To date, the band has released five studio albums, one EP and one box set. They emerged with a heavy metal sound on their first studio album, Undertow (1993), and became a dominant act in the alternative metal movement with the release of their follow-up album Ænima in 1996. Their efforts to unify musical experimentation, visual arts, and a message of personal evolution continued with Lateralus (2001) and 10,000 Days (2006), gaining critical acclaim and international commercial success. Their fifth studio album, Fear Inoculum, was released on August 30, 2019, to widespread critical acclaim. Prior to its release, the band had sold more than 13 million albums in the US alone.
Due to Tool's incorporation of visual arts and very long and complex releases, the band is generally described as a style-transcending act and part of progressive rock, psychedelic rock, and art rock. The relationship between the band and today's music industry is ambivalent, at times marked by censorship, and the band's insistence on privacy.
There is a raging debate about whether Tool can be considered "post-metal" or not. However, they surely had a hand in its creation as much as Neurosis. The influential act Isis was heavily influenced by Tool's music, so much that they lifted entire basslines and guitar riffing from Tool and even their iconic snare sound was inspired by Tool's style. Much has been made of both Isis and Tool's sound and influence across the years but one thing is sure, modern post-metal has their fingerprints everywhere and it would not have sounded this way without them. Additionally, Tool actually was aware of and liked Isis' music as they chose Isis as touring partners, a move that brought even more attention to Isis' music.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool_(band)
Studio albums
Undertow (1993)
Ænima (1996)
Lateralus (2001)
10,000 Days (2006)
Fear Inoculum (2019)
Flood
Tool Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All I knew and all I believed
Crumbling images
No longer comfort me.
Scramble to reach higher ground,
Order and sanity,
Something to comfort me.
So I take what is mine, and hold what is mine
Soon the water will come
And claim what is mine
I must leave it behind
And climb to a new place now
This ground is not the rock I thought it to be
Thought I was high, and free
I thought I was there
Divine destiny
I was wrong
This changes everything
Running away,
Running away,
I'm running away,
Running away
I'm running away
Running away
I'm running away
Running away
I take what is mine
Hold what is mine
Suffocate what is mine
Bury what's mine
Soon the water will come
And claim what is mine
I must leave it behind
And climb to a new place
Water's rising up on me
The water is rising up on me
Thought the sun would come deliver me
But the truth has come to punish me instead
Grounds break down right under me
Cleanse and purge me
In the water
The lyrics of the song "Flood" by Tool paint a picture of a person facing a flood and being forced to leave their possessions and memories behind. They describe struggling to find higher ground and something to cling to, but ultimately having to give up everything that they believed was theirs. The lyrics evoke a sense of chaos and desperation, as the flood sweeps away everything in its path, leaving nothing but the water to cleanse and purge the singer.
The themes of this song can be interpreted in a number of ways, but one possible reading is that it is about letting go of attachments and expectations, and embracing the unknown. The flood represents a force of nature that cannot be controlled or predicted, and the singer must learn to let go of their material possessions and the illusions they held about themselves in order to survive. The repetition of the phrase "I'm running away" suggests a desire to escape from the past and start anew, while the line "This changes everything" implies a profound shift in perspective.
One interesting aspect of this song is its use of repetition and variation. The repeated lines "I take what is mine, hold what is mine, suffocate what is mine, bury what's mine" create a sense of ritual or incantation, while the changing lyrics in each verse reflect the singer's evolving mindset as they come to terms with the flood. Another noteworthy feature is the use of imagery, particularly the contrast between the solidity of the earth ("This ground is not the rock I thought it to be") and the fluidity of the water ("Water's rising up on me"). This creates a tension between stability and impermanence that adds depth to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Here comes the water
A metaphorical representation of a major change or disruption in one's life
All I knew and all I believed
Past beliefs and actions no longer hold true or provide comfort
Crumbling images
The destruction of one's former beliefs and ideals
No longer comfort me.
These old beliefs and ideals no longer provide emotional solace
Scramble to reach higher ground,
Seeking a new perspective or situation in which to find stability
Order and sanity,
A need for structure and rationality in a chaotic situation
Something to comfort me.
A desire for emotional support or reassurance
So I take what is mine, and hold what is mine
Asserting control over one's possessions or accomplishments
Suffocate what is mine, and bury what's mine
Suppressing or hiding aspects of one's identity or past
Soon the water will come
A sense of impending change, despite attempts to control it
And claim what is mine
Some aspects of one's identity or past cannot be escaped or hidden
I must leave it behind
Letting go of one's past in order to move forward
And climb to a new place now
The need to find a new way of life, a new approach
This ground is not the rock I thought it to be
Realizing that one's foundations were not as stable as they seemed
Thought I was high, and free
Believing that one had achieved a certain level of personal success or liberation
I thought I was there
Believing oneself to have reached a particular goal or destination
Divine destiny
A previously-held belief that one's future was predetermined or controlled by a higher power
I was wrong
Recognizing a previous miscalculation or fault in reasoning
This changes everything
A realization that the current situation will have a profound impact on one's life going forward
Running away,
A desire to escape or avoid the current situation
I'm running away,
Emphasizing the urgency or inevitability of the need to escape
Water's rising up on me
Feeling overwhelmed or suffocated by the impending change
Thought the sun would come deliver me
Hoping for a positive outcome despite mounting evidence to the contrary
But the truth has come to punish me instead
Facing the harsh reality of the situation
Grounds break down right under me
Experiencing a sudden and devastating loss of stability
Cleanse and purge me
A painful process of removing old habits, beliefs or attachments
In the water
The change, the process of moving on, is now unavoidable
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Adam Jones, Paul M D'amour, Daniel Carey, Maynard James Keenan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gnortsmralien4189
Here comes the water.
