Correction to lyrics...

[rubin]

At the end of the song, I am quite sure that it is not, as it says in the lyrics section:
Angels on the sideline again,
[Mixing love / Benched along] with patience and reason.
Angels on the sideline again,
Wondering where this tug of war will end.

but

Angels on the sideline again,
BEEN TOO LONG with patience and reason.
Angels on the sideline again,
Wondering where this tug of war will end.

Bee free to disagree...

[lizbiz]

Agree. I'm sure people will flame you by saying there is a lyrics section for this, but I'm on your side :)

I always thought it was 'Been SO long', but 'TOO LONG' makes just as much sense.

[rubin]

Thanks, and by the way, WHERE is that lyrics section? I thought I was posting in the correct spot!?

[Terry21]

I agree 100%. I said before that I thought it was been too long, but you know, no one listens to me. :) The first guess of that lyric was "been so long" and I don't have a frickin' clue why so many people turn to these other stupid interpretations. Been too long is correct in my opinion.

And by the way, straight over the "Vicarious" forum, there is "What's he saying". ;)

[vicarious462]

At the end of the song, I am quite sure that it is not, as it says in the lyrics section:
Angels on the sideline again,
[Mixing love / Benched along] with patience and reason.
Angels on the sideline again,
Wondering where this tug of war will end.

but

Angels on the sideline again,
BEEN TOO LONG with patience and reason.
Angels on the sideline again,
Wondering where this tug of war will end.

Bee free to disagree...

I disagree........why do you think they are on the sidelines.....benched...not been too long.

[Terry21]

Why do you think that sideline is so important?

[vicarious462]

because I think BENCHED is important.....it only makes sense with the word sideline in it.

Benched along with patience and reason.

Why do you think that sideline is so important?

[Terry21]

Been too long with patience and reason.

[simplydaman87]

how does "been too long" make any sense with the song, if it really is "been too long" then that lyric implies that we have been using patience and reason for a long time, which completely contradicts the rest of the song. plus benched makes complete sense and there's a clear "ch" sound

[Terry21]

Who is talking about us?

The angels have been too long with patience and reason. They have watched us so long and did nothing. Quite similar to the subject of Judith actually.

It's not an attack at god, it means that believing in something like that is rubbish.

Of course, it's just a theory that Maynard is mocking the angels too in the lyric. I used to think it was "been so long", that would fit with the other interpretation of the song. It's mocking the humans. The angels are forced to watch this drama all the time.

The ch sound... You should know Maynard by now. He speaks out the words different. Same thing as the "Jambi eyes" phenomenon.

It's chime now, my chime now!

[Legion]

After listening to that section for the last 20 mins, I'm 99.9% sure that it is Been too long. I don't think Maynard is mocking the Angels, the theme of the song is evolution in reason. We start with Angels watching us bumbling around with our new gift of free will. We soon find a direction for our gift of free will, we turn it to malice by forging a blade. The Angels soon realize that we have taken a path that leads to immense suffering for all humanity. With our thumbs we form a club and beat our brother down. The next observation is that we've become vile creatures that would use our short existence for the purpose of taking life.

Which brings us to the end of the song, one last observation from those who watch from above. They have been sidelined, unable to influence our direction or help us to realize that we're wasting our potential. Their gift was infinite reason and patience and they just sit wondering when it all will end.

[PShepherd11]

I believe that he is saying "Benched along with patience and reason" as in patience and reason are not being used and the angels are alongside those qualities, also unable to take action.

[bassmaster]

I personally reckon it's benched.
I've been listening to the song on repeat whilst reading this part of the forum (5th time through) and I swear he says benched.
Maynard's diction (ie. his clarity of voice and pronounciation when singing) is quite good; I'm not hearing a "t" sound but rather a "ch" sound.

[JDParker7]

how does "been too long" make any sense with the song, if it really is "been too long" then that lyric implies that we have been using patience and reason for a long time, which completely contradicts the rest of the song. plus benched makes complete sense and there's a clear "ch" sound

agreed.
Benched is the logical choice if you're talking about a sideline.
And Right In Two is the logical choice if you're talking about the best track on the album.

[Alex in Chains]

there's a clear "ch" sound

I'm not hearing a "t" sound but rather a "ch" sound.

