Schism
Tool Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mildewed and smoldering, fundamental differing
Pure intention juxtaposed will set two lover's souls in motion
Disintegrating as it goes testing our communication
The light that fueled our fire then has burned a hole between us so
We cannot see to reach an end crippling our communication
I know the pieces fit 'cause I watched them tumble down
No fault, none to blame, it doesn't mean I don't desire
To point the finger, blame the other, watch the temple topple over
To bring the pieces back together, rediscover communication
The poetry that comes from the squaring off between
And the circling is worth it
Finding beauty in the dissonance
There was a time that the pieces fit, but I watched them fall away
Mildewed and smoldering, strangled by our coveting
I've done the math enough to know the dangers of our second guessing
Doomed to crumble unless we grow and strengthen our communication
(Cold, cold, cold) cold silence has
A tendency to
Atrophy any
Sense of compassion
Between supposed lovers
Between supposed lovers
I know the pieces fit
I know the pieces fit
I know the pieces fit
I know the pieces fit
I know the pieces fit
I know the pieces fit
I know the pieces fit
I know the pieces fit
Tool's song "Schism" tells the story of a relationship that is falling apart due to a lack of communication. The singer notes that they were once connected and the pieces fit together, but he watched as they fell away, becoming mildewed and smoldering. The fundamental differences in their approaches and intentions have created a distance that has now become too vast to overcome. The light that once fueled the fire of their relationship has burned a hole between them, causing them to be unable to see each other clearly. The singer knows that the pieces fit together because he's watched them crumble multiple times before.
He understands that there is no one to blame for the breakdown of their communication, but that doesn't mean he doesn't desire to assign blame. He knows that the blame game will only lead to further destruction, and he seeks to bring the pieces back together and rediscover communication. For him, the beauty in the dissonance that has developed is worth saving the relationship. However, he acknowledges that the silence that has developed between them could lead to atrophy of any sense of compassion they have.
The song ultimately speaks to the need for open communication and the willingness to work through differences. The singer recognizes that the pieces of the relationship once fit together, and it's possible to bring them back into alignment, but it requires growth and strengthening of their communication.
Line by Line Meaning
I know the pieces fit 'cause I watched them fall away
I have seen the various components of our relationship drift apart and crumble.
Mildewed and smoldering, fundamental differing
Our once strong bond is now decaying and burning away due to our stark differences in character.
Pure intention juxtaposed will set two lover's souls in motion
The purity and sincerity of our love can set us on the path towards reconciliation and rekindling our romance.
Disintegrating as it goes testing our communication
Our dwindling relationship is testing our ability to communicate, and as it continues to deteriorate, it becomes even harder to keep our connection intact.
The light that fueled our fire then has burned a hole between us so
The passion and love that bound us together has now created a deep chasm between us that we cannot cross.
We cannot see to reach an end crippling our communication
Our lack of clarity and understanding is hindering our ability to come to a resolution and communicate effectively with each other.
I know the pieces fit 'cause I watched them tumble down
I am aware of how our relationship has been falling apart, and I have witnessed it firsthand.
No fault, none to blame, it doesn't mean I don't desire
While I do not attribute any specific fault or blame for our relationship's decline, I still have the desire to fix our connection.
To point the finger, blame the other, watch the temple topple over
Identifying and blaming each other will only cause our whole relationship to crumble and fall apart.
To bring the pieces back together, rediscover communication
Our only chance of rebuilding and restoring our relationship is to work on our communication and find a way to reunite the broken pieces of our bond.
The poetry that comes from the squaring off between
The beauty that arises from the conflicts that we face in our relationship and the resolution that follows is similar to poetry.
And the circling is worth it
Despite the struggles we face, it is worth it to persevere and work towards recovering our love.
Finding beauty in the dissonance
Discovering the beauty that lies in the chaos and tension of our relationship is essential for us to come back together.
There was a time that the pieces fit, but I watched them fall away
There was a time when our love was strong and unbreakable, but over time, it has weakened and crumbled away.
