Swamp Song/Drug Use

[DisgracedEffigy]

I had ideas posted here and then realized something. I was thinking inside the box as the rest of you are. I'll explain more later.

[Midwinter]

This is what happens when people ignore all things spiritual..everything is suddenly drug-induced. Don't let yourself be moulded by society, break free from you close-mindedness and read between the lines. It doesn't matter if your opinion is wrong, but to say that all Tool songs are about drugs is rather ignorant, don't you think?

[imtheism]

Tool has not as of this date written a song about drugs.

edit: except for gaping lotus ;)

[UncnciousShadow]

I think Swamp song is about drug use or possibly religion...

[zxz]

drug addiction is a valid topic for rock n roll songs dont you think?? even it is not implyed directly?

[zxz]

I sure am glad that someone is soo sure that they are "in the know" about what tool writes about.

[AllforUnity]

What?

[iampete]

if this song is about drug addiction then i don't like it anywhere near as mich as i thought i did....luckily i dont agree that it is..

[Abhored-Paradox]

Why is it that in almost every post there is someone who thinks the song is about drugs?

[radmanics]

drugs are not just weed, coke, heroin remember... think bigger... anything you take or experience which gives you pleasure can be called a drug. .... religion could be.

[Undertolerance]

This is one of few Tool songs that I think is actually touching on religious experiences, in some ways and other types of experiences as well. The reason that I feel it is sorta religous is because of my own jaded look at it.
My warning meant nothing.-Possibly about someone warning not to bother with it.
You're dancing in quicksand.-How its worse than it seems.
Why don't you watch where you're wandering?-Going blindly into it.
Why don't you watch where you're stumbling?-Being lead through it.
You're wading knee deep and going in.-Once again back to the quicksand.
And you may never come back again.-The get you in, now you can't get out.
This bog is thick and easy to get lost in
when you're a stupid,dumb ass, beligerant fucker.- What more can I say? =)
I hope it sucks you down.-Giving up on the person, because of being sucked in.
Wander in and wandering.-Once again going blindly and dumbly.
No one even invited you in.-They seem as though you shouldn't be there.
But still you stumble in stumbling.-Trying to prove yourself to the group.
So suffocate
or get out while you can.-Stay and die or run while you can.
No one told you to come.-Again none of them accept you for you.
I hope it sucks you down.-Giving up on the person that was sucked in and leaving them to their fate.

Funny how I can get so much out of so little, but that song just really stricks a cord with me and fuels my dislike for Organized (or Disorganized) Religion.

[AllforUnity]

l'm still waiting for zxz to tell me what he's talking about?


And UncnciousShadow, why don't you tell us a little about WHY you think that? Because l'd like to know your thoughts.

[PRNinja23]

As a parallel to my experiences this song relates directly to drug use. It's from all the times that people told me to "watch out" because hard drugs will suck you down into a deep, thick, bog. I was a belligerant fucker. I told everyone to screw off, that I knew what I was doing, that I could quit anytime. "Stop bothering me, I'm just having a good time."

Many lines, many crimes later, I found out that they were right. There was one time when I could've gotten out, one day I woke up without physical cravings. But, being a belligerant fucker, I used this as an excuse to celebrate... By getting high. So much for that one.

[PRNinja23]

Why is it that in almost every post there is someone who thinks the song is about drugs?

Because on Undertow they are. Most of them are about *not doing* drugs, but that's not what I wanted to hear when I was doing drugs, so I never heard that. When I was deep in my addiction, in fact, I stopped listening to Tool altogether, not wanting to face the fact that I was so comfortably drowning...

[On the floor crying]

Tool has not as of this date written a song about drugs.

edit: except for gaping lotus ;)


***********
now that is ignorant.

do not try and state a fact when you have no supporting information.

edit:i am not implying, or supporting the topic of whether or not this "swamp song" is about drugs.

[Suso22]

Well, swamp song could have a lot of different meanings for different people according to that particular person's mental makeup. As far as a correlation with drug use/abuse, sure...why not??

If you'll allow it, I'd like to compare it with an APC song>namely, Blue.

In Blue, the main character of the story is basically retracing his steps as to where he went wrong with his friend who overdosed and subsequently died because of it( hence, the color blue.) So, when the main character sees their blue face, he's indifferent, but still very deeply hurt because he realizes in that instant that he could have done something to help the victim.

In Swamp Song, the main character is unwilling to help the person besides giving advice to stay out of the "quicksand," i.e. circle of abuse. If he chooses to ignore that advice, so be it, he will die or at least continue to suffer.

Just to spit in the wind, I'm gonna stretch this theory out to say that Maynard went from that stage (Swamp Song) in his relationship with an abuser to a new stage which is represented by a new song, Blue.

OR NOT.........................whatever.

[AllforUnity]

l think in blue it's talking about someone who's sad, hence blue, not someone who's died. Alot of the time when someone dies they turn white...not blue. Unless they drowned. l think in the song it's such a lovely color, because the girl is finally sad about what she's done, and it's good to know she cares. But then again, l can see why it could be about someone overdossing on drugs too...because in the song all they do is "sit and stare at you." l guess there's different opinions for different songs...the whole reason of this part of Toolshed, if l'm not mistaken.