I hear a "ch" sound too. It's because the line is "picture of impatience and reason," goddammit. I guess no one will believe me until the official lyrics come out. Sigh . . .

[Cheesegreater]

I think at the end of Right in Two the last verse he says

Angels on the sideline again
"Picture love with patience and reason"

That's just my opinion, and "picture love" is said relatively quickly.

[Alex in Chains]

agreed.
Benched is the logical choice if you're talking about a sideline.
And Right In Two is the logical choice if you're talking about the best track on the album.

Not even close on either.

[bassmaster]

Those last 3 posts are pretty good too.
Now I'm not so sure about 'benched'.
This song is so tricky for lyrics in a few places.

[Cheesegreater]

Those last 3 posts are pretty good too.
Now I'm not so sure about 'benched'.
This song is so tricky for lyrics in a few places.

Listen to it at 7:07 or so and listen for that second line. It also makes sense as a sentence. It makes the two lines one sentence essentially, instead of a fragment following it. "Angels on the sideline again picture love with patience and reason." And yes, it is quite difficult to detect articulate details in the lyrics in parts of this song.

Tool just puts priority on the instruments and always have.

[Alex in Chains]

It makes the two lines one sentence essentially, instead of a fragment following it. "Angels on the sideline again picture love with patience and reason."

That's not a sentence, unless you're saying that the angels picture love with patience and reason. In that case, it's a poorly-worded sentence.

Picture of impatience and reason.

[RiseToYourHalo]

I think at the end of Right in Two the last verse he says

Angels on the sideline again
"Picture love with patience and reason"

That's just my opinion, and "picture love" is said relatively quickly.

This is very possible. Angels recognize our divine nature with patience and reason while we are cutting in two. From the sideline, they encourage us to do the same and ‘picture love with patience and reason.’

Maynard sees his mother as an angel in this way in Wings. ‘You were my witness, my eyes, my evidence, Judith Marie, unconditional one.’

I like this lyric Cheesegreater, even if it’s not official.

[There is no spoon]

here's what it is...

Angels on the sideline again,
BENCHED ALONG with patience and reason.
Angels on the sideline again,
Wondering when this tug of war will end...

If you're on the sideline, you're BENCHED. Hasn't anyone ever played sports, watched sports, or even heard of sports?

[There is no spoon]

It's not rocket-science people. Jesus, every little lyric doesn't need to have some secret meaning, or a lofty purpose. Maynard is just a regular person, just like you, just like me. He's probably laughing at all the useless chatter about every single line he sings.

Sometimes, the lyrics aren't as complex as everyone makes them out to be.

[Cheesegreater]

It's not rocket-science people. Jesus, every little lyric doesn't need to have some secret meaning, or a lofty purpose. Maynard is just a regular person, just like you, just like me. He's probably laughing at all the useless chatter about every single line he sings.

Sometimes, the lyrics aren't as complex as everyone makes them out to be.

Is that really necessary? I'm very proud of you for discovering the true lyric. And yes, I certainly understand the sports reference, and I'm sure every one else sees that too. I find there is a "p" sound. All I was trying to do is make a suggestion of changing one little word, and you have to come on thick with sarcasm. Is this not the place to post an idea of what a word might be in a song? And I really don' t see how I'm making "everything sooooo complex" by offering a change to one measly word, the others of which I totally agree with. It's not like I'm trying to decipher "the Holy Gift" or trying to unlock some key to the universe. It's a word.. it's called "picture". I think it's being said. Where is the "lofty purpose" I think everyone is missing? What's the secret meaning I'm dying for everyone to know??? You totally directed this at the wrong guy. I'll learn to keep my opinions to myself. What was I thinking?!? On an opinion forum at that!

Anyway, I was wanting some constructive criticism of that word, no need to be condescending. If it makes you happy... "Yes, I totally get it! A sport reference! Who would have ever thought that's what a SIDELINE is! WOW! They're just sitting on the benches! So easy! Thanks for opening my eyes! I can't see the plain truth." : )

Peace out

[RiseToYourHalo]

^That’s funny.

My college thinks I’m smarter because I interpreted shit in lit class ;)

Music and words affect people in different ways.


My own perception of angels is that they cannot be sidelined/benched or impatient in unity consciousness.

Angels don't participate in the tug of war so they see the 'big picture’ and both sides.

IMHO


So 'picture' makes sense to ME, and maybe someone else too.

