The Meaning of H. Spoken by Maynard himself

[DSenart]

During the 1997 Lollapooloza tour Maynard spoke something generally like this " This next song is about having children, do any of you have kids? It is amazing how much they change your life isn't it?" Then began to play H. which is one of my favorite songs. If you listen to the song you can see why this could be true:

Whats coming through is alive - Giving Birth

My blood before me begs me open up my heart again - His child is his blood, wants to be loved, all children to

I feel this coming over like a storm again - All of the emotions that being a father brings.

I am too connected to you, slip away to fade away, Days away I still feel you touching me, changing me, and considerately killing me - He is his son he is connected to him, days away.. while on tour waiting to come home to see him, killing me.. he misses him so much it is killing him.

And as the snake is drowned and as i looked in his eyes my fear begins to fade recalling all of the times i could have cried then, I should have cried then - He has been scared of being a father but as he looks at his son he loosed that fear, he should of cried when his child was born because he was so happy.

And as the snake is drowned and as i look in your eyes my fear begins to fade recalling all of the times i have died, and will die its alright i don't mind - he is now speaking to his son, saying im not scared anymore im not scared your going to hurt me, and make me die inside, and all the times in the future that you will do it, i dont mind i love you your my son.

Thats how I take the song ever since 1997.

What do you think??

[Mehhico]

I have very similar ideas on this song. I think it makes sense. Here is my interpretation of this track.

"Whats coming through is alive
Whats holding up is a mirror
Whats singing songs is a snake
Looking to turn my piss to wine"

The birth of a child. With them they bring a whole new way of thinking for the parents. There is the nurturing and loving and caring, unconditionally, not to mention the fine line of whether to let your child play with fire and get burnt, or tell them that its hot and not to touch (sorry, lack of a better example). I think the introduction of the snake (an archetype, possibly in this case referring to control?) hints that the early stages of a childs life certainly needs this predictability and comfort and help from the parents, hence the snake is singing.

"They’re both totally void of hate
But killing me just the same
Snake behind me hisses
What my damage could’ve been
My blood before me megs me to open up my heart again
And I feel this coming over like a storm again, considerately."

The two strong feelings are tearing this parent apart. They are both totally natural and pure. Their child continues to grow, pushing every stage of their life, making mistakes and generally learning for themselves. As a parent, seeing this and not standing over the child to protect them can be quite difficult. He can see in his child eyes that they are human and free spirits, but the snake hisses at the child again, and the child asks “what my damage could’ve been?” implying that we all need to have a chance at learning for ourselves. The storm I think just indicates the build up of all of these emotions inside the parents head, and the childs for that matter.

"Venomous voice tempts me, drains me, bleeds me,
Leaves me cracked and empty. Drags me down
Like some sweet gravity."

This part is just beautiful. The snake continues to hiss, and these strong feelings are starting to affect him physically and emotionally, it is draining him.

"I am too connected to you to slip away
Fade away. Days away I still feel you touching me
Changing me, considerately killing me."

The love between a child and their parent is a bond which seldom breaks. The parent asserts that even though he has these feelings of over-bearing protection, he understands that he must let go, eventually. But this letting go means that he must also rid himself of the snake. The snake is apart of himself so he sees his son as unintentionally killing the snake, changing him.

"Without the skin here, beneath the storm, under these tears, now the walls came down. And as the snake is drowned, and as I look in his eyes my fear begins to fade
Recalling all of the times I have cried, and will cry"

It sounds as though there was some sort of emotional discussion where-by the parent finally overcomes the snake through communication and understanding, as the snake is really only a metaphor for a part of the psyche which, essentially, we all have (hence the archetype). He faces these emotions and through this understanding his fears of burdening his child fade.

"And as the walls come down, and as I look in your eyes, my fear begins to fade
Recalling all of the times I have died, and will die, its alright. I don’t mind."

Now the parent knows that these were all natural emotions and that he will probably be confronted by them again, but he doesn’t mind.

"I am too connected to you to slip away
Fade away. Days away I still feel you touching me
Changing me, considerately killing me."

There it is. Not very well explained, but I think you can see where I am coming from. Remark, abuse, diss, make fun of, flirt or do whatever you want to this post.

Thank you for reading,
Andy

[m4yn4rd]

sounds good to me, but if it is true, how does the title H. fit into it?

[soberwithapenis]

Originally posted by m4yn4rd
sounds good to me, but if it is true, how does the title H. fit into it?

anyone know his son's name? H could be short for Herbert.? I dunno.


Just read the quote on the Opinion Homepage.

[Blue Apocalypse]

Originally posted by soberwithapenis
anyone know his son's name? H could be short for Herbert.? I dunno.


Just read the quote on the Opinion Homepage.


His sons name is Devo, but his middle name is H. Just H. nothing more, read my post about my interpretation of H, it explains it there

[reign3]

H. could be a bunch of things. Like happiness..or holy...or Horatio Hornblower. Who knows? Who cares?

And I think what a few people may have missed was the possibility that Maynard is also reflecting on his own childhood....

"My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again."
-Perhaps he sees his child as wanting him to look back to his own childhood, to understand what it means to be a child. Or maybe he thinks this is right.

"And I feel this coming over likea storm again."
-It could be interpreted as him realizing that the part of the cycle of life that he went through, (childhood) is about to come around again in the form of his son. He's going to observe his son go through things that he did as a child

"I could/should have cried then----recalling all of the times I have died, I will die."
Again, he could be looking back into his own youth.


Though like any Tool song, it could be interpreted a million ways. But the concept of this being about his child does make sense. I'm not saying that these interpretations are what I think is correct, I'm just providing a possible meaning.

