of the previously stated evidence, all of which makes the song that much more moving...i can see why AJ said playing it brings a tear to his eye...

I didn't know about the lyrical change in Judith...that's very cool...

[Chris_Brightwell]

I didn't know about the lyrical change in Judith...that's very cool...Well I used to just say, "He changed the lyrics," but I've been challenged on that and unable to verify it one way or the other.

I know for a fact that it was changed in the Lohner remix for Underworld and aMOTIOn. I also know that the shows I saw in 2004 featured the changed lyrics.

However, I do not know if he changed those lyrics during every performance of the Thirteenth Step tour. I'd dig through APC.net, but Skwerl's media stash is down for now. That's on my list of things to do once it's back up.

[blair's man sausage]

it makes sense....mjk while sarcastic and cynical has also demonstrated that he wears his emotions on his sleeve as well....my experience is he's funny as hell and extremely down to earth...along with the rest of the boys

[Anr149]

If you listened to the commentary on the APC dvd he talks about his mother being strong in her faith and having fake ass christians coming up to her offering sympathy and he says "spare me" in this song and i think he is trying to say that if christianity is the way to heaven then his mother would get her wings and if anyone deserved it, it's her.

[Renholder]

Well I used to just say, "He changed the lyrics," but I've been challenged on that and unable to verify it one way or the other.

I know for a fact that it was changed in the Lohner remix for Underworld and aMOTIOn. I also know that the shows I saw in 2004 featured the changed lyrics.

However, I do not know if he changed those lyrics during every performance of the Thirteenth Step tour. I'd dig through APC.net, but Skwerl's media stash is down for now. That's on my list of things to do once it's back up.

I went to one of the concerts during the Thirtheenth Step Tour and he definitely said "fuck Your God"... Perhaps this change was only there on the lohner remixes...who knows.

[Garguantua]

You nailed it.

I dunno. I get what I think he means. But the imagery changes everytime I hear it.
I think of many things and go down many paths when I hear those words and this music. Sometimes I think of me, sometimes of others, sometimes I go off on tangents.

He nailed it, for sure.

[Shyfted One]

I went to one of the concerts during the Thirtheenth Step Tour and he definitely said "fuck Your God"... Perhaps this change was only there on the lohner remixes...who knows.

Saw APC twice on that tour and both times it was "fuck"

I think it was just changed to be a "clean" version for the soundtrack

[cdburrner]

check out revelations... 10,000 days is a reference to the end days... the time after christ raptures his church and before the rest of us die...

[sillymonkeys]

Regardless of Revelations, I believe "10,000 days" is, as stated above, a reference to his mother's lifetime, post trauma.

[blair's man sausage]

i think 10,000 days has multiple meanings, the obvious one MJK's mom...but at the same time the title makes you think about all of the references to 27 years/10000 days and you can pull from that what you will

[xmorteferoz]

Would you guys please shut the fuck up about "The Anti-Christ." Look into a Biblical history course if you have the time.. Or at least turn on the History Channel once in a while. There is no goddamn "Anti-Christ," and there won't ever be one. It wasn't a literal reference to any one future figure.

[LiLponyAddiction]

as any avid tool fan knows, just because maynard wrote a song about something particular does not mean that's the only thing it's about. he packs in the levels of meaning like joyce or crowley.. also, as maynard himself has said over and over again, it doesn't matter what the song means to him, but what it means to the listener..

so sorry to burst your bubble, but it's far from the end of the discussion.

So true.

Since I was already aware of the circumstances of Maynard's mother's death and her faith, the line automatically meant this to me:

She spent roughly 10,000 days in a personal hell, her faith never waivering, and now that she has passed on she's been "lifted out" of the fire by the very creator that she pledged a lifetime of devotion and faith to. I think the "Give me my wings!" lines express how deserving she was of ascending into heaven.

I am in no way religious, but the song truly touches me. I try my best to put myself in Maynard's shoes...... and seriously it has brought me to tears.

[Wings]

the fires of hell

[MemphisM]

I went to one of the concerts during the Thirtheenth Step Tour and he definitely said "fuck Your God"... Perhaps this change was only there on the lohner remixes...who knows.

The change was for the radio version. I saw APC twice and both times distinctly remember the original lyric, "Fuck your God"....also, maybe it's been mentioned, but considering he says her name..."Judith Marie, unconditional one", the most obvious interpretation is that its about his mother. It seems to me he's saying to her, go get 'em, you earned 'em, you spent 10,000 days in hell on earth. And yes, in reference to above, it does clear up Jimmy and Judith.

