the drum fill after the second chorus.. the 2nd "cuz i need to watch things die." that faint ringing before the final build-up, during the second trance riff.. the climax (obviously).. those are just perfect moments, to me..

the vocals in this song are achingly beautiful. when he says "it's like blood to a vampire.." the way he does.. i don't think i've ever been so captivated, so on the edge..

"So it is, so it's always been ..." and the subsequent instrumental buildup rank among Tool's best.

"credulous at best your desire to believe in, angels in the hearts of men" That's some powerfull songwriting which never stops to send shivers down my spine.

that part and
"the universe is hostile (the way he sings hostile AHH) so impersonal, etc. from there on

Pretty much the whole song. This is my favorite track on the record.

agreed

i agree

The last chorus when Maynard steps it up a notch and the following outro. Basically, the last 30 seconds of the song grabs my scrotum and squeezes.

All after "...the universe is hostile..."

But for me I likey "Part Vampire
Part Warrior
Carnivore and
Warrior"

MMM...Tool.

We all feed on tragedy...its like blood to a vampire.

its all about the Vicarously I, LIVE WHILE THE WHOLE WORLD DIES, YOU ALL NEED IT TO DONT LIE.

Goose bumps

goose bumps yes, and i think i peed a little

Don't get me wrong. I totally love this song, but the "blood to a vampire" line sounds like something a teenage wannabe lyricist would write. It has always been like the imperfection on the diamond that is this song (to give an equally lame simile).

from about 4:09 and to the end, this songs i phenomenal. gives me a 11,11 inch rock hard boner on.

most shivering bit for me is "while the mother holds her child - watches him die".

The concept blows your heart - try to get more emotive than that image..

that

Definitely, I agree. The first time I heard the song I knew there was both the cool tinge of staring like a zombie and the emotion and meaning striking right at his heart as he watches it. You can just *hear* it in his voice.

This song is totally energetic and tugs at both ends of the emotional spectrum. Very cool.

sadly, i agree.

I dig the "why can't we just admit it" theme, in its variations forms. It's unlike any of the stuff they've done before, which is why I find it so fun.

The one problem I have with this song is the last note Maynard hits on "much better you than I." I've never been big on the "APC is ruining Tool" thing, but I do think that the way he ends on a subdued low note instead of a powerful high note is something that was a direct influence from APC. A few other people have noticed this, too, and it's what really keeps this song from being one of my favorites on the album.

I love the While the mother, holds her child / Watches him die / Hands to the sky cryin, / "Why, oh why?"

And Maynard bluntly answers: "Cuz I need to watch things die."

Gotta love gallows humour.

"The universe is hostile, so impersonal. Devour to survive, so it is, so it's always been!"

The intensity, the authority and brutal honesty of those lyrics get me every time.

The very first drum fill after "Its no fun....til....some...one...dies..." with that snare roll that goes to the ride cymbal. That is Tool.

ditto...



chills up the spine every time

a potentially extremely tough and broadly-applicable question, but:

music (and especially tool) has the ability to make shivers run up my spine too, and raise all the hairs on my arms, etc. However the effects of the music subside after a while, eg. i find it very difficult to get the same feelings from songs off Aenima and Laturalus as i do from the new 10K Days tunes, because i've become desensitised to them i guess.

whaddaya think is this inevitable or just a state of mind which can be overcome?

"neither nor brave nor bold, why is the story so? We wont give pause til the blood is flowing!!" aaahhh tellin it like it is tool style...

by the way, i find that i can get sick of listenin to tool sometimes, but then i take a few weeks off em and next time i listen they're like completely brand new! id put it down to the depth of their compositon, i jus lke admirin it...aaaahhh the genius.

yah, moderation is necessary at least sometimes :P

My 2 year old son loves the part "Lalalalalala la la LIE!" you should hear him sing it...as soon as the song starts he starts singing that part.

One part that no one here has mentioned as far as lyrics go...and its not really a big part, but its something that has drawn my attention....
"that's my kind of story"
I've incorporated that into my speech...something about it....its my kind of story...

I understand....but I still have yet to tire of the 10,000 days...every now and then I take a TOOL break but for the most part, I drive people crazy listening to tool and APC....if ever have a doubt about what to listen to, I just put in a TOOL/APC mp3 disk and hit random.....

that's my kind of music!

AGREED!

"stare like a junkie, into the TV; stare like a ZOMBIE..."

First time I heard that...


I shit my pants.

From the first time he says "Cause I need to watch things die" till the ending high pitched "Vicariously I live while the whole world dies, much better you than I" and finally the last heavy riffs to close the song are just awesome with full notched volume.

Ok, now that we've established what parts or lines we really like....let's clarify. Are we talking about MEANING or just the sheer beauty of the poetry? To me, one of the most meaningful and powerful statements is the "Devour to survive so it is, so its always been." That is so true....beautiful and overwhelming in itself...and I think is the theme of the song....one of them anyway....

i love the main riff to the song.. well i don't know if its the main riff, but it is the 2nd riff of the song after the 'ringing bells' go off and the energy picks up.. its at 0:56. to me, this riff IS tool - there is something about it that just oozes the.. uh.. toolness, for lack of a better word.

i remember when i d/led the single, as soon as i heard this riff i just said to myself in my inner george tikay voice 'ohhh myy goooddd....'

when this song leaked, i left it on repeat

"the universe is hostile, so impersonal, devour to survive so it is so it always been." and then after a couple of lines he screams "vicariously I, live while the whole world dies" and the song ends.

That's the sickest part.

Its ALL so sick....I can't say what's the sickest part. And yes, even now, I try to listen to something else and it just won't do. I have been listening non-stop since the leak...yes, I went and paid for it the day it came out, but who could resist the early leak>? I wouldn't have been part of the leak if I had no intention of buying the disk.
Anyway, yea, when I first heard VICARIOUS on the radio....DOOD! I was instantly empowered. I have driven anyone who spends anytime with me crazy with TOOL. So much wisdom in it. Most people just think I'm fanatical...which is true....because NO other band in the world can speak to my ever so deep subconscious like TOOL. Yes, APC was close but nothing can touch tool. I listen to the new disk at least 11 times a day....good for the soul....

the hole songs pretty much "grabs me by the balls"

"Stare at the transmittal
Sing to the death rattle

La la la la la la la-lie"


and the first line of the last chorus repeat.






Perfect.