Undertow
Tool氀 Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Two times in
I've been struck dumb by a voice that
Speaks, from deep beneath peerless water that's
Twice as clear as heaven
Twice as loud as reason
Deep and rich like silt on a riverbed
Just as neverending
Current's mouth below me
Opens up around me
Suggests and beckons all while swallowing
Surrounds and drowns, and wipes me away
But I'm so comfortable
So comfortable

Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up
You're saturating me
How could I let this bring me
Back to my knees?

Third time in!
I've been baptized by your voice that
Screams, from deep beneath the cold black water that's
Half as high as heaven
Half as clear as reason
Cold and black like silt on the riverbed
Just as neverending
Current's mouth below me
Opens up around me
Suggests and beckons all while swallowing
Surrounds and drowns, and wipes me away
But I'm so comfortable
So comfortable

Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up
You're saturating me
How could I let this happen?
Why don't you kill me?
I am weak and numb and insignificant
How could I let this bring me back to my knees?

Euphoria
Euphoria
Euphoria
Euphoria

I'm back down, I'm in the undertow
I'm helpless and I'm awake, I'm in the undertow
I'll die beneath the undertow
There doesn't seem to be a way out of the undertow





Euphoria

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tool's song "Undertow" seem to speak to the experience of being completely overtaken by a powerful force. The song opens with the singer describing a voice that has left them "struck dumb," speaking from a place deep beneath the water. This voice is described as being "twice as loud as reason," suggesting that it may be an irrational, gut feeling that is drawing the singer further into the "undertow." The current's "mouth" is described as "suggesting and beckoning" while also "swallowing" the singer. Despite this, the singer expresses being "so comfortable" with the situation, perhaps indicating that they are resigned to their fate or unaware of the danger they're in.


The second half of the song ups the intensity as the singer is "baptized" by the voice, which now "screams" from deep beneath the water. This time, the water is described as "cold and black," reinforcing the idea that the force pulling the singer under is ominous and dangerous. Despite this, the singer remains comfortable and seemingly unafraid of their situation. The repetition of "shut up" and "saturating me" could represent the singer's frustration with the voice, or perhaps a plea for it to stop drawing them in. The song ends with the singer resigned to their fate, stating they are "helpless and...in the undertow" and that there seems to be "no way out."


Line by Line Meaning

Two times in
Twice before, I've been captivated by a voice that


I've been struck dumb by a voice that
left me speechless and in awe, emanating from


Speaks, from deep beneath peerless water that's
the depths of water so pristine,


Twice as clear as heaven
even clearer than the skies above


Twice as loud as reason
loud enough to drown out any rational thought


Deep and rich like silt on a riverbed
but with a depth and richness that matches the bottom of a river


Just as neverending
seemingly infinite in its power and reach


Current's mouth below me
The opening of the waterway beneath me


Opens up around me
it draws me into its embrace


Suggests and beckons all while swallowing
tantalizes and draws me closer as it consumes me


Surrounds and drowns, and wipes me away
My surroundings envelope me in a way that overpowers and overwhelms me


But I'm so comfortable
Despite the danger, I feel at ease and at home here.


Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up
Stop tormenting me


You're saturating me
You're overwhelming me with your power


How could I let this bring me
How could I allow myself to be under its spell


Back to my knees?
Returning to a place of subservience and helplessness


Third time in!
For the third time in my life, I've succumbed to a voice that


I've been baptized by your voice that
offers a cleansing and renewing power, emanating from


Screams, from deep beneath the cold black water that's
the darkest depths of the water below,


Half as high as heaven
not as vast and limitless as the heavens


Half as clear as reason
not as transparent or logical as rational thought


Cold and black like silt on the riverbed
with a coldness and darkness that matches the bottom of a river


Why don't you kill me?
Desperate plea for the power to be taken away or destroyed


I am weak and numb and insignificant
Acknowledging my own insignificance and powerlessness compared to this force


Euphoria
A state of intense joy for being consumed by this force


I'm back down, I'm in the undertow
I'm once again entranced and pulled under the surface


I'm helpless and I'm awake, I'm in the undertow
Fully aware and present, yet powerless against this force


I'll die beneath the undertow
Realizing the fatal consequences of being consumed by this force


There doesn't seem to be a way out of the undertow
Accepting that there may be no escape from the power of the undertow




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ADAM JONES, MAYNARS KEENAN, PAUL D'AMOUR, DANIEL CAREY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Michael Voisin

Quality Entertainment all the way!
Great casting, plot and dialogue.
All the characters were realistic,
particularly the cops who were
not stereotypes, especially the
detective who examined the
evidence, realized it was a frame
and stuck his neck out and solved
the case.
Thank you for this treat!



All comments from YouTube:

mike saunders

Quite apart from being classic Noir, the outdoor shots of 40s Chicago make this essential viewing for anyone with half a feel for the period. A coherent ,crisp storyline, and solid cinematography. A joy to watch a film that is artistically satisfying, yet uncluttered by pretentiousness.

Lorraine B.

Love, love the outside shots of the outside in these older films. It does take you back to the look and feel of life in that era quite successfully.

Lambda Lambda Lambda

Everybody's a critic

mike saunders

@DIZZ MAN I Wish .

bette salmon

A good summary without giving away the plot

AndyRob

@Lambda Lambda Lambda given the pathetic standard of today’s ‘critics for cash’ they actually could be. I’ve never seen critics of today so out of step with what the audience like- because they are too busy crawling up Hollyweirds back passage ‘message’ films.

14 More Replies...

Gene Rogers

Love these old movies! I never tire of them. It makes me forget all the chaos and craziness going on in the world. Thanks for the upload!

Smooches

lots of old de Sotos and LaSalles

Claude Sanchez

Ouiiiii je vous rejoins pour les éloges tous les bons sentiments sont au rendez-vous
Merci beaucoup

LUIS

Men who look and act like men. Women who look and act like women.

More Comments

More Versions