[PRNinja23]

I hate to sound arrogant, but this is really obvious if you know that H is a slang for Heroin. Heroin is spelled with a capital H because it is a brand name - the drug is really called diacetylmorphine. The snake refers to the drug, which will tempt you because it seems to turn piss to wine - and which would you rather have?

The "blood before me" is about the physical addiction to the drug, wanting it back to deal with the pain of life. The connection with the drug is a deep emotional connection that doesn't just go away when you stop using. When you're sad, the drug prevents you from crying or expressing your feeling, instead it gives you that feeling that is "so comfortable, too comfortable" (Undertow).

In regards to childbirth/childhood, it's about that return to childhood that one sees when the third eye opens. It can't open on drugs. From personal experience, recovery from drug abuse is like being reborn.

This song shares a line with Alice in Chains - Angry Chair, where Layne says regarding Heroin:

"Can't find it anywhere, I don't mind."

[under_PSI]

I hate to sound arrogant, but this is really obvious if you know that H is a slang for Heroin. Heroin is spelled with a capital H because it is a brand name - the drug is really called diacetylmorphine. The snake refers to the drug, which will tempt you because it seems to turn piss to wine - and which would you rather have?

The "blood before me" is about the physical addiction to the drug, wanting it back to deal with the pain of life. The connection with the drug is a deep emotional connection that doesn't just go away when you stop using. When you're sad, the drug prevents you from crying or expressing your feeling, instead it gives you that feeling that is "so comfortable, too comfortable" (Undertow).

In regards to childbirth/childhood, it's about that return to childhood that one sees when the third eye opens. It can't open on drugs. From personal experience, recovery from drug abuse is like being reborn.

This song shares a line with Alice in Chains - Angry Chair, where Layne says regarding Heroin:

"Can't find it anywhere, I don't mind."


i am more inclined to follow boith interpretations, as i have debated both. the addiction, and the birth of a child.

in teh faq area, was not this song referred as to almost eb ing called "half empty or half full" or has all that changed....you never know the real meaning of things w/tool, and that is fine with me...


louis

[idontmind462]

During the 1997 Lollapooloza tour Maynard spoke something generally like this " This next song is about having children, do any of you have kids? It is amazing how much they change your life isn't it?" Then began to play H. which is one of my favorite songs. If you listen to the song you can see why this could be true:

Whats coming through is alive - Giving Birth

My blood before me begs me open up my heart again - His child is his blood, wants to be loved, all children to

I feel this coming over like a storm again - All of the emotions that being a father brings.

I am too connected to you, slip away to fade away, Days away I still feel you touching me, changing me, and considerately killing me - He is his son he is connected to him, days away.. while on tour waiting to come home to see him, killing me.. he misses him so much it is killing him.

And as the snake is drowned and as i looked in his eyes my fear begins to fade recalling all of the times i could have cried then, I should have cried then - He has been scared of being a father but as he looks at his son he loosed that fear, he should of cried when his child was born because he was so happy.

And as the snake is drowned and as i look in your eyes my fear begins to fade recalling all of the times i have died, and will die its alright i don't mind - he is now speaking to his son, saying im not scared anymore im not scared your going to hurt me, and make me die inside, and all the times in the future that you will do it, i dont mind i love you your my son.

Thats how I take the song ever since 1997.

What do you think??

Good shit.

[g-bay-be]

Thats pretty cool. I still think all songs are how you interpret it

[DSenart]

I just wanted to post what I heard MJK say. Though it can be interperted so many ways.

[PartiallyNothing]

The meaning of H. is HalfEmpty or HalfFull, as it says in the Tool FAQ.

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

"G30. OK, they have a song called "H." What's it stand for?

The working / early title for this song was "Half Empty." The H likely stands for that (or "Half Full"). It may represent the old "half-empty is interchangeable with half-full" notion. Of course, it could also stand for anything else. It's a safe bet that it does not stand for Heroin. " - The Tool FAQ / Kabir

[g-bay-be]

The meaning of H. is HalfEmpty or HalfFull, as it says in the Tool FAQ.

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

"G30. OK, they have a song called "H." What's it stand for?

The working / early title for this song was "Half Empty." The H likely stands for that (or "Half Full"). It may represent the old "half-empty is interchangeable with half-full" notion. Of course, it could also stand for anything else. It's a safe bet that it does not stand for Heroin. " - The Tool FAQ / Kabir



well... Music is an oppinion whether it be music is good... or music is bad. Music is an opinion. So if somoeone looks at this song as a song about heroin than let them... just tell us what you think of the song. and we will either agree or disagree

[vermin]

i've heard him talk about his son right before H. as well.
if maynard talks about his son right before the song, its pretty obvious the song is about his son.
H. may be slang for heroin, or the song may be about the half empty half full- question, theres nobody who knows better what the song is about than maynard himself. he is trying to tell us something. so he is not just mentioning his son who's middle name just happens to be H.

it's almost offfensive to just ignore his words and say the song is about drugs, when the song is about the love for children and parenthood. isn't that beautiful enough?

[Luna Galapogos]

H is about Hydrogen, yes, because a capitol H stands for Hydrogen. No, I don't really think that, I'm just saying that a capital H might be slang for Heroin, but that doesn't mean that it stands for that in Maynard's mind. P.S. One thing that I've learned is that you really haven't learned a thing if you make statements here instead of just ideas, comments, or opinions. So, maybe just saying that you think that song is about Heroin, that it makes sense to you for it to be about that, that is good, but to start saying that IT IS, and that you don't mean to sound arrogant because as soon as you say that, you sound arrogant. P.P.S Maynard has said that he wants to meet his fans through their music, so, however you interpret it and meet with the band, that is perfectly fine I think. Anyway, any comments are welcome.

[Jonzard]

Isnt it just amazing how an interpretation on HEROIN can sound right.... then something in a totally different realm, like childbirth, can be interpreted from the same set of lyrics... and both are right!

