An Example of Tool's Lyrical Skill

Right In Two - Tool - 10,000 Days

Angels on the sideline,
Puzzled and amused.
Why did Father give these humans free will?
Now they're all confused.

Don't these talking monkeys know that
Eden has enough to go around?
Plenty in this holy garden, silly monkeys,
Where there's one you're bound to divide it.
Right in two.

Angels on the sideline,
Baffled and confused.
Father blessed them all with reason.
And this is what they choose.
And this is what they choose...

Monkey killing monkey killing monkey
Over pieces of the ground.
Silly monkeys give them thumbs,
They forge a blade,
And where there's one
they're bound to divide it,
Right in two.
Right in two.

Monkey killing monkey killing monkey.
Over pieces of the ground.
Silly monkeys give them thumbs.
They make a club.
And beat their brother, down.
How they survive so misguided is a mystery.

Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here.

Cut it all right in two
Cut it all right in two
Cut it all right in two
Cut it all right in two

Fight over the clouds, over wind, over sky
They fight over lies, over blood, over anger and rage,
Fight over love, over sun,
over night, they fight till they die,
over one, for their lives beginning.

Angels on the sideline again.
Been so long with patience and reason.
Angels on the sideline again
Wondering when this tug of war will end.

Cut it all right in two
Cut it all right in two
Cut it all right in two

RIGHT IN TWO!

Right in two...

I challenge you to find better lyrics. You probably can, but there's a reason I used the word "challenge". ;)

I prefer Child in Time.

Sweet child in time

you'll see the line

The line that's drawn between the good and the bad

See the blind man

shooting at the world

Bullets flying

taking toll

If you've been bad, Lord I bet you have

And you've been hit by flying lead

You'd better close your eyes, bow your head

And wait for the ricochet

better lyrics

 Slip out the Back - Fort Minor

You know me, I used to get caught up in everyday life
Tried to make it through my day so i could sleep at night
Tried to figure out my way through the maze
Of rights and wrongs, but like you used to say
Nothing feels like it's really worth it
Forget perfect, i'm trying not to be worthless
Since i last saw you i been lookin for a purpose
Well i met this kid who thought like i did
He had a weird way of lookin at it
This is what he said

Slip out the back before they know you were there
And at the worst you'll see nobody cares
Cos you dont wana be around when it all goes down
Even heroes know when to be scared
Slip out the back before they know you were there
And at the worst you'll see nobody cares
Cos you dont wana be around when it all goes down
Even heroes know when to be scared

I dont remember where i met him or remember his name
But he walked funny like he was too big for his frame
Just over five foot but he weighed a buck fifty
And what he said just seemed so right it stuck with me
Listen its like poker you can play your best
But you got to know when to fold your cards and take a rest
And know when to hold your cards and hold your breath
And hope that nobody else is stacking the deck because
I dont need to tell you that life isnt fair, it doesnt care
It arbitrarily cuts off your air, and like you i want someone to say its okay
But in the truest parts of our hearts everybody's afraid
But just underappreciated and overwhelmed
Fighting so hard to hide our fear that were scaring ourselves
You understand when im saying that you always did
But its different in the words of a cowardly kid

Slip out the back before they know you were there
And at the worst you'll see nobody cares
Cos you dont wana be around when it all goes down
Even heroes know when to be scared
Slip out the back before they know you were there
And at the worst you'll see nobody cares
Cos you dont wana be around when it all goes down
Even heroes know when to be scared

Im no hero, you remember how i was, you know
All i ever did was worry, feeling out of control
To the point where everything was going end over end
Im spinning around in circles again
This is where you come in
All of this to explain to you why
I had to separate myself away from yesterday's life
Please remember this isn't how i hoped it would be
But i had to protect you from me
Thats why i slipped out the back before you knew i was there
I know you felt unprepared
But every single time i was around i just bring you down
And i could tell that it was time to be scared
Thats why i slipped out the back before you knew i was there
And i know the way i left wasnt fair
I didnt want to be around just to bring you down
Im not a hero but dont think i didnt care

better lyrics

Slip out the Back - Fort Minor

You know me, I used to get caught up in everyday life
Tried to make it through my day so i could sleep at night
Tried to figure out my way through the maze
Of rights and wrongs, but like you used to say
Nothing feels like it's really worth it
Forget perfect, i'm trying not to be worthless
Since i last saw you i been lookin for a purpose
Well i met this kid who thought like i did
He had a weird way of lookin at it
This is what he said