Mildewed and smoldering, strangled by our coveting
Our relationship has been poisoned by our possessiveness and desire to control each other.
I've done the math enough to know the dangers of our second guessing
I have meticulously measured and weighed the consequences of second-guessing our relationship, and I know it will only harm us further.
Doomed to crumble unless we grow and strengthen our communication
If we do not make an effort to grow and improve our communication, our relationship is doomed to fall apart entirely.
(Cold, cold, cold) cold silence has
The cold silence that exists between us
A tendency to
Has a potential to
Atrophy any
Cause a decline in
Sense of compassion
Our ability to understand and empathize with one another
Between supposed lovers
In relationships where love is assumed to exist
I know the pieces fit
I am confident that our broken bond can be fixed
I know the pieces fit
I am certain that we have the potential to heal and mend our relationship
I know the pieces fit
I am absolutely positive that our love can be reunited, and we can make it work.
I know the pieces fit
I have seen the evidence that our relationship can be rebuilt, and I believe in us.
I know the pieces fit
I understand that our connection can be restored and our bond strengthened.
I know the pieces fit
I am aware that we are both capable of healing and reviving our love.
I know the pieces fit
I know that the broken and disjointed parts of our relationship can be reassembled and repaired.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Daniel Carey, Justin Gunner Chancellor, Adam Jones, Maynard James Keenan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bipinbashyal2081
I know the pieces fit
'Cause I watched them fall away
Mildewed and smouldering
Fundamental differing
Pure intention juxtaposed
Will set two lovers' souls in motion
Disintegrating as it goes
Testing our communication
The light that fueled our fire then
Has burned a hole between us so
We cannot seem to reach an end
Crippling our communication
I know the pieces fit
'Cause I watched them tumble down
No fault, none to blame
It doesn't mean I don't desire
To point the finger, blame the other
Watch the temple topple over
To bring the pieces back together
Rediscover communication
The poetry that comes from
The squaring off between
And the circling is worth it
Finding beauty in the dissonance
There was a time that the pieces fit
But I watched them fall away
Mildewed and smouldering
Strangled by our coveting
I've done the math enough to know
The dangers of our second guessing
Doomed to crumble unless we grow
And strengthen our communication
Cold silence has
A tendency to
Atrophy any
Sense of compassion
Between supposed lovers
Between supposed lovers
I know the pieces fit
I know the pieces fit
I know the pieces fit
I know the pieces fit
I know the pieces fit
I know the pieces fit
I know the pieces fit
And I know the pieces fit
@evanramsay9785
This song is about two hard headed egos who can’t grow together, until they communicate. Communication is the answer to the schism.
@Brettkev
No it’s a safety seminar on why acid is bad
@Gunth0r
It's also about the alchemical principle of the primordial androgyne, the communication between mind and matter, the recombination of opposites, the sexes. Res Bina, Rebis, Hermaphrodite. Jakin and Bohas /Jachin and Boaz/, Mercury and Sulphur. The Androgyne or Hermaphrodite, the pillars, the Res Bina, signify the prerequisite to the creation of the Great Work.
@RoryDaRed
No, It's about LEGO!. "I know the pieces fit cuse i watched them fall away", "I know the pieces fit because i watched them tumble down", Hello!
How about, It's just a cool song that we all like?
@kayyumamcaoglu8671
The video has a very alchemical and/or esoteric background to it, there was this whole text written about it, I will link to it if I find it again, but basically the woman is mind and the man is the body, they must be one in order to "square the circle". To square the circle is an idiom which originated from alchemy, it basically means to perfect something. The whole video focuses on what both mind and body do before they become one in the very end.
Edit: This is one of the best explanations btw if you are interested https://diginterpretations.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/schism-by-tool/
@Gunth0r
@@kayyumamcaoglu8671 yeah, so, what I said.
@sernoddicusthegallant6986
"Babe come over"
"I cant, Im an abstract humanoid creature in a conceptual Tool music video"
"But my parents arent home"
3:02
@godzillix7955
This comment deserves my liking
@stlhaweeon60fps24
W comment
@ADKMotorsport
That was really funny