WOW TOOL is more insane than I could ever imagine :-D

but remember... It doesnt matter whats right

[T00L]

I have posted this before and I still don't understand how you guys can be a member of a website and not read the FAQ section!!! H is NOT about Heroin that is ridiculous!! And referring to Maynard's songs like he's a junkee is an insult to me and TooL.

H stand for....Half Empy or Half Full...nothing else, and I read the magazine were Maynard was quoted saying that.

[Jonzard]

Maynard says a lot of things.... doesnt mean that hes serious. Sometimes they make stuff up or whatever. The lesson here is to find your own meaning.

[Mehhico]

I have posted this before and I still don't understand how you guys can be a member of a website and not read the FAQ section!!! H is NOT about Heroin that is ridiculous!! And referring to Maynard's songs like he's a junkee is an insult to me and TooL.

H stand for....Half Empy or Half Full...nothing else, and I read the magazine were Maynard was quoted saying that.

Oh, thanks, mate. I didn't realise that it was that simple. Did you hear that everyone, all we should have been doing this whole time was just accept the first things we read about in an interview.

Gosh, I was wasting all this time researching and shit, trying to learn something new, when it was as simple as that.

Thanks again, buddy.

p.s. Try reading something OTHER than the FAQ. There are heaps of good books out there and you never know, you might learn something new.

[reddish]

H stand for....Half Empy or Half Full...nothing else, and I read the magazine were Maynard was quoted saying that.One time I read this magazine article where Tool said there was a going to be a song called Poopy the Clown on their next cd, so I don't trust the magazines anymore.

[Jonzard]

Live in Tilbug:

"This song is called Schism" *CHEERS* "We have renamed this song. It is now called, The Dirty Banana."

[AllforUnity]

That was pretty gay.

[idontmind462]

It was but it was funny nonetheless.

[AllforUnity]

l didn't mean what he said. l meant how he put the meaning of the song of what Maynard says it to be...and then just gave us that.

[+Deadohio+]

Maynard could've just said that stuff before they played H. just so he could fuck with your minds, and you would end up listening to H. always thinking that it was about the birth of his child...and them emotions that follows. PRNinja23 is getting somewhere with that whole heroin fact i mean why would maynard write "piss turns to wine'' part if its about Devo?
Well happy thinking........
Think for yourself, dont believe everything your told
+DeadOhio+

[AllforUnity]

But it's been spoken previously about how the meaning of the title of the song H. is NOT heroin. Some people think it means half full...that l'm not possitive about, but it makes more sense. He could be talking to turning piss into wine because of biblical history...how God can change things. lncluding turning something bad, into good.

[neochrist]

did you ever think the half empty half full, could relate to his son

[newmoon2112]

I read that Maynard's name is actually Maynard H. Keenan.Die hard Tool fans correct me if I am wrong.I agree that the song is about the birth of his son.Piss to wine?Wine represents the sperm.Think about it...

[AllforUnity]

Maynards name is Maynard J. Keenan. This is because of his true first name James, Maynard James Keenan. He changed his name, his real name is James Herbert Keenan...He took off the Herbert, added the Maynard to the front...Making it Maynard J.

[newmoon2112]

Wow,so his real middle initial is H.Think about it.

[naked_but_oblivious]

interpretation of a song is the worst thing to ever argue about. it ruins the song. instead of sitting back and letting the music pass over and through you people begin to sit and pick apart ever thing he says. even if i am just wallowing in a pool of naievity(<- not a real word)
i rather owuld be then ruining great music. H can mean so many things. H. can mean nothing. the only thing that really matters to me is the music.

[imtheism]

Glad some other people here have looked at the song as something other than usage/addiction to heroin. Tool has no other songs about drugs, and i could never bring myself to think this one to be either. Personally I always kinda thought it was something about a failing relationship, but childbirth/having a son makes just as much sense. Thanks.

[g-bay-be]

I do not believe that this song is about heirion or about chidren.. I have always interpreted as a strugle for ones self being..... its pretty amazing. but music is what you take out of it right?

[ry.]

interpretation of a song is the worst thing to ever argue about. it ruins the song. instead of sitting back and letting the music pass over and through you people begin to sit and pick apart ever thing he says. even if i am just wallowing in a pool of naievity(<- not a real word)
i rather owuld be then ruining great music. H can mean so many things. H. can mean nothing. the only thing that really matters to me is the music.

arguing about the meaning is stupid, but these discussions can help open our eyes to other ideas

MOST IMPORTANT is how you apply the lyrics to your life,

[Odibilëph]

Phallic imagery.

-or-

...Sometimes a snake is just a snake.

[uhh...fork?]

im actualy kind of suprised no one has mentioned this (or maybe they have..i dunno) but in the tree of life, your ego is the "snake" that constricts the proggression of your soul, and Tool seems kinda big on that... hot? warm? cold? needing to shut up now? alright im gonna go do something disfunctional now...

[Mehhico]

im actualy kind of suprised no one has mentioned this (or maybe they have..i dunno) but in the tree of life, your ego is the "snake" that constricts the proggression of your soul, and Tool seems kinda big on that... hot? warm? cold? needing to shut up now? alright im gonna go do something disfunctional now...

(Not to be too fragment, but...............) Thats an interesting point.

[uhh...fork?]

Heroin my ass... i seriously doubt this (wonderful) song is an ode to some narcotic. Childbirth is a more likely interpretation, but that just dosn't seem enough....
(Not to be too fragment, but...............) Thats an interesting point.
Thanks :)

[uhh...fork?]

Heroin my ass... i seriously doubt this (wonderful) song is an ode to some narcotic. Childbirth is a more likely interpretation, but that just dosn't seem enough....
then again, tool is a rather unpredictable bunch of lads.

