Although it doesn't matter

[Disco Stu]

and there is no right or wrong in the interpretations of this song, particularly since Maynard loves them metaphors, I must say I don't think the Patient has as specific of a refernce as people are saying. As I posted before, I think it simply about the pain of being aware and yet so unaware at the same time, futility and limitation only to wait for an inevitable mortality.

[paraflux]

I think most Tool songs do not reference specific things. If you keep the meaning limited to a specific, you block out the larger picture quite frequently.