[Cold Fluorescence]

10,000 days is actually December of 1978. Bin Laden the antichrist? Wow... just wow! I'm no christian, but even I know that's ridiculous. Perhaps Bin Laden was actually attacking the antichrist. Hmmm...

[mousersix]

I think this song is about George Bush earning his wings as a pilot. They denied him when he was in the airforce, they will not anymore! Give the man his wings!

well played.

[mousersix]

bin Laden is not and never has been anything anywhere on the scale of the Anti-Christ. Sure, he's a terrorist...but he's only a terrorist mastermind, not one who is actually willing to lay his own life down for the ideals he espouses. If bin Laden was so fervent about what he believes, he would've been ON one of the planes on September 11, 2001.

To say bin Laden is greater than he actually is is simply to play into his delusion of grandeur.

perhaps, but this is the wrong forum for that.

[holotrope]

To tell you the truth, the first image that came to mind was Hamlet (yes, Shakespeare).

When the Ghost speaks to Hamlet, he speaks of the fires of purgatory burning away a lifetime of sins.

In this case, 10,000 days of purgatory before the soul is sent home (i.e. cleansed of their sins, and go to Heaven).

Mind you, that's not really applicable to this song, as she wasn't dead, but it's just an image.

Well, she is dead now, and given the concept of Karma, each lifetime is exactly what you describe- a purgatory for the cleansing of the soul. Her Karmic burden was to be paralyzed, and to endure that painful existence for 10,000 days. This song sounds like a meditation directing energy towards Judith's after-death Enlightenment. Maynard feels like she suffered long enough, and now she can return to her spiritual home, which is the same home for all of us (since, after all, "we are eternal, all this pain is an illusion").

On this album, Maynard is using more Sufi imagery as opposed to the Vedic imagery of the past albums. 'Angels' as the enlightened state of man, and 'monkeys' as the creature that man was before he was "inspired" with the Divine spark....

[BlackBoxBuster]

wasn't 27 the age of Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Janis Joplin when they died?

[kylebubp]

When they came to Knoxville in November, he said "Thank".

[Tone Loc]

I think this song is about George Bush earning his wings as a pilot. They denied him when he was in the airforce, they will not anymore! Give the man his wings!

rofl, I just spit water on my keyboard at work.

[Triangular_Vision]

It's simple really. The tool album is released in 2006. It's entitled 10,000 days, about 27 years right, simple arithmetic: 2006+27 equals 2033, the Gregorian calendar marks two dates in Christian belief that are most important, Good Friday and Easter; in 2033 coming exactly 2000 years after Christ was crucified and resurrected. So now we must wait patiently in this fire that we vicariously live by (refer back to vicarious). In the hope and faith that Jesus and the Mehdi speak.

I thought the guy that went 27 years back to 1979 gave it a good go. Somehow his is more immediate contentwise with the whole Iran thing.


i want to hear more about this.

[Chris_Brightwell]

i want to hear more about this.Why? He's completely off the mark.

[imatoolhed]

Jmk's own personal hell she lived with, until her death. As for the word " fire " of course it's hell ...but those are mjk's feelings, she was deep into her faith so i'm sure "counted her blessings" as they say.



tool lives !!!!!!!

[guanche001]

You're all wrong...
27 years ago there was a movie made about the real savior! This movie perfectly explains the reason for maynards' resent towards christianity.. or so it seems... Check it out, you probably know the movie in your uncontious:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079470/

[Opiate_Mass]

I went to one of the concerts during the Thirtheenth Step Tour and he definitely said "fuck Your God"... Perhaps this change was only there on the lohner remixes...who knows.

He says fuck your god on my album

[fulmination]

Go listen to Jimmy on Aenima. It's been 10,000 days (give or take) since 1975 - when he was "11"... That's when he waved goodbye to "her". He strayed away from all that she believed then. Coincidently, Saturn's orbit (see "the grudge" - "Saturn comes back around") is around 29.4 years - thus, this cycle is completed and he is wide awake and heading home - whereas "she" is now dead and has gone home - 10,000 days since he strayed, now he's wide awake and heading home - although he has a different perspective of the divine than her, she nevertheless showed him that it is possible to "be" divine (10,000 days lyrics: "Who could deny you were the one who illuminated my piece of the divine"). I won't say more than this - keep digging.

[kyyuulle]

this song is about jimi hendrix, janis joplin, kurt cobain and jim morisson

the 27 year old curse

:: looks around ::

:: giggles ::

:: walks out of thread ::

[bellamadia]

It's his about his mom in the wheelchair for 27 years. End of discussion.


Exactly, she (Judith) lived for 10,000 days of hell (in the fire) being paralyzed. Perhaps he is referring to himself as living for 10,000 days of hell having to watch his mother like that.