[TakeTheTime]

Thats pretty cool. I still think all songs are how you interpret it

I've heard too many interpretations to believe that there is just one.

[TheHolyGift]

H. definitely stands for Captain Hook.

[Cyanide ChrYst]

<moron interpretation>I really think the song is about finding yourself through looking at the lives of others. I think it stands for "Here", as in "in this holy reality, choosing to be here."</moron interpretation>

[hoodling1229]

in my opinion, they changed the title to H. so that you WOULD think about it: "half empty or half full" is too self-explanatory, which is un-Tool-ish. "think for yourself," that's the lesson that i believe the title conveys. this is just my opinion, "think for yourself"

[Mandolina]

During the 1997 Lollapooloza tour Maynard spoke something generally like this " This next song is about having children, do any of you have kids? It is amazing how much they change your life isn't it?" Then began to play H. which is one of my favorite songs. If you listen to the song you can see why this could be true:

Whats coming through is alive - Giving Birth

My blood before me begs me open up my heart again - His child is his blood, wants to be loved, all children to

I feel this coming over like a storm again - All of the emotions that being a father brings.

I am too connected to you, slip away to fade away, Days away I still feel you touching me, changing me, and considerately killing me - He is his son he is connected to him, days away.. while on tour waiting to come home to see him, killing me.. he misses him so much it is killing him.

And as the snake is drowned and as i looked in his eyes my fear begins to fade recalling all of the times i could have cried then, I should have cried then - He has been scared of being a father but as he looks at his son he loosed that fear, he should of cried when his child was born because he was so happy.

And as the snake is drowned and as i look in your eyes my fear begins to fade recalling all of the times i have died, and will die its alright i don't mind - he is now speaking to his son, saying im not scared anymore im not scared your going to hurt me, and make me die inside, and all the times in the future that you will do it, i dont mind i love you your my son.

Thats how I take the song ever since 1997.

What do you think??

[Mandolina]

THE BEAUTY OF LYRICS SO MANY INTERPITATIONS FOR SO MANY PEOPLE. Just my opinion i think maynard was fucking with the cround, he speaks in riddles to mystrify his identity. Also he doesnt like to be take serously. i dont know i wasnt there. alot of the songs hes written seam to be aout drugs, he names a CD opiate which is a derivitive of heroin and the new apc cd seams to tke you on a journey of drug addiction.

[Harrymanfeet]

THE BEAUTY OF LYRICS SO MANY INTERPITATIONS FOR SO MANY PEOPLE. Just my opinion i think maynard was fucking with the cround, he speaks in riddles to mystrify his identity. Also he doesnt like to be take serously. i dont know i wasnt there. alot of the songs hes written seam to be aout drugs, he names a CD opiate which is a derivitive of heroin and the new apc cd seams to tke you on a journey of drug addiction.



I'm pretty sure, now correct me if I'm wrong, that Opiate was named that from the quote which found a place in the bands heart "Religion is the opiate of the masses"...this is gonna seem outta place but someone mentioned that Maynard doesn't write about drugs well I should take this to the Stinkfist forum but I've always thought stinkfist was about drugs.

[notregistered]

H is not fucking about heroin. Maynard has said himself that it's about his son on numerous occasions. He's not a fucking junkie. doesn't "Fuck all you junkies and fuck your short memory" come to mind ? He's also said he's never been addicted to any drug.
I understand how he fucks around and says "this song is about anal sex" before stinkfist, four degrees or pretty much any song to mock people who only look at the surface. but he's not a man who jokes about his son .
Besides, heroin is one thing. "Both totally void of hate" is two things. to me, it means devo and devo's mom. maynard was abused as a child (Prison Sex) and he knows how child abuse works in cycles. he feels angry sometimes and wants to lash out but he doesn't because he looks into his son's eyes and sees himself, in a way as a child who has done no wrong.
His son's name is Devo H. Keenan. No middle name, just H. That's where the title comes from. Most of tool's songs are very much open to interpretation but I think this isn't one of them.

[fretforyourfigure462]

I just wanted to post what I heard MJK say. Though it can be interperted so many ways.




I really like your interpretation, good job on using straight quotes from MJK himself.

I'm still kinda stuck on one thing though...


"looking to turn my piss to wine...?"


What does tht have to do with his children?

[notregistered]

It means to turn something bad into something good.

[fretforyourfigure462]

It means to turn something bad into something good.

Hmm...good thinking...

[toolrox19]

i have a boot leg where he starts it off with a speech too, this is what he says


"so uh, any of you ever watch those warner brothers cartoons, (a few people in the crowd cheer) sometimes theres that one where the guy's having a tough time making a decision hes got an angel on one shoulder a devil on the other, seems pretty obvious right usually the angel gonna give the good advice the devil tryin to get him to do whats bad for him, its not always that simple though most times they're like not really angels or devils, there just friends giving you advice, looking out for your best intrest but not really understanding whats gonna be best for you, so it kinda comes down to you you have to make the decision your self, this songs called H. (bass to H starts)"

[hushypushy]

Yeah he repeated that in lots of different shows. He also had some where he said "this one goes out to my son. It's called H."

Listen to the 96 bootlegs, there's a lot of interesting info on Ænima tracks.

[gdude]

He’s going back inside himself to that happy place.

If you analyze "H." by Tool you will come to understand that Maynard was emotionally abused by his father (or stepfather, can't be sure which one). This could go hand in hand with "jimmy" if you consider the fact that his mother cannot protect him from the abuse he is suffering because of her condition. This may also go hand in hand with "Prison Sex" because in a live show in Quebec on 11/29/96 Maynard said "Prison Sex" was about "recognizing, identifying a cycle of abuse within yourself, that's the first step of the process -- realization, identifying. The next step is to work though it, but this song is about the first step which is recognizing." The "cycle of abuse within yourself" could be about Maynard's feelings but is probably more about his father's (or stepfather's) because his son had not yet been conceived when this album (Undertow) was released.