Slip out the back before they know you were there
And at the worst you'll see nobody cares
Cos you dont wana be around when it all goes down
Even heroes know when to be scared
Slip out the back before they know you were there
And at the worst you'll see nobody cares
Cos you dont wana be around when it all goes down
Even heroes know when to be scared

I dont remember where i met him or remember his name
But he walked funny like he was too big for his frame
Just over five foot but he weighed a buck fifty
And what he said just seemed so right it stuck with me
Listen its like poker you can play your best
But you got to know when to fold your cards and take a rest
And know when to hold your cards and hold your breath
And hope that nobody else is stacking the deck because
I dont need to tell you that life isnt fair, it doesnt care
It arbitrarily cuts off your air, and like you i want someone to say its okay
But in the truest parts of our hearts everybody's afraid
But just underappreciated and overwhelmed
Fighting so hard to hide our fear that were scaring ourselves
You understand when im saying that you always did
But its different in the words of a cowardly kid

Slip out the back before they know you were there
And at the worst you'll see nobody cares
Cos you dont wana be around when it all goes down
Even heroes know when to be scared
Slip out the back before they know you were there
And at the worst you'll see nobody cares
Cos you dont wana be around when it all goes down
Even heroes know when to be scared

Im no hero, you remember how i was, you know
All i ever did was worry, feeling out of control
To the point where everything was going end over end
Im spinning around in circles again
This is where you come in
All of this to explain to you why
I had to separate myself away from yesterday's life
Please remember this isn't how i hoped it would be
But i had to protect you from me
Thats why i slipped out the back before you knew i was there
I know you felt unprepared
But every single time i was around i just bring you down
And i could tell that it was time to be scared
Thats why i slipped out the back before you knew i was there
And i know the way i left wasnt fair
I didnt want to be around just to bring you down
Im not a hero but dont think i didnt care

Def_Jef88

I changed my mind, this wins.

I was born in the cemetery

Under the sign of the moon

Raised from my grave by the dead

And I was made a mercenary

In the legions of

Hell Now I'm king of pain, I'm insane, yeah

You know my only pleasure is to hear you cry

I'd love to hear you cry

And I'd love to see you die

And I'll be the first to watch your funeral

And I'll be the last to leave

I'd love to hear you cry

And when you're down beyond the ground

I'll dig up your body again

And make love to shame

Oh, lady cry, and say goodbye (goodbye)

Oh, lady cry, and say goodbye

Yeah, you gotta say goodbye

Yeah, 'cause I will eat your mind

[QUOTE="Def_Jef88"]

better lyrics

Slip out the Back - Fort Minor

You know me, I used to get caught up in everyday life
Tried to make it through my day so i could sleep at night
Tried to figure out my way through the maze
Of rights and wrongs, but like you used to say
Nothing feels like it's really worth it
Forget perfect, i'm trying not to be worthless
Since i last saw you i been lookin for a purpose
Well i met this kid who thought like i did
He had a weird way of lookin at it
This is what he said

Slip out the back before they know you were there
And at the worst you'll see nobody cares
Cos you dont wana be around when it all goes down
Even heroes know when to be scared
Slip out the back before they know you were there
And at the worst you'll see nobody cares
Cos you dont wana be around when it all goes down
Even heroes know when to be scared