Maynard could piss his pants laughing at me for ‘analyzing’ his songs. I'd be laughing just as hard.

It's all for fun.

[There is no spoon]

if you hear a "P" sound, go get a Q-Tip

[Cheesegreater]

That's not a sentence, unless you're saying that the angels picture love with patience and reason. In that case, it's a poorly-worded sentence.

Picture of impatience and reason.

Well, "Picture of impatience and reason." is a fragment from a grammatical stand-point. I don't see how my sentence is "poorly worded" either. What are the angels on the sideline doing? They are picturing love, but not only that, a certain kind of love with patience and reason.

[wearethestories]

the only thing that really makes any remote sense seems to be "benched along with patience and reason" because they are sitting on the "sidelines", "waiting for this tug of war to end" --- who benches and why is an interesting question, but I think it's pretty clear DESPITE THE SOUND PHENOMENON that both sides seem to disregard that the only plausible lyric is BENCHED ALONG WITH PATIENCE AND REASON.

BEEN TOO LONG makes absolutely no sense in the least:
the angels have been to long with with patience and reason that they sit on the sidelines of the "battle" and wait for the tug of war to end?

It makes infinitely more sense to say that, along with patience and reason, (the only two things that would really make a difference in the monkey-wars), divine intervention has been suspended while the apes duke it out.

[Cheesegreater]

Why say the only remote thing that makes sense? Honestly man, there've already been a few people who say "picture love" makes sense. I see how lovely the connection would be though. Also, who said the angels we're ever sitting. Never goes says that. My theory is just as plausible as yours. Plus, I don't hear the "ng".

Maynard, you've had your fun, let us have the damn lyrics. I'm convinced hes read (possibly even anonymously posted) here, and loves the fact that we haven't cracked the whole album yet.

[RiseToYourHalo]

if you hear a "P" sound, go get a Q-TipLOL. Thanks for the personal hygiene tip.

[semcgl]

Yeah you are probably correct it just seems "Been so(too) long" is not consistant with the overall grammar he uses in the song. Most likely we will always only guess and I think thats the way he likes it and so do I.At the end of the song, I am quite sure that it is not, as it says in the lyrics section:
Angels on the sideline again,
[Mixing love / Benched along] with patience and reason.
Angels on the sideline again,
Wondering where this tug of war will end.

but

Angels on the sideline again,
BEEN TOO LONG with patience and reason.
Angels on the sideline again,
Wondering where this tug of war will end.

Bee free to disagree...

[brcy]

"blessed with love and patience and reason"

[Cheesegreater]

"blessed with love and patience and reason"

That would work too, I just can't seem to hear that.

[wearethestories]

Why say the only remote thing that makes sense? Honestly man, there've already been a few people who say "picture love" makes sense. I see how lovely the connection would be though. Also, who said the angels we're ever sitting. Never goes says that. My theory is just as plausible as yours. Plus, I don't hear the "ng".

I stand corrected... "picture love" seems PLAUSIBLE, but, I think, still highly unlikely given the SIDELINE imagery that you seem to concede here. And I stand (sit) corrected as I mistakenly said "sit" rather than just say that they are on the sideline. They could be sitting or standing. I'm sorry. "Benching" doesn't imply sitting, however, as someone who is "benched for a game" doesn't have to just sit on his/her ass the whole time... they are allowed to stand. And you're right, it "never goes says that". My bad.

And, in case you didn't read my WHOLE last post, I'll elaborate:

Now that we have most of the lyrics down, we seem to be stuck on a few key words. However, given the evidence of NO ONE getting "cozened" in 'The Pot' or "X, yogi, DMT" in 'Rosetta Stoned' and those same no one's getting all up in a huff over they're own interpretations being so valid because they HEARD the right lyric (though, obviously, wrong)....

LET'S NOT USE HOW WE HEAR THE LYRIC TO COMPLETELY VALIDATE OUR OWN INTERPRETATION. Yes, hearing the words/sounds are incredibly necessary... this IS music the last time I checked and we DO need our ears for it... but I don't think that we can shrug someone's opinion off or hold fast to our own based on "well, I hear this so there". It's kind of childish and, as proven with the other "OFFICIAL LYRICS", quite fallible.