This is an interpretation of the song H. by Tool off of their 1996 CD Ænima. This interpretation was submitted to lyricinterpretations.com by a person known as "Zaq". This seems to make sense. It seems that this song is about Maynard and his struggle to not fall into a cycle of abuse (reminiscent of "Prison Sex"?) directed at his son Devo. Devo was born in 1995 and Ænima was released in 1996, though Devo was obviously conceived in mid to late 1994 giving plenty of time for Maynard to write this song about an unborn child "my blood before me". I also think that this song goes hand in hand with "jimmy" in describing Maynard's thoughts and feelings about himself and/or his parents. I came to this conclusion when I saw Maynard James Keenan was actually born James Herbert Keenan. So, jimmy is James when he was eleven and H. could be short for Herbert his middle name. H. Is also Devo's middle name, not initial but name, H. Isn't short for anything save for H.
Here is "Zaq's" interpretations of "H."
The snake represent Maynard's father.
The "blood before me" represents Devo, Maynard's son.
"What's coming through is alive.
What's holding up is a mirror.
But what's singing songs is a snake
Looking to turn this piss to wine."
This means the Maynard we experience in most songs is the Maynard seen in his father's mirror, the Maynard that was shaped in his father's image. But he is trying to turn all these negatives(piss) to positives(wine).
The snake behind me reminds me, how bad I could have been.
My son in front of me begs me to let my guard down, to love, to grow again.
"Venomous voice, tempts me,
Drains me, bleeds me,
Leaves me cracked and empty.
Drags me down like some sweet gravity."
The way he was treated by his father makes him feel like shit, takes his will to live away, and he is tempted to let it drag him down(because he feels worthless). It is "Sweet gravity" because it would be easy to treat his son that way, and in a way it would feel right, because it would be a release, and because his father treated him that way.
"I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,
And considerately killing me."
He loves his son too much to slip and fade into what he feels he is destined to become. Even when he isn't with his son, he can still feel his son's effects on him, can still feel his son killing the snake inside of him.
"The walls came down."
The walls he had put up to protect him emotionally have come down, allowing him to love and be loved.
"And the snake is drowned and
As I look in his eyes,
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of those times.
I could have cried then.
I should have cried then."
The snake inside him is dead, and as he watches it die, he is no longer afraid. He was so relieved that he could have cried.
"I have died
and will die.
It's all right.
I don't mind."
The snake has died, other parts of him will die, he will change, but it's okay. I don't mind.
"And considerately killing me..."
HEY, it's a POSITIVE Tool song!!!

Submitted by "Zaq" on lyricinterpretations.com

One note about the line "considerately killing me...", I think that means that parts of him are dying but they are the bad things and they are being killed considerately by love from his son and his love for his son.
I hope this makes sense, it did to me and I was perfectly "sober" when I wrote this. Oh, and sorry about all the puns and subversive references to various Tool songs, I couldn't resist.

[toolrox19]

yeah i agree with some of the other people theres a meaning why maynard wrote it, but its intended for your own interpritation or the meaning is what you want it to be

[Ænimic4six1]

a title doesnt(always) decide what a music means. it never did for TOOL,swamp song was about swamps or anything about it.

[Intolerable]

Tool has no other songs about drugs, and i could never bring myself to think this one to be either.


I'm pretty sure (well, sure as any of us really can be) that Undertow is about drugs.

To the original poster: brilliant insight and interpretation.

[LRonHubbard]

It only took me 10 years but i think this song is about addictions......obsessions

not heroin................just addictions and obsessions......

how they control our lives, how they make us feel so good ,, yet are slowly kiling us.....

"consideratley killing me"....

[Inner_Eulogy]

He’s going back inside himself to that happy place.

If you analyze "H." by Tool you will come to understand that Maynard was emotionally abused by his father (or stepfather, can't be sure which one). This could go hand in hand with "jimmy" if you consider the fact that his mother cannot protect him from the abuse he is suffering because of her condition. This may also go hand in hand with "Prison Sex" because in a live show in Quebec on 11/29/96 Maynard said "Prison Sex" was about "recognizing, identifying a cycle of abuse within yourself, that's the first step of the process -- realization, identifying. The next step is to work though it, but this song is about the first step which is recognizing." The "cycle of abuse within yourself" could be about Maynard's feelings but is probably more about his father's (or stepfather's) because his son had not yet been conceived when this album (Undertow) was released.

This is an interpretation of the song H. by Tool off of their 1996 CD Ænima. This interpretation was submitted to lyricinterpretations.com by a person known as "Zaq". This seems to make sense. It seems that this song is about Maynard and his struggle to not fall into a cycle of abuse (reminiscent of "Prison Sex"?) directed at his son Devo. Devo was born in 1995 and Ænima was released in 1996, though Devo was obviously conceived in mid to late 1994 giving plenty of time for Maynard to write this song about an unborn child "my blood before me". I also think that this song goes hand in hand with "jimmy" in describing Maynard's thoughts and feelings about himself and/or his parents. I came to this conclusion when I saw Maynard James Keenan was actually born James Herbert Keenan. So, jimmy is James when he was eleven and H. could be short for Herbert his middle name. H. Is also Devo's middle name, not initial but name, H. Isn't short for anything save for H.
Here is "Zaq's" interpretations of "H."
The snake represent Maynard's father.
The "blood before me" represents Devo, Maynard's son.
"What's coming through is alive.
What's holding up is a mirror.
But what's singing songs is a snake
Looking to turn this piss to wine."
This means the Maynard we experience in most songs is the Maynard seen in his father's mirror, the Maynard that was shaped in his father's image. But he is trying to turn all these negatives(piss) to positives(wine).
The snake behind me reminds me, how bad I could have been.
My son in front of me begs me to let my guard down, to love, to grow again.
"Venomous voice, tempts me,
Drains me, bleeds me,
Leaves me cracked and empty.
Drags me down like some sweet gravity."
The way he was treated by his father makes him feel like shit, takes his will to live away, and he is tempted to let it drag him down(because he feels worthless). It is "Sweet gravity" because it would be easy to treat his son that way, and in a way it would feel right, because it would be a release, and because his father treated him that way.
"I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,
And considerately killing me."
He loves his son too much to slip and fade into what he feels he is destined to become. Even when he isn't with his son, he can still feel his son's effects on him, can still feel his son killing the snake inside of him.
"The walls came down."
The walls he had put up to protect him emotionally have come down, allowing him to love and be loved.
"And the snake is drowned and
As I look in his eyes,
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of those times.
I could have cried then.
I should have cried then."
The snake inside him is dead, and as he watches it die, he is no longer afraid. He was so relieved that he could have cried.
"I have died
and will die.
It's all right.
I don't mind."
The snake has died, other parts of him will die, he will change, but it's okay. I don't mind.
"And considerately killing me..."
HEY, it's a POSITIVE Tool song!!!