I dont remember where i met him or remember his name
But he walked funny like he was too big for his frame
Just over five foot but he weighed a buck fifty
And what he said just seemed so right it stuck with me
Listen its like poker you can play your best
But you got to know when to fold your cards and take a rest
And know when to hold your cards and hold your breath
And hope that nobody else is stacking the deck because
I dont need to tell you that life isnt fair, it doesnt care
It arbitrarily cuts off your air, and like you i want someone to say its okay
But in the truest parts of our hearts everybody's afraid
But just underappreciated and overwhelmed
Fighting so hard to hide our fear that were scaring ourselves
You understand when im saying that you always did
But its different in the words of a cowardly kid

Slip out the back before they know you were there
And at the worst you'll see nobody cares
Cos you dont wana be around when it all goes down
Even heroes know when to be scared
Slip out the back before they know you were there
And at the worst you'll see nobody cares
Cos you dont wana be around when it all goes down
Even heroes know when to be scared

Im no hero, you remember how i was, you know
All i ever did was worry, feeling out of control
To the point where everything was going end over end
Im spinning around in circles again
This is where you come in
All of this to explain to you why
I had to separate myself away from yesterday's life
Please remember this isn't how i hoped it would be
But i had to protect you from me
Thats why i slipped out the back before you knew i was there
I know you felt unprepared
But every single time i was around i just bring you down
And i could tell that it was time to be scared
Thats why i slipped out the back before you knew i was there
And i know the way i left wasnt fair
I didnt want to be around just to bring you down
Im not a hero but dont think i didnt care

a55assin

man I can find rappers with better lyrics than thatOrlando_Magic

Agreed. I honestly find Tools lyrics to be simplistic at times, but that may be just because I don't like the music.

Also, simple lyrics don't mean bad to me. 

http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=3530822107858496908 explicit lyrics.

Bob Dylan - Hurricane

Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night
Enter patty valentine from the upper hall.
She sees the bartender in a pool of blood,
Cries out, my god, they killed them all!
Here comes the story of the hurricane,
The man the authorities came to blame
For somethin that he never done.
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world.

Three bodies lyin there does patty see
And another man named bello, movin around mysteriously.
I didnt do it, he says, and he throws up his hands
I was only robbin the register, I hope you understand.
I saw them leavin, he says, and he stops
One of us had better call up the cops.
And so patty calls the cops
And they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashin
In the hot new jersey night.

Meanwhile, far away in another part of town
Rubin carter and a couple of friends are drivin around.
Number one contender for the middleweight crown
Had no idea what kinda s*** was about to go down
When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road
Just like the time before and the time before that.
In paterson thats just the way things go.
If youre black you might as well not show up on the street
less you wanna draw the heat.

Alfred bello had a partner and he had a rap for the cops.
Him and arthur dexter bradley were just out prowlin around
He said, I saw two men runnin out, they looked like middleweights
They jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates.
And miss patty valentine just nodded her head.
Cop said, wait a minute, boys, this ones not dead
So they took him to the infirmary
And though this man could hardly see
They told him that he could identify the guilty men.

Four in the mornin and they haul rubin in,
Take him to the hospital and they bring him upstairs.
The wounded man looks up through his one dyin eye
Says, whad you bring him in here for? he aint the guy!
Yes, heres the story of the hurricane,
The man the authorities came to blame
For somethin that he never done.
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world.

Four months later, the ghettos are in flame,
Rubins in south america, fightin for his name
While arthur dexter bradleys still in the robbery game
And the cops are puttin the screws to him, lookin for somebody to blame.
Remember that murder that happened in a bar?
Remember you said you saw the getaway car?
You think youd like to play ball with the law?
Think it might-a been that fighter that you saw runnin that night?
Dont forget that you are white.

Arthur dexter bradley said, Im really not sure.
Cops said, a poor boy like you could use a break
We got you for the motel job and were talkin to your friend bello
Now you dont wanta have to go back to jail, be a nice fellow.
Youll be doin society a favor.
That **** is brave and gettin braver.
We want to put his ass in stir
We want to pin this triple murder on him
He aint no gentleman jim.

