Tool

Released: September 17, 1996

Songwriter: Adam Jones Danny Carey Maynard James Keenan Justin Chancellor

Producer: David Bottrill Tool

[Intro]
Join in my—
Join in, my child, and listen
Digging through
My old numb shadow

[Verse 1]
My shadow's shedding skin
I've been picking scabs again
I'm down, digging through
My old muscles, looking for a clue

[Pre-Chorus 1]
I've been crawling on my belly
Clearing out what could've been
I've been wallowing in my own confused
And insecure delusions
For a piece to cross me over
Or a word to guide me in
I wanna feel the changes coming down
I wanna know what I've been hiding

[Chorus 1]
In my shadow
My shadow
Change is coming through
My shadow
My shadow
Shedding skin
I've been picking
My scabs again

[Spoken]
Join in my—
Join in my child
My shadow's
Closer to meaning

[Pre-Chorus 2]
I've been crawling on my belly
Clearing out what could've been
I've been wallowing in my own chaotic
Insecure delusions
I wanna feel the change consume me
Feel the outside turning in
I wanna feel the metamorphosis and
Cleansing I've endured in

[Chorus 2]
My shadow
My shadow
Change is coming
Now is my time
Listen to my muscle memory
Contemplate what I've been clinging to
Forty-six and two ahead of me

[Bridge]
I choose to live and to grow
Take and give and to move
Learn and love and to cry
Kill and die and to be
Paranoid and to lie
Hate and fear and to do
What it takes to move through
I choose to live and to lie
Kill and give and to die
Learn and love and to do
What it takes to step through

[Interlude]

[Outro]
See my shadow changing
Stretching up and over me
Soften this old armor
Hoping I can clear the way by
Stepping through my shadow
Coming out the other side
Step into the shadow
Forty six and two are just ahead of me

Tool is an enigmatic heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Members include vocalist Maynard James Keenan, guitarist Adam Jones, drummer Danny Carey, and bassist Justin Chancellor. Chancellor replaced Paul D'Amour in 1995.

The band emerged with its first (and only) EP, Opiate (1992), and followed that up with their debut studio album, Undertow (1993), during the age of early 1990s grunge, and made their success by headlining Lollapalooza festivals aimed at that genre. After the alternative rock scene receded from the mainstream American ear, Tool continued into art rock and progressive rock, and have since released Ænima (1996), Lateralus (2001) and 10,000 Days (2006), which have gained worldwide critical and commercial success. After much anticipation for a fifth studio album for over 13 years, Fear Inoculum was released on August 30, 2019.

Tool’s approach has been part conviction, part sarcasm. While the band incorporates mathematical and ritualistic themes in their music, they have done so at such a level that their paradoxical belief system has hoodwinked a major part of their fan base. The band diligently utilizes multiple time signatures in all of the more recent releases, arranges their instruments into complex formations, and even incorporates the infamous Fibonacci Sequence in the song “Lateralus.”

more tracks from the album

Ænima

From the album

Ænima (1996)

Tool popular songs

Forty Six & 2Tool

Tool

Ænima