Submitted by "Zaq" on lyricinterpretations.com

One note about the line "considerately killing me...", I think that means that parts of him are dying but they are the bad things and they are being killed considerately by love from his son and his love for his son.
I hope this makes sense, it did to me and I was perfectly "sober" when I wrote this. Oh, and sorry about all the puns and subversive references to various Tool songs, I couldn't resist.

I totally agree with this 95%, except the the abusive father part. I'm not sure if that's true or not or even if so that's it's his father he's referring to. It may just be the shadow within himself (referred to in 46&2) that he's battling inside himself and the infinite negative temptations that may surround him as they do with any rockstar. He may have not had much compassion in his life for a long time until his son was born and that's what finally made him face himself and break down his own emotional walls and may have been the first time he cried in a very ling time.

[Pure As We Begin]

H is a song about his son. The experience of being a father changed his life completely. The reason the song is called H is pretty obvious to me:

"Carl Jung's influence can sometimes be found in more unexpected quarters. For example, Jung once treated an American patient - one Rowland H. - suffering from chronic alcoholism. After working with the patient for some time, and achieving no significant progress, Jung told the man that his alcoholic condition was near to hopeless, save only the possibility of a spiritual experience. Jung noted that occasionally such experiences had been known to reform alcoholics where all else had failed."

Think about it, the Aenima album is based largely upon Carl Jung's teachings...

Forty-Six & 2
"The shadow is an unconscious complex that is defined as the repressed and suppressed aspects of the conscious self.

There are constructive and destructive types of shadow.

On the destructive side, it often represents everything that the conscious person does not wish to acknowledge within themselves. For instance, someone who identifies as being kind has a shadow that is harsh or unkind. Conversely, an individual who is brutal has a kind shadow. The shadow of persons who are convinced that they are ugly appears to be beautiful.

On the constructive side, the shadow may represent hidden positive influences. This has been referred to as "the gold in the shadow." Jung points to the story of Moses and Al-Khidr in the 18th Book of the Koran as an example.

Jung emphasized the importance of being aware of shadow material and incorporating it into conscious awareness, lest one project these attributes on others.

The shadow in dreams is often represented by dark figures of the same gender as the dreamer.

According to Jung the human being deals with the reality of the Shadow in four ways: denial, projection, integration and/or transmutation."

Aenima
"Jung identified the anima as being the unconscious feminine component of men and the animus as the unconscious masculine component in women. However, this is rarely taken as a literal definition: many modern day Jungian practitioners believe that every person has both an anima and an animus. Jung stated that the anima and animus act as guides to the unconscious unified Self, and that forming an awareness and a connection with the anima or animus is one of the most difficult and rewarding steps in psychological growth. Jung reported that he identified his anima as she spoke to him, as an inner voice, unexpectedly one day.

Often, when people ignore the anima or animus complexes, the anima or animus vies for attention by projecting itself on others. This explains, according to Jung, why we are sometimes immediately attracted to certain strangers: we see our anima or animus in them. Love at first sight is an example of anima and animus projection. Moreover, people who strongly identify with their gender role (e.g. a man who acts aggressively and never cries) have not actively recognized or engaged their anima or animus.

Jung attributes human rational thought to be the male nature, while the irrational aspect is considered to be natural female. Consequently, irrationality is the male anima shadow and rationality is the female animus shadow."

So that's my opinion...

[Inner_Eulogy]

H is a song about his son. The experience of being a father changed his life completely. The reason the song is called H is pretty obvious to me:

"Carl Jung's influence can sometimes be found in more unexpected quarters. For example, Jung once treated an American patient - one Rowland H. - suffering from chronic alcoholism. After working with the patient for some time, and achieving no significant progress, Jung told the man that his alcoholic condition was near to hopeless, save only the possibility of a spiritual experience. Jung noted that occasionally such experiences had been known to reform alcoholics where all else had failed."

Think about it, the Aenima album is based largely upon Carl Jung's teachings...

Forty-Six & 2
"The shadow is an unconscious complex that is defined as the repressed and suppressed aspects of the conscious self.

There are constructive and destructive types of shadow.

On the destructive side, it often represents everything that the conscious person does not wish to acknowledge within themselves. For instance, someone who identifies as being kind has a shadow that is harsh or unkind. Conversely, an individual who is brutal has a kind shadow. The shadow of persons who are convinced that they are ugly appears to be beautiful.

On the constructive side, the shadow may represent hidden positive influences. This has been referred to as "the gold in the shadow." Jung points to the story of Moses and Al-Khidr in the 18th Book of the Koran as an example.