All I knew and all I believed
are crumbling images
that no longer comfort me.
I scramble to reach higher ground
some order and sanity
or something to comfort me.
So I take what is mine, and hold what is mine
suffocate what is mine, and bury what's mine.
Soon the water will come
and claim what is mine.
I must leave it behind
and climb to a new place now.
This ground is not the rock I thought it to be.
Thought I was high,
and thought I was free.
I thought I was there
divine destiny.
I was wrong.
This changes everything.
Runnin' away I will take what is mine, hold what is mine
Suffocate what is mine, bury what's mine
Soon the water will come and claim what is mine
I must leave it behind and climb to a new place, WATER'S RISING UP ON ME SAID THE WATER'S RISING UP ON ME
Thought the sun would come deliver me
but the truth has come to punish me instead.
FLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD
The ground is breaking down right under me.
Cleanse and purge me
in the water
@joshuasizemore4862
Here comes the water
[Verse 1]
All I knew and all I believed
Are crumbling images
That no longer comfort me
I scramble to reach higher ground
Order and sanity
Or something to comfort me
[Chorus]
Take what is mine, hold what is mine
Suffocate what is mine, bury what's mine
Soon the water will come and claim what is mine
I must leave it behind and climb to a new place now
[Post-Chorus]
This ground is not the rock I thought it to be
[Verse 2]
Thought I was high
Thought I was free
I thought I was there
Divine destiny
I was wrong
This changes everything
[Bridge]
Running away
Running away now
Running away
Running away now
Running away
Running away
[Chorus]
Take what is mine, hold what is mine
Suffocate what is mine, bury what's mine
Soon the water will come and claim what is mine
I must leave it behind and climb to a new place
The water is rising up on me
Said the water rising up on me
Thought the sun would come deliver me
But the truth has come to punish me instead
[Outro]
The ground is breaking down right under me
Cleanse and purge me in the water
@Pride317
Lyrics
(Guitar Solo)
Here comes the water.
Here comes the water.
Here comes the water.
Here comes the water.
Here comes the water.
Here comes the water.
Here comes the water.
Here comes the water.
Here comes the water.
Here comes the water.
Here comes the water.
All I knew
All I believed
Are crumbling
Images that
No longer
Comfort me.
Scramble to
Reach higher ground,
Order and sanity,
Or something
To comfort me.
So I take what is mine,
And hold what is mine,
Suffocate what is mine,
Bury what's mine.
Soon the water will come
And claim what is mine.
I must leave it behind,
And climb to a new place now.
This ground is
Not the rock
I thought it to be.
Thought I was high,
Thought I was free.
Thought I was there
Divine destiny.
I was wrong.
This changes everything.
Running away
Running away
Running away
Running away
Running away
Running away
Running away
Running away
I take what is mine,
Hold what is mine,
Suffocate what is mine,
Bury what's mine.
Soon the water will come
And claim what is mine.
I must leave it behind,
And climb to a new place
The water is
Rising up on me.
Said the water
Rising up on me
Thought the sun would
Come deliver me,
But the truth has come
To punish me instead.
Do
Yeah
The ground breaks
Down right under me.
Cleanse and purge me
In the water.
(Guitar Solo)
@brandenwolverton8798
Can't believe they played this live!!!
This is my favorite Tool song!!!
@michaelbinbc
I heard them play this live in a 300 seat club back in 1994. I was working the kitchen, so I didn't actually 'see' it, but the stage was 30 feet across from the kitchen doors, so it sounded f'ing amazing! But my favourite of the night was No Quarter. A rush of energy flowed from the tips of my toes to the top of my skull, and every hair on my body stood on end. Every time I've heard it since I get the same rush, bringing me right back to that night. F'ing electric! 😎
@shrimpy420
Please tell me I'm not the only one who walks around like a dinosaur to the first part of this song
@ristoramey6744
no shit me too! be well my friend in TOOL !
@j.prt.979
LOL I did not expect that
@derrickmiller5944
Have you heard the hidden track on herevegetarians are murderers from the eyes of a carrot listen to it sometime when you get the chance
@Cystlib
It reminds me of Neurosis a lot
@donaldcameron8909
Yeah
@yonatanmichael6210
One of the most underrated songs from tool's discography.
@debrahurford8517
Yonatan michael , omg yes ,this is a musical. masterpiece !!