Rubin could take a man out with just one punch
But he never did like to talk about it all that much.
Its my work, hed say, and I do it for pay
And when its over Id just as soon go on my way
Up to some paradise
Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice
And ride a horse along a trail.
But then they took him to the jailhouse
Where they try to turn a man into a mouse.

All of rubins cards were marked in advance
The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance.
The judge made rubins witnesses drunkards from the slums
To the white folks who watched he was a revolutionary bum
And to the black folks he was just a crazy n*****.
No one doubted that he pulled the trigger.
And though they could not produce the gun,
The d.a. said he was the one who did the deed
And the all-white jury agreed.

Rubin carter was falsely tried.
The crime was murder one, guess who testified?
Bello and bradley and they both baldly lied
And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride.
How can the life of such a man
Be in the palm of some fools hand?
To see him obviously framed
Couldnt help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
Where justice is a game.

Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties
Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise
While rubin sits like buddha in a ten-foot cell
An innocent man in a living hell.
Thats the story of the hurricane,
But it wont be over till they clear his name
And give him back the time hes done.
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world.

Should've just linked.

Anyways, looked like something by Gwar, or a band like them, and they were pretty bad lyrics. 

Should've just linked.

Anyways, looked like something by Gwar, or a band like them, and they were pretty bad lyrics. 

Undoing_Ruin

Linked now.  and it is cannibal corpse.  A lot of metal has good lyrics though.  Nile for example.

 I didn't take the challenge seriously. I just went out and got lyrics from 3 random songs:|

6. Little Dreamer

Once there was a boy back in time of the heathens
Day after day he just kept dreaming things that would make him weaker
His father could not make him see, that there is more than dreams
But he wouldn't listen to the words of his father, 'cause he's a little dreamer

Along his quest for solitude
A wise man came and told him to follow the stars

He ran to the forest with whirlwinds by his side
He's lost in this world of lies
Take him back where rivers flow upwards
He is the one who lives
under a moonless sky looking for time
Take him back where stars are shining bright

Far in the lands of icetop mountains far on the other side
pictures are appearing so serenely into my mind
Far in the lands of meadows of fire deep in forgotten life
memories are drifting away so silently from light

Along his path of misery
A wise man came and told him to follow... the stars
Little Dreamer...

Riot Of Violence

Greedy for blood
Paralysed by power
The decision to die
Tales of terror
Deep in the corner
Passion to kill
Corpse on the ground
Minds starts to chill

A man lies in the corner, covered with blood
Bloody wounds on his body, praying to his god
People pass him by, but they say
Why should we care about him? he will die today

Riot of violence

Find your own way
You must go alone
Kill all next to you
They want the throne
The infectious disease
Is the only life
You're scared to death
Die by their knife

A man lies in the corner, covered with blood
Bloody wounds on his body, praying to his god
People pass him by, but they say
Why should we care about him? he will die today

Brutality and mighty wars, warriors start to fight
With bombs and guns, the troops have come to extinguish the light
I'd rather not go wild tonight, but I must save myself

On a field littered with corpses
Stands a lonely flower
It reminds the world how it was
But we kicked it away with power

Sadness And Hate

Sad night, the weeper of starwind sky
Take me where the shimmering lights are fading out
Through the shadows of hate and through the fires of grace
I followed the voice in the night, beautiful as black sky,
But nothing I found

My thoughts are captured by the magical chants
Of the spirits, but I cannot see them with these dead eyes
Lost I am in these dismal streams
Lost I am forever in my life

The snow is falling on the withering leaves, I am left in the cold
The shadows are crying in the moonlight
Is this night the last of my life

Have we arrived from our journey, I must ask you now
At last I can cry, 'cause these sad words are calling me tonight
My eyes bleed for you my star, my pride and the love of my heart
But why did you had to fly so far, I raged and it tore me apart
I promise to you with sadness and hate
Wherever I might go, you will know...