Jung emphasized the importance of being aware of shadow material and incorporating it into conscious awareness, lest one project these attributes on others.

The shadow in dreams is often represented by dark figures of the same gender as the dreamer.

According to Jung the human being deals with the reality of the Shadow in four ways: denial, projection, integration and/or transmutation."

Aenima
"Jung identified the anima as being the unconscious feminine component of men and the animus as the unconscious masculine component in women. However, this is rarely taken as a literal definition: many modern day Jungian practitioners believe that every person has both an anima and an animus. Jung stated that the anima and animus act as guides to the unconscious unified Self, and that forming an awareness and a connection with the anima or animus is one of the most difficult and rewarding steps in psychological growth. Jung reported that he identified his anima as she spoke to him, as an inner voice, unexpectedly one day.

Often, when people ignore the anima or animus complexes, the anima or animus vies for attention by projecting itself on others. This explains, according to Jung, why we are sometimes immediately attracted to certain strangers: we see our anima or animus in them. Love at first sight is an example of anima and animus projection. Moreover, people who strongly identify with their gender role (e.g. a man who acts aggressively and never cries) have not actively recognized or engaged their anima or animus.

Jung attributes human rational thought to be the male nature, while the irrational aspect is considered to be natural female. Consequently, irrationality is the male anima shadow and rationality is the female animus shadow."

So that's my opinion...

Yeah, exactly what I said.....well a couple extra words were added. ;-) I just never felt like typing that much...well put and 100% in agreement.

[Pure As We Begin]

All right...I didn't see any posts reffering to Rowland H. though so I put that in there as the main reason for my post. I'm pretty sure that is where the title comes from, as well as his son's middle name.

[Inner_Eulogy]

All right...I didn't see any posts reffering to Rowland H. though so I put that in there as the main reason for my post. I'm pretty sure that is where the title comes from, as well as his son's middle name.

I know, I was stating jokingly that it was what I had said hence "a few extra words". I was complimenting you on going the extra mile to write all the thoughts that were going on in my head but was too lazy to type it all out.

[CocaineEyes]

Herbert, ha ha

[CocaineEyes]

Anyway, I read this in an article:

Who or what is "H."? (Keenan begins to get really annoyed with this
line of questioning.)
My son's name is Devo H. That's all I'll say."

[Inner_Eulogy]

Anyway, I read this in an article:

Who or what is "H."? (Keenan begins to get really annoyed with this
line of questioning.)
My son's name is Devo H. That's all I'll say."

Kudos.

[O.G.T.92]

Maynard could've just said that stuff before they played H. just so he could fuck with your minds, and you would end up listening to H. always thinking that it was about the birth of his child...and them emotions that follows. PRNinja23 is getting somewhere with that whole heroin fact i mean why would maynard write "piss turns to wine'' part if its about Devo?
Well happy thinking........
Think for yourself, dont believe everything your told
+DeadOhio+

This being said, I don't believe anything maynard says because the juxtaposition of what's true/false would drive me crazy. I like the OP's theory much better than the heroin reference. It's closer to the picture in my head when I hear the song.

[Clutch_The_Cornerstone]

Isnt it just amazing how an interpretation on HEROIN can sound right.... then something in a totally different realm, like childbirth, can be interpreted from the same set of lyrics... and both are right!

WOW TOOL is more insane than I could ever imagine :-D

but remember... It doesnt matter whats right

TOOL is the best band in the world hands down. My friend tell me that they suck and I just look at them and laughs. It really amusing in a way because they do not see the beauty that TOOL brings to the world and what they stand for.

[jevons]

Keep laughing sir.

If you ever tell a story for one person, you have raped yourself above any potential listener.

Find a fundamental truth, others listen, recognize.

[useyourhead]

H stands for hexagon duhh

[zomzara]

My interpretation is that the song could connect with the Hesse novella Journey to the East.
The main character, H., asks Leo: “why it was that artists sometimes appeared to be only half-alive, while their creations seemed so irrefutably alive.”

Leo answers: “It is just the same with mothers. When they have borne their children and given them their milk and beauty and strength, they themselves become invisible, no one asks about them anymore.”

This in itself is a metaphor for ego-death. I think this could be what Maynard means when he dedicates the song to his son: that Maynard is giving all his beauty and strength to his son, and also that he gives up himself, his ego, and lets his creations - his music and his child - exist outside of himself, he lets them go.)

(Also, Leo is at one time referred to as being like a snake - and he frequently sings or whistles songs.)

[aperfectbutthole]

Lots of opinions......but you can not compare childbirth or being a new parent to opiate addiction. Besides, Maynard always does that in concert, he will tell you what a song is about in humor and satire. Anyone that has seen enough live shows knows this....like once before playing Stinkfist he said, "this song is about the slave trade in Afghanistan." The point is that you don't have to be a drug addict to understand the song. If it means something to you and makes you feel, then TOOL has done it's job! They are artists and they teach us not to over think things....live life in the spiral. When you look at a painting and it completely takes you, yet your buddy thinks it sucks, so what. You both interpret things differently. You both may like different things at times. I digress to say this about "my opinion" of the song meaning (without over thinking.) Opiates are a powerful poison, and I strongly warn the ones on here that don't know any better...STAY AWAY...but keep enjoying the music. TOOL is one of the greatest bands ever.

[Lateralareallofus]

opiates are bad news bears. They literally do find your center, then tear it up and leave leaving your life empty and souless. But I think H. uses heroin as a metaphor for a powerful and controlling force that we all experience in different ways that always seem sto grip us.

[CainsMommie]

Phew, so I literally made a profile just so I could respond to this haha silly me.
I wanted to touch upon the opinion that this was about childbirth as I can actually relate to that and find a strong connection between the two. I just became a new mommy- obviously haha- and this song has always struck a strong chord with me (music humor haha)

So let's begin shall we?