[intoxic8]

i duno y everyone is findign this song so hard to interpret it's written very simply.

its a eulogy for his mum - in everyway
its slow paced, even though its 12 mins long- there are the atmospheric thunder sounds.
thelyrics are plain and simple, the fire symbolizes suffering of course, i don't know why everyone needs to refer to purgatory on earth or whatever.
i don't see any political connections what so ever.

judith is my least favourite MJK song in the world - but i understand that the theme is similar to that of 10,000 days, it's just that the 'fuck your god' line is lame imo- but it's cool that some of you dig it.

the style in which the lyrics are written is cool, he 'suspends his belief', since i think he doesnt actually believe in the christian heaven and shit but he does so to make the story work.

[smeefsmeef]

I think it's about Nard's mom... her suffering for 10,000 days during a stroke... but, was she religious or something? Where do these Biblical references come from?

[Chris_Brightwell]

I think it's about Nard's mom... her suffering for 10,000 days during a stroke... but, was she religious or something? Where do these Biblical references come from?Did you bother to read the rest of the thread, or did you just hit reply?

[scar]

Exactly, she (Judith) lived for 10,000 days of hell (in the fire) being paralyzed. Perhaps he is referring to himself as living for 10,000 days of hell having to watch his mother like that.


indeed.
"she never told a lie. well, might have told a lie, but never lived one." and maybe even, "Judith Marie, unconditional one." those seem to sum it up, if you haven't taken a chance to absorb the seventeen minutes and thirty-two seconds of eulogistic beauty that is so obviously directed to his mother. a peek into his reality. 10,000 days in hell on earth i.e. "the Fire." is long enough. your going home.
you know, now that i think about it. probably not even "hell on earth," but definitely daily struggles and trials and tribulation, and all of that which stemmed from the paralyzed state.

[bogsnarth]

as someone else pointed out "the fire" could also be a reference to purgatory, which is said, in some versions, to be a fire that burns away your sins.. and you spend however long it takes in purgatory until you're purged, and only then you can ascend to heaven.. so he's bascially saying, "ok you've been in purgatory for 10,000 days, you can go straight on up."

and lol @ smeefsmeef.. wait.. that *was* supposed to be a joke, right? :p

[bellamadia]

as someone else pointed out "the fire" could also be a reference to purgatory, which is said, in some versions, to be a fire that burns away your sins.. and you spend however long it takes in purgatory until you're purged, and only then you can ascend to heaven.. so he's bascially saying, "ok you've been in purgatory for 10,000 days, you can go straight on up."


That's an interesting interpretation I hadn't considered. Good one.

[arcane]

I completely agree that the 'fire' is purgatory. I think Maynard is describing his Mother's death on earth as happening from the moment she became paralysed. 'Eleven and she was gone. Eleven is when we waved good-bye' - she 'died' and went to purgatory when he was 11, spent 10, 000 days there and as bogsnarth explained, then she ascended. Her real death took her straight to heaven.

[Spectrix]

You all are talking as if you know he's talking about his mother for sure. Did you ever stop to think that there are other things he might have meant by it? Think about what Tool talks about in all the albums..it's a spiritual type of guidance in a way. If you where in a band that has as many fans as Tool would you write most of your music about your mom....or would you make it aimed more towards the audience that's listening? If I was in his position I would probably write a song about my mom, but I wouldn't base my most awaited album of all time around it.

[arcane]

Are you serious? He says her name - that's a pretty big hint.

[xPOGOx]

It's simple really. The tool album is released in 2006. It's entitled 10,000 days, about 27 years right, simple arithmetic: 2006+27 equals 2033, the Gregorian calendar marks two dates in Christian belief that are most important, Good Friday and Easter; in 2033 coming exactly 2000 years after Christ was crucified and resurrected. So now we must wait patiently in this fire that we vicariously live by (refer back to vicarious). In the hope and faith that Jesus and the Mehdi speak.
Interesting. I don't think I fully buy this yet...because I don't think Tool is going to be telling me about the second coming...but still, interesting thought nonetheless.

[xPOGOx]

Are you serious? He says her name - that's a pretty big hint.
Hmm, QFE.

[Terry21]

The song is about Maynards mother and her suffering, but being such a good person nonetheless. He shows his love and apprecciation for everything that she did. "Give me my wings" is so awesome lyrically, because it's Maynard's way to say that she was an angel all the time (word play I guess) and now she has got the right to have her "wings" along with the ability to move. Maybe Maynard in the past was bad to her because of her religion but now he is accepting it or something like that. Nonetheless, the title is also refering to something anybody said, I read it at Wikipedia, but it seems like they've taken it out.