[Suso22]

I don't want my post to turn into an analysis of blue, I rather just used that example to perhaps provide some insight into a correlation betw/ swamp song and drugs. I did this because one of the most intriguing things about all these lyrics is that there are so many different layers which may overlap if one bothers to notice...

[Suso22]

Midwinter- There is a such thing as drug-induced spiritualism and as far as being moulded by society, it is inevitable...The idea is to express yourself in individual ways so we all can learn something from each other.

That is why some people think TOOL sing about drugs and some don't.

[AllforUnity]

Well it's meant to keep you guessing.

[ADRTYGRL]

Life, that bog, sucks us down, when hating, couldn't you just beam at the sight of your enemy drowning? be

[Suso22]

Was that a poem...or just your speech to text? Either way, I think what you are saying is pretty apt. It's interesting, actually. 'Quicksand' in this instance could be a neverending circle of hate from which the main character must escape...but, the only way to do so would be to abandon the hate...which he just can't do...oh shit ---I can't do this, I'm confused...

[AllforUnity]

Actually that post just confused me.

[Suso22]

Which one??

[AllforUnity]

Not yours, the one before yours, which you commented on.

[Suso22]

Yes, I think that person was onto something...dirty? dirty? girl?

[AllforUnity]

Could be. Or maybe someone's little sister got ahold of the computer again.

[christ oxide]

i dotn have a clue anymore

[Metamorphosis]

im sick of people saying that this song IS about THIS, as if you'd know. all you can do is assume what the songs are about. and i think this song is either about drug use and or philosophy, cus i know they both suck you down into a downward spiral.

[Suso22]

im sick of people saying that this song IS about THIS, as if you'd know. all you can do is assume what the songs are about. and i think this song is either about drug use and or philosophy, cus i know they both suck you down into a downward spiral.


We all interpret something different from these songs and we can learn something from other people's viewpoints...and it is also fun...so relax. Plus, I think you might be onto something...drug use or philosiphy--too broad a statement, could you clarify with an example?

[idontmind462]

im sick of people saying that this song IS about THIS, as if you'd know. all you can do is assume what the songs are about. and i think this song is either about drug use and or philosophy, cus i know they both suck you down into a downward spiral.You're correct. Maynard's philosophy.

[AllforUnity]

l say this IS about THIS because it's MY opinion about it...and to ME that's what the song IS about. l was taught in school to never say "l think" before you spill what your opinion is...it's very unprofessional.

[Undertolerance]

You all need to calm thy CHI. Be it biased I still like my opinion on this song, be it only mine and therefore I care not if you all agree with me or not, I just want you to see it my way. It saddens me that lately almost no one is free to say what they think without people coming down upon them like vultures, saying this about what is "right" and "wrong". Carrion birds picking apart those whom you feel are frail, *shakes head* More people really need to take these posts into consideration with a bit more patieance and tact. Understand first that people are all different and unique, thusly all thoughts and perceptions are unique and different unto each.
You lie, cheat, and steal...
And yet I tolerate you.

[AllforUnity]

All the lyrics are meant to be for each individual to interpret; that's the reason we leave a lot of the subject matter wide open. That's
one of the whole points to the band; that way, people can be drawn into
it and get something out of it, let their own mind work a little bit.
Lyrics were always a secondary thing for me too- like most of my records
I listen to, I didn't know what half the people are saying. I'm
listening to their phrasing and the way they sing it and the emotions
more, so I always looked at the voice more like an instrument, I guess.

[Nick P]

Well, swamp song could have a lot of different meanings for different people according to that particular person's mental makeup. As far as a correlation with drug use/abuse, sure...why not??

If you'll allow it, I'd like to compare it with an APC song>namely, Blue.

In Blue, the main character of the story is basically retracing his steps as to where he went wrong with his friend who overdosed and subsequently died because of it( hence, the color blue.) So, when the main character sees their blue face, he's indifferent, but still very deeply hurt because he realizes in that instant that he could have done something to help the victim.

In Swamp Song, the main character is unwilling to help the person besides giving advice to stay out of the "quicksand," i.e. circle of abuse. If he chooses to ignore that advice, so be it, he will die or at least continue to suffer.

Just to spit in the wind, I'm gonna stretch this theory out to say that Maynard went from that stage (Swamp Song) in his relationship with an abuser to a new stage which is represented by a new song, Blue.

OR NOT.........................whatever.

[Nick P]

Ive read interviews with MJK and he's said that he wants his songs to have multiple interpritations, but i agree with SO so Or whatever your name is but i have to ask: what's with the Dragon ball z?

[AllforUnity]

That confuses me as well.

[Undertolerance]

A sign of ego perhaps, maybe he thinks he is a badass as Vegeta. But perhaps he is just a big fan of the show. Only he can tell for us for sure. I still like the fact that no one has placed my avatar yet =P. Good luck!