"What's coming through is alive.
What's holding up is a mirror.
But what's singing songs is a snake
Looking to turn this piss to wine."

Ok so those feelings you get when your baby is 2 pushes away from taking his first breath. He's alive, you can feel his energy as he is being squeezed through the canal- and yes my husband said he felt sympathy labor so for dad's this can be a very real feeling as well. Keep in mind the "you" is general. As your child begins to enter this world, when you hear that first squeaky cry and his eyes open and collide with yours you know your life is changed forever. He is no longer that fluttering butterfly in your stomach. He is tangible and real and alive. When you hold him up and stare into those eyes you realize that he is a product of you, the "mirror" image of two souls, combined to make one. You might freak out. You were or are a terrible person, maybe you're an addict of some sorts, or you're broke, or just plain messed up and yet when the little hand grips your finger you hear a whisper in the wind. It tells you that you can change. No longer will you be that piss covered crack addict- or what have you- you will change and metamorphosize into a better person to care for this tiny being. Your whole body was made for him. He was made for you and you for him.

"They're both totally void of hate,
But killing me just the same."

Both could be baby and mom or whatever, I see it as the baby. Completely innocent and new. A baby cannot hate anything. It kills you because maybe you think you are a horrible person and yet this creature has an unconditional love for you regardless of your past mistakes. In my case I thought I was this terrible person I was an alcoholic just like my mother and I gave it up cold turkey during my pregnancy. Now that my son was out of me I thought 'what if I spiral back down into it?' It was killing me to think that I could ever hurt this beautiful baby who was completely void of hate.

"The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again."

This verse to me is almost like, the lil devil is whispering in my ear. Telling me I am going to fuck up, that if I allow myself to love this tiny human then in the end I will hurt us both. That if I open up my heart and do anything to let this baby down I will kill myself. That initial worry all parents face "what if I fail my child?".
Meanwhile the innocent in front of me has his arms outstretched, begging me to love him. To hold him close and never let him go and allow him into my being.

"And I feel this coming over like a storm again.
Considerately."

Easy to explain- the storm of emotions a new parent feels. I am exhausted in the hospital watching my new infant sleeping, worrying about all the things new parents worry about. Can I provide for him? Is he warm? Will he love me? Will he die of SIDS or something horrible because I did XYZ during pregnancy? It is a considerate way of thinking.

"Venomous voice, tempts me,
Drains me, bleeds me,
Leaves me cracked and empty.
Drags me down like some sweet gravity."

Now for me personally I was completely sleep deprived, as was my husband. For a month exactly I was constantly watching my son sleep. Worried he would pass away, my head filled with terrible images of me waking to see him cold and lifeless. I felt like a terrible mother, that I couldn't keep myself together. The feelings were depressive and overwhelming and definitely dragged me down to a dark place. But I kept at it knowing I had to do what was best for my son. That I had to break the cycle my mother had passed down to me. I was tempted to just leave my son and run away. I was drained of energy and emotion. I was literally dragging myself to the bathroom to take a leak every few hours, unable to stand. My son was literally draining me of my life. But he didn't and couldn't have known. He needed me he was innocent and loving. His sweet smile was worth every hour I spent rocking and nurturing him.

"The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again.
And I feel this coming over like a storm again."

second verse, same as the first haha

"I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,
And considerately killing me."

So my son is more than just connected to me. His soul and entire being is entwined with mine. Even days after his birth I still felt his phantom kicks in my belly. Still felt the contractions like he was inside me. After his birth I wanted to change. I wanted to become a better person for my son. The thought of failing him as a mother was killing me. I needed to change to do better by him. To be there for him like my mother wasn't there for me.

"Without the skin,
Beneath the storm,
Under these tears
The walls came down."

This is where the lyric get very emotional for me. When my son reached about 1 month old was when he first started smiling. While sitting with him late at night he reached a tiny hand up to my face to pet my cheek. We were doing skin to skin (it's a breastfeeding thing look it up). Beneath the storm- meaning I was so emotionally drained that I had no more energy to feel any anxiety or stress. I was beneath it. So he touched my cheek and I was crying. And underneath my tears he was smiling and I felt every barrier I had built up to protect me from the worse (him dying, me failing as a mom) just crumble. I was completely in love with this tiny human.

"And the snake is drowned and
As I look in his eyes,
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of those times."

So the snake that was telling me that I would fail. That was telling me to run away is gone. As I look into my son's smiling eyes I am no longer afraid. I know I can beat my addictions and toss the skeletons from my closet. I know I can change and be the parent my son needs me to be. I recall all the times I made mistakes in my life and I learn from them.

"I could have cried then.
I should have cried then."

I could have cried at the loss of my former self. I should cry because it is a loss of one's being. But at the same time I should cry out of happiness for my future. At who I will become for my son.

"And as the walls come down and
As I look in your eyes
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of the times
I have died
and will die.
It's all right.
I don't mind."

This is more of a direct quote spoken to the baby. As my protective barrier fell down. My fears of being a horrible parent and of losing you or failing you fade. The old me will die and fade away. I don't mind though because I am being reborn for you my son. I am becoming a better person who you can rely on and look up to.

"I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,"

Again, parent and child are one and connected on a much deeper level. Long after birth as the child grows he will continue to touch his parents' hearts and change them for the better. To heal them with his unconditional love.

"And considerately killing me."

and to considerately kill the old version of the parent and make them better. Also the worry will continue to eat away at you no matter what age your baby is haha. I am always killing myself with worry over whether or not he is eating enough, if his poop is the right color/texture, is he learning to crawl/roll over/talk at the proper times.

Parenthood is rough and if you have ever had a baby you would understand this better. My words are a little jumbled so if any part of it confused you let me know and I can elaborate more on that part.