[b0dah]

The year 2033 (MMXXXIII) :

Predicted events

* In accordance with traditional values that Jesus was born in 1 BC or 1 AD, Good Friday and Easter of 2033 will be two of the most historic days for Christianity, marking the 2000th year since Jesus the Christ was crucified and resurrected.

[Terry21]

Holy focking shit.

[Chris_Brightwell]

You all are talking as if you know he's talking about his mother for sure.
And you're talking like you know something I don't.

I'm dying to hear it.

[Starblue]

when i heard this and read the lyrics i assumed the fire refered to being in hell



yeah me too
she suffered for 27 years being being paralyzed so I guess maynard thought that was hell


So I just insert hell in place of fire for it's meaning

"10000 days in the hell is long enough..."

[arcane]

Hmm, QFE.

Meaning?

[Spectrix]

Meaning?

QFE -

An acronym for Quoted for Emphasis, it's used to help drive a point home to someone who's fairly dimwitted. Also used when someone makes an exceedingly good point, and people want to make sure that it gets across. Usually seen used in internet forums.

They're saying I'm wrong..I just don't want to believe it.

[HateSolstice]

This song ranks right up there with Ænema as being extremely straightforward. Seriously, having such a debate over the meaning of the song, or even something as simple as the refrence to fire in the song seems kind of silly.

It's already been said, but for some reason at very great length. "10,000 days in the fire is long enough, You're going home!" It basically translates into "27 years of being in a paralyzed and otherwise overwhelming state of helplessness, get your ass up to heaven and kick God in the nuts". Perhaps not that brutal of a definition, but really that's it in a nutshell.

Yes, it's a beautiful song, and to sit here debating whether it's about Bin Laden, Bush, the "real" Hell, the Anti-christ, whatever is just dumb, and practically ruins the beauty of this song. Really, it isn't complicated at all, and acting like it is will get you nowhere.

[bad1182002]

Its like 12 minutes of driving rain with the base just driving the song. At first, it annoyed me to not be able to hear maynard with my 3 and 5 year olds bothering me but then got the chance to listen to it by myself and fell in love. What ever it is about doesn't matter to me but I do think he is letting himself "believe" in a god again. Fun stuff but probably the last tool album.

[scar]

This song ranks right up there with Ænema as being extremely straightforward. Seriously, having such a debate over the meaning of the song, or even something as simple as the refrence to fire in the song seems kind of silly.

It's already been said, but for some reason at very great length. "10,000 days in the fire is long enough, You're going home!" It basically translates into "27 years of being in a paralyzed and otherwise overwhelming state of helplessness, get your ass up to heaven and kick God in the nuts". Perhaps not that brutal of a definition, but really that's it in a nutshell.

Yes, it's a beautiful song, and to sit here debating whether it's about Bin Laden, Bush, the "real" Hell, the Anti-christ, whatever is just dumb, and practically ruins the beauty of this song. Really, it isn't complicated at all, and acting like it is will get you nowhere.



INFUCKINGDEED!!!

[Zulkis]

i agree, maybe it is time for you to see how U relate to this song other than to think what is it about?

move by will alone...

[Mike Okherts]

"10,000 days in the fire is long enough", is definitly a reference to the time his mother spent confined to a wheelchair, dealing with the tragic effects of a brain aneurysm. There is no need to read into every song so deep, some things are right on the surface.

[arcane]

QFE -

An acronym for Quoted for Emphasis, it's used to help drive a point home to someone who's fairly dimwitted. Also used when someone makes an exceedingly good point, and people want to make sure that it gets across. Usually seen used in internet forums.

They're saying I'm wrong..I just don't want to believe it.


Ok, thanks.

[moneyisevil]

Well I used to just say, "He changed the lyrics," but I've been challenged on that and unable to verify it one way or the other.

I know for a fact that it was changed in the Lohner remix for Underworld and aMOTIOn. I also know that the shows I saw in 2004 featured the changed lyrics.

However, I do not know if he changed those lyrics during every performance of the Thirteenth Step tour. I'd dig through APC.net, but Skwerl's media stash is down for now. That's on my list of things to do once it's back up.
i have a bunch of concerts from the 13th step tour, and not once in the ones i have does he say "thank your god"...and as far as the lohner mix....that mix was out wayyyyy before emotive and lohner just used the "edited" version of the song that appeared on music channels....also when apc would perform the song on tv (leno etc. ) the nard would always say "thank" just to self censor.....

[Spectrix]

Either way...when he says Fuck your god..or thank your god..he's meaning the same thing...He's just being sarcastic when he says Thank your god..and being for angry when he says fuck your god.