I give my life to the withering leaves
To the bleeding moonlight
To the crying shadows
I GIVE MY LIFE TO YOU

Eh...Tool is alright but nothing special. Bit overrated really.LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Eh...Tool is alright but nothing special. Bit overrated really.a55assin

I honestly dont get Tool. I find it very boring and I dont see what is so amazing about it. To each his own.Diablo112688

[QUOTE="a55assin"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Eh...Tool is alright but nothing special. Bit overrated really.LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="Diablo112688"]I honestly dont get Tool. I find it very boring and I dont see what is so amazing about it. To each his own.Nisstyre_56

[QUOTE="Diablo112688"]I honestly dont get Tool. I find it very boring and I dont see what is so amazing about it. To each his own.Nisstyre_56

No I play guitar and can play well.  Just because I dont like them it doesnt mean anything.  What everyone has to love them or they cant possible understand music?  What a joke. 

[QUOTE="Nisstyre_56"][QUOTE="Diablo112688"]I honestly dont get Tool. I find it very boring and I dont see what is so amazing about it. To each his own.yermomsboxx

[QUOTE="Nisstyre_56"]

I honestly dont get Tool. I find it very boring and I dont see what is so amazing about it. To each his own.Diablo112688

No I play guitar and can play well. Just because I dont like them it doesnt mean anything. What everyone has to love them or they cant possible understand music? What a joke.

[QUOTE="yermomsboxx"][QUOTE="Nisstyre_56"][QUOTE="Diablo112688"]I honestly dont get Tool. I find it very boring and I dont see what is so amazing about it. To each his own.Nisstyre_56

[QUOTE="Nisstyre_56"] [QUOTE="Diablo112688"]I honestly dont get Tool. I find it very boring and I dont see what is so amazing about it. To each his own.Diablo112688

No I play guitar and can play well. Just because I dont like them it doesnt mean anything. What everyone has to love them or they cant possible understand music? What a joke.

What amazes you wont amaze others... is that so hard to understand?    

I do give you that Tool is awesome, however there are better:

Materialist by Bad Religion

You're obsessed and distressed cause you can't make any sense
Of the ludicrous nonsense and incipient senescence
That will deem your common sense useless
This ain't no recess!
I want to believe in you but my plan keeps falling through
I know i have to face the harshness, grin and bare the truth
And i have to walk this mile in my own shoes (and i'm no fool!)
I'm materialist
A full-blown realist
And i guess i'm full of doubt
So i'm prone to have it out with you
I'm materialist
There ain't no fear in this
It's there for all to see
So don't talk of hidden mystery with me
Mind over matter it really don't matter
If the street's idle chatter turns your heart-strings to tatters
Flatter hopes don't flatter and soul batter won't congeal
To mend a life that is shattered into shards
Was it in the cards?
The process of belief is an elixir when you're weak
I must confess, at times i indulge it on the sneak
But generally my outlook's not so bleak (and i'm not meek!)
I'm materialist, call me a humanist
I guess i'm full of doubt
So i'll gladly have it out with you
I'm materialist
I ain't no deist
It's there for all to see so don't talk of hidden mystery with me
Like rome under nero, our future's one big zero
Recycling the past to meet immediate needs
And through it all we amble forth to persevere and climb
Our mountains of regret to sow our seeds
I'm materialist!

Black Republican by Nas and Jay-Z

(Nas and Jay-Z together)
I Feel Like A .....

[Jay-Z]
black republican, money I got coming in
cant turn my back on the hood I got love for them
Cant claim my act has been good, too much thug in him
I'll probably end up back in the hood like f**k it then
rumblin' over the oven, we was like brothers then
though u was nothin other than the son of my mothers friend
we had nothin then, who would have thought the love would end
I suppose that happens to all good things
never known it was the same song that all hoods sing
thought it was all wood grain, all good brain
we wouldn't bicker like the other fools, talk good game
never imagine all the disaster that one good brang
could bring, should blame the game and I could
its kill or be killed, how could I refrain

jealousy evil and pride and this brings
its all to a head like a coin, cha-ching
the root of evil strikes again
this could sting, now the team got beef between the post and the point
this put the ring at jeopardy