[brcy]

I stand corrected... "picture love" seems PLAUSIBLE, but, I think, still highly unlikely given the SIDELINE imagery that you seem to concede here. And I stand (sit) corrected as I mistakenly said "sit" rather than just say that they are on the sideline. They could be sitting or standing. I'm sorry. "Benching" doesn't imply sitting, however, as someone who is "benched for a game" doesn't have to just sit on his/her ass the whole time... they are allowed to stand. And you're right, it "never goes says that". My bad.

And, in case you didn't read my WHOLE last post, I'll elaborate:

Now that we have most of the lyrics down, we seem to be stuck on a few key words. However, given the evidence of NO ONE getting "cozened" in 'The Pot' or "X, yogi, DMT" in 'Rosetta Stoned' and those same no one's getting all up in a huff over they're own interpretations being so valid because they HEARD the right lyric (though, obviously, wrong)....

LET'S NOT USE HOW WE HEAR THE LYRIC TO COMPLETELY VALIDATE OUR OWN INTERPRETATION. Yes, hearing the words/sounds are incredibly necessary... this IS music the last time I checked and we DO need our ears for it... but I don't think that we can shrug someone's opinion off or hold fast to our own based on "well, I hear this so there". It's kind of childish and, as proven with the other "OFFICIAL LYRICS", quite fallible.

Good one.

[Alex in Chains]

Well, "Picture of impatience and reason." is a fragment from a grammatical stand-point. I don't see how my sentence is "poorly worded" either. What are the angels on the sideline doing? They are picturing love, but not only that, a certain kind of love with patience and reason.

First of all, I never said that "picture of impatience and reason" was a sentence. Secondly, your sentence is very poorly worded: "Angels on the sideline again picture love and patience and reason." You don't see a problem with the placement of "again"? It's pretty awkward, to say the least.

Mine consists of no sentences, but it makes a fuck of a lot more sense: "Angels on the sideline again, picture of impatience and reason." The angels in the song have already been described in this way. Maynard first sings

"Angels on the sideline, puzzled and amused," then

"Angels on the sideline, baffled and confused," and finally

"Angels on the sideline again, picture of impatience and reason."

First, they're puzzled and oddly entertained by the monkeys before them, asking why God gave them free will because all they do is fight, and needlessly so -- "Eden has enough to go around." Next, they're confused: If these monkeys have the gift of reason, how could they choose to kill each other "over pieces of the ground"? Finally, towards the end of the song, the angels are sitting on the sideline again, and in their REASON, they IMPATIENTLY wait for the tug-of-war to end. And if an observer were to see these angels, well then he just might use a time-tested metaphor (as in "picture of _____") and describe those angels as the "picture of impatience and reason." I would have thought this obvious.

[Cheesegreater]

Alex, this is why I'm not going to the "Right in Two" lyrics page anymore. By the way, thanks 'Stories for being reasonable, and of course, having my back the other day with Inner. It's funny, I think Inner forgets other threads that he's talked to me on and "totally agreed" or said "great, someone with common sense." It's just funny seeing the transition (180) he did, but I still think he's an all right guy.

Anyway, who cares that the sentence is a fragment. My bad for saying so. Having taking some creative writing courses I can't help but think of what my teacher told me about songs. "You can get away with a lot more." Therefor, I feel stupid for pointing out that your sentence is a fragment when I know deep down it wouldn't matter in the first place, to me at least. The reason I believe my sentence is grammatically sound is pretty reasonable. He says angels on the sideline a couple of times. When you describe something a couple of times before in your writing it makes a lot of sense to use a line like "again" "once more" and so on just so it's not as dull. Having said that, I think it's ok to say my interpretation. I mean, lyricist have to compromise sometimes. How 'bout "Angels are on the sideline again, and they are picturing love with patience and reason but unfortuneately to no avail." Just kidding. Maynard is good at getting in really long and delightful lines, but he would be hard pressed to do that one!

Later guys.. it's pot roast time!

[RiseToYourHalo]

Based on my own perception of angels, the angels in the hearts of men are the ones 'benched'.

Angels ‘above’ would witness the game as a unified One Mind.

Any ego concept of separation or duality (two sides) would be inconceivable.

They would not be uncertain (puzzled, baffled, confused) or irritated (petulant).

And they would not be entertained (amused) by our unfortunate state of war.

Angels are eternal and beyond time (been too long, been so long, impatience).

