Hmm.. well i'm starting to believe that you can see Maynard learning to deal with his mother's death through each of his albums. Basicly this thought is just glueing some theories on songs together.

For example, his thoughts about his mom, her illness, and her death.
First, he was very mad about it and didn't want to believe she was dying. (See "Judith", "Jimmy", "Sober", "schism", "Wings for marie pt 1 and 2.")

"Judith" is about his torment he's going through knowing his mother will die[or is dead- not sure if the song was made after or before her death]. He's asking why this has to happen to him.

"Jimmy" is about when he was 11. I remember reading here on toolnavy that Maynard was probably approx. 11 when his mother was diagnosed with the illness. So whenever he thinks about the times he was 11, he gets sad because of the remeberence of his mother.

"Sober" if you believe he says Judith/Marie could be when he kept denying about his mother's soon-to-be death. He's starting to take it out on himself.

"schism" could be referred to the relationship he had with his mother. Can't say for sure though.

Now, "Wings for Marie Pt. 1+2" is why i'd think about all this. It's a song for his past away mother. Stating how much of a great person she was and how she made Maynard the guy he is today.


You see, maybe he's just learning to accept his mother's death. And with Wings for Marie, it was a message to all about how much of a great person she was and without her, Tool could've been different.

For the record, "Judith" was before her death.

Judith, Jimmy, and Wings are certainly all related to Maynard's mother. Don't know about the other two, but "The Patient" and "The Grudge" have both been related to Maynard's relationship with his mother as well. Cases can be made for a lot of songs, particularly on Lateralus since many are so wide open to interpretation.

I have no idea how you get The Patient and The Grudge to be about his mother. For the record.

Sober isn't about his mom last I checked. And schism can apply to anything, so it's hard to say it was about his mom

The Grudge I don't agree with actually. I've just seen it brought up as Maynard finally forgiving God or something. The Patient on the other hand I could see being a narrative from the point of view of his mother, particularly if you take the title literally as well as figuratively. The vampire is temptation or doubt, the groan frightens those around her as it could be interpreted as a last breath. She's going through all these trials, and having inner difficulty holding on to her values. The song doesn't mention faith or religion because I think Maynard intended the song to be more all-encompassing in the end, but after 10,000 Days was released I saw that song in a new light.

What i was trying to say is it could've been like an episode maynard had where he just kept to himself about the pain he had about his mother. A possibility no less.

And i just pointed out schism because it could be about the relationship with him and his mother, but you're right it might not be.

when 1 and 1 are one(the holy trinity) 11......

what?

Yeah, I heard that Ozzy Osbournes "Mama i'm coming home" is also about Maynard's mommy. Everybody knows that artists aren't able to write about universal themes, they only write about their own mothers.

Last I heard all their songs were about anal sex... So lets just say they're both about hmmmm... fisting?

If you don't look deeper in the songs, then maybe you'd get that idea..

As maynard has said many times people dont know the meaning of most of hes songs - lyrics.. the patient , the grudge about his mom ? i dont think so but who knows

just a thought...jeez

It seems to me like Maynard began to implicate this issue on Aenima ( H, Jimmy, though I can't be sure ), Judith is obviously a show of his anger and frustration, and I sense that 3 Libras and Brena are him coming to terms with the sadness and acceptance of his mothers illness and passing. The Patient seems to touch on these feelings again and Parabol/Parabola is obviously a song about living a full life, spiritual enlightenment, and facing the reality that we will all die but this is only a chapter in our existence (Love that song). And as for Wings/10,000 days, I think anyone with a Tool IQ over Undertow knows that this song is closure.

QFT

I always thought "The Grudge" was about the bands relationship
with each other... The jealousy after Maynard did Perfect Circle,
and how they worked out their grudges.

Im probably wrong.

makes sense atleast but i'm not sure...

If you watch the APC dvd you will find that 3 Libras is about 9 people in his life who were leeches basically. He named the song 3 libras to get at them somewhat. I believe Brena is about an ex of his but I'm not 100% sure.....

If I recall correctly Brena was written about a woman named Jennifer Brena Ferguson (sp could be wrong) whom I thought was either the mother of his child/fiancee/something of that nature at some point. Was years ago when I read it....

I think the songs that best reflect maynards relationship with his mother are(in no particular order) Judith, The Patient , jimmy, Passive and Wings (1 & 2) .
i could elaborate but then again those are just theories and most of the songs can be taken as universal lessons about life or people in general.

The Patient?!!! "but im still here, giving blood, keeping faith.........if there were no rewards to reap...no loving embrace to see me through this tedious path ive chosen here"

Sounds like a mother son relationship in a way

Hm i guess you're right.. not sure though.

Maybe maynard has always applyed double-meaning to his songs.
Some may be relevant to his mother,but after all his characteristics were shaped by her so everything is about her.

Yeah, I don't know about Maynard's life but if you just look at all the lyrics he's written, it's very clear that either his own mother or a "mother figure" has been exceptionally influential in his life. The innumerable references in the songs literally about his own mother (i.e. Wings duo or "Judith") as well as in songs not directly about mothers (i.e. "The Patient" or "Ænema") provide evidence of the value of "mother" in his life/career.

I know his lyrics are intentionally vague, but I think practically every single one of his songs can easily be connected to either his own mom or the idea of a mother. And I think that might be the only intentional part in his lyricism, as in I believe that's what the songs mean to him personally.

Thats a good observation about Jimmy and the # 11. I was wondering what it meant...