Hook by Jay Z

I feel like... Black republican, money I got coming in
cant turn my back on the hood I got love for them
Cant claim my act has been good, too much thug in him
I'll probably end back in the hood like f**k it then

Hook by Nas

I feel like a... Black militant taking over the government
cant turn my back on the hood too much love for them
Cant clean my act up for good, too much thug in him
I'll probably end back in the hood I'm like f**k it then

[Nas]

I'm back in the hood they like "Hey Nas"
blowing on purp I'm pimpin off they lies
couple of fat cats couple of A.I.'s
dreaming of fly s**t instead of the grey skies
grey five's, hate lies, wishing our reign dies
b**ches they slang pie's and and ni**as they sing, why?
ni**as ain't strong enough to handle their jail time
weak minds keep trying to keep follow the street signs
I'm standing on the roof of my building I feel it
the whirlwind of beef I inhale it
just like an acrobat ready to hurl myself through the hoops of fire
sipping 80 proof, bulletproof under my attire
could it be the forces of darkness
against hood angels of good that form street politics
mixed with sweet honest kids
turn illegal for commerce
to get his feet outta them Converse, that's my word

Hook by Jay Z

I feel like... Black republican, money I got coming in
cant turn my back on the hood I got love for them
Cant claim my act has been good, too much thug in him
I'll probably end back in the hood like f**k it then

Hook by Nas

I feel like a... Black militant taking over the government
cant turn my back on the hood too much love for them
Cant clean my act up for good, too much thug in him
I'll probably end back in the hood I'm like f**k it then

Eh...Tool is alright but nothing special. Bit overrated really.LJS9502_basic

What amazes you wont amaze others... is that so hard to understand?

Diablo112688

Like I already said,  you do not have to be amazed. But you're a fool if you don't think they are talented. Especially the drummer Danny Carey, he plays some extremely technical stuff and has roots in Jazz drumming.

Eh...Tool is alright but nothing special. Bit overrated really.LJS9502_basic

You can't really measure the quality of lyrics, especially since how much you take out of a song really varies with your interest in the theme. Instead of a song that points out humanity's selfish, ultimately self-destructive tendencies, I'd prefer a song like this that focuses on the routine, perspective, and life in the shadow of inevitable death.

The Ghost of Corporate future - Regina Spektor - Soviet Kitsch

a man walks out of his apartment
it is raining, he's got no umbrella
he starts running beneath the awnings
trying to save his suit
trying to dry but no good

when he gets to the crowded subway platform
he takes off both of his shoes
he steps right into somebody's fat loogie
and everyone who sees him says, ewww

but he doesn't care cause last night he got a visit from
the ghost of corporate future
the ghost said, take off both your shoes
whatever chances you get
especially when they're wet
he also said,

imagine you go away
on a business trip one day
and when you come back home
your children have grown and you never made your wife moan, and

people make you nervous
you think of the world as ending
and everybody's features have somehow started blending
and everything is plastic
and everyone's sarcastic
and all your food is frozen, it needs to be defrosted
you'd think that the world was ending right now

well, maybe you should just drink a lot less coffee
and never ever watch the ten o'clock news
maybe you should kiss someone nice
or lick a rock, or both

maybe you should cut your own hair
cause that can be so funny
it doesn't cost any money
and it always grows back, hair grows even after you're dead, and

people are just people
they shouldn't make you nervous
the world is everlasting, it's coming and it's going
if you don't toss your plastic
the street won't be [so blasted?]
and if you kiss somebody then both of you'll get practice
the world is everlasting
put dirtballs in your pocket
put dirtballs in your pocket and take off both your shoes
cause people are just people
people are just people like you

the world is everlasting
is coming and is going

[QUOTE="Undoing_Ruin"]

Should've just linked.

Anyways, looked like something by Gwar, or a band like them, and they were pretty bad lyrics.

lycrof

Linked now. and it is cannibal corpse. A lot of metal has good lyrics though. Nile for example.

tool is amazinglonghorn7