And they are never inactive (sidelined, benched).

Again and again, in every moment, they hold the picture of our divinity (Love).

While we divide and cut Love in two to play tug of war with ourselves.

Monkey mind (ego) and angel mind (divinity) are in tension in the game of two sides.

Choose to bench your own inner angel and ‘wonder’ when division will end.

Or, choose to lift an eye to Heaven and play in the holy garden as One.

[wearethestories]

Interesting...

So the whole of "Right In Two" then becomes an inner struggle between differing parts of ourselves and we must rise above the complacency and embrace the One?

It's a good thought, I just see the whole album (and this comes from some of Paraflux's "fluxterpation of 10,000 Days") as quite passive. In AEnima, Maynard told us to move beyond the shadow and pry open our third eye; and in Lateralus, he told us to give away the stone, restore communication, and escape narcissism to become One (like you said). Yet there are no words of advice or encouragment to do ANYTHING in this album. The whole album seems to reject even the spirit of advising and instead sends all these messages of everything being F.U.B.A.R. and not being able to do anything about it.

For more on this, please read the fluxterpation and my own (rather long) thread in the "Intension" forum.

[RiseToYourHalo]

Interesting...

So the whole of "Right In Two" then becomes an inner struggle between differing parts of ourselves and we must rise above the complacency and embrace the One?

It's a good thought, I just see the whole album (and this comes from some of Paraflux's "fluxterpation of 10,000 Days") as quite passive. In AEnima, Maynard told us to move beyond the shadow and pry open our third eye; and in Lateralus, he told us to give away the stone, restore communication, and escape narcissism to become One (like you said). Yet there are no words of advice or encouragment to do ANYTHING in this album. The whole album seems to reject even the spirit of advising and instead sends all these messages of everything being F.U.B.A.R. and not being able to do anything about it.

For more on this, please read the fluxterpation and my own (rather long) thread in the "Intension" forum.
The time of instruction and advice has ended. It is time to put into PRACTICE what you have learned, what you believe and what you preach. It’s YOUR time now. Shit or get off the pot.

Everyone will assign their own meaning and significance to these songs. Personally, I don’t recognize any themes of hopelessness or passivity in 10,000 Days. I do recognize a call to make the right CHOICE or continue to suffer the consequences and learn the hard way.

I enjoyed an ongoing discussion with paraflux in his insightful interpretation thread, mainly to make the point that any concept of a ‘gap’ infers separation. Part of my own spiritual practice is to constantly discern whether the thoughts, concepts and beliefs I choose to hold separate or unify. Maintaining a perception of divine unity is the key to inner and outer peace.

This is what we CHOOSE.


+

“The Martial Way begins with one thousand days and is mastered after ten thousand days of training.”

- Mas Oyama, martial arts master, founder of kyokushin karate
http://www.fightingmaster.com/articles/oyamamottos/oyama.htm

[Eulogy33]

At the end of the song, I am quite sure that it is not, as it says in the lyrics section:
Angels on the sideline again,
[Mixing love / Benched along] with patience and reason.
Angels on the sideline again,
Wondering where this tug of war will end.

but

Angels on the sideline again,
BEEN TOO LONG with patience and reason.
Angels on the sideline again,
Wondering where this tug of war will end.

Bee free to disagree...


i agree BUT....i think instead of "where this tug of war will end" he says "WHEN this tug of war will end"

[ahhnevermind]

Okay I hate jumping in on these things but...

"Angels on the sidelines again been too long with patience and reason"
"Angels on the sidelines again picture love with patience and reason"

Does anyone else find this absolutely ridiculous/lyironic?

To get to these lyrics there is dissection of phonemes in the name of fanboy science to discover what TRULY LIES INSIDE THE SPOKEN WORD, logic be damned. even though the result is a clusterfuck of words without subject-object relation or thematic relation with the rest of the lyrics.

...dissection over reason causes the hearing of nonsense in lyrics complaining about dissection over reason...

wtf is going on here, ironies this contrived don't happen in real life.


for the picture love of all that is holy been too long:

benched
along
with
patience
and
reason



sidenote: PATIENCEANDREASONARETHEFREAKINGANGELS

[toolrox19]

i say its picture love with patience and reson, but it doenst matter, but check this at 8:20 http://youtube.com/watch?v=uolWFe1ubcU