With the release of the 1994 single "Prison Sex" and its music video, directed and created by Adam Jones, MuchMusic called the band into question by deeming the video too graphic and offensive, later running an episode of its Too Much 4 Much series to discuss the video. MTV stopped airing the "Prison Sex" video after a few viewings — both due to a symbolic dealing with the sensitive subject of child abuse. Maynard James Keenan, who wrote the lyrics, has been quite clear about his antipathy towards his stepfather during early interviews about the song.
Prison Sex
Tool Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was so young and vestal then
You know it hurt me
But I'm breathing so I guess I'm still alive
Even if signs seem to tell me otherwise
I've got my hands bound
My head down, my eyes closed
And my throat's wide open
Do unto others what has been done to you
I'm treading water
I need to sleep a while
My lamb and martyr, you look so precious
Won't you, won't you come a bit closer
Close enough so I can smell you
I need you to feel this
I can't stand to burn too long
Release in sodomy
For one sweet moment I am whole
Do unto you now
What has been done to me
Do unto you now
What has been done
You're breathing so I guess you're still alive
Even if signs seem to tell me otherwise
Won't you, won't you come on a bit closer
Close enough so I can smell you
I need you to feel this
I need this to make me whole
Release in sodomy
Have you witnessed
Blood and flesh can't be trusted?
Have you witnessed
Blood and flesh can't be trusted?
And only this one holy medium brings me peace of mind
Got your hands bound, your head down
And your eyes closed
You look so precious now
I have found some kind of temporary sanity in this
Shit, blood and cum on my hands
I've come 'round full circle
My lamb and martyr, this will be over soon
You look so precious
You look so precious
You look so precious
You look so precious
You look so precious now
You look so precious
The lyrics of Tool's song "Prison Sex" are haunting and disturbing. The song is about a young person who has been sexually abused and is struggling to cope with the trauma. The first verse reveals that it took the victim a long time to remember what happened to them, but despite the pain they've endured, they are still alive.
The second verse delves deeper into the victim's psyche. They feel like they are treading water, barely surviving, and desperately need to rest. They address their abuser as a "lamb and martyr," perhaps suggesting that the abuser was also a victim of abuse, thus the cycle repeats. The victim also mentions wanting to feel close to their abuser, indicating a blurred sense of boundaries and confusion about love and abuse.
The chorus of the song is a powerful statement that suggests the victim may become an abuser themselves. "Do unto others what has been done to me, do unto others what has been done to you." This could be interpreted as the victim feeling justified in repeating the same abuse they experienced. The repeated "release in sodomy" could be seen as a way for the victim to take control of the situation and try to find some sense of power after being powerless.
Line by Line Meaning
It took so long to remember just what happened
The traumatic experience has affected the singer so deeply that it took a long time for them to remember what actually happened
I was so young and vestal then
The singer was young and innocent when the traumatic incident happened
You know it hurt me
The traumatic experience caused the singer a great deal of pain
But I'm breathing so I guess I'm still alive
Despite the pain, the artist is still alive
Even if signs seem to tell me otherwise
Even though the artist might feel like they are not really living, they are still alive
I've got my hands bound
The singer feels helpless and unable to escape from the traumatic experience
My head down, my eyes closed
The singer is trying to avoid confronting the traumatic experience
And my throat's wide open
The artist feels vulnerable and exposed as a result of the traumatic experience
Do unto others what has been done to me
The artist is seeking revenge for the pain that has been inflicted on them
Do unto others what has been done to you
The artist is encouraging others to seek revenge for the pain that has been inflicted on them
I'm treading water
The singer is struggling to keep their head above water
I need to sleep a while
The artist needs rest and respite from the trauma they are experiencing
My lamb and martyr, you look so precious
The singer is addressing a person who they feel has been victimized in a similar way
Won't you, won't you come a bit closer
The singer is asking the other person to approach them despite the vulnerability they feel
Close enough so I can smell you
The singer wants to be close to the other person physically
I need you to feel this
The artist wants the other person to empathize with their pain
I can't stand to burn too long
The pain and trauma has become unbearable for the artist
Release in sodomy
The singer seeks relief through violence and sexual acts
For one sweet moment I am whole
The singer feels complete and whole fleetingly during these violent moments
Do unto you now
The artist seeks to inflict revenge on the other person
What has been done to me
The artist is seeking to inflict on the other person the same pain they have experienced
You're breathing so I guess you're still alive
The artist is recognizing the other person is also trying to survive
Even if signs seem to tell me otherwise
Despite how it may appear, the other person is still alive and trying to cope
Won't you, won't you come on a bit closer
The artist is still asking the other person to approach them
Have you witnessed
The singer is asking the other person if they have also seen the brutality of life
Blood and flesh can't be trusted?
The singer is questioning the nature of life and why people do such terrible things to one another
And only this one holy medium brings me peace of mind
The singer finds temporary relief through violent acts
Got your hands bound, your head down
The artist is suggesting that the other person is also a victim of a similar traumatic experience
You look so precious now
The artist is acknowledging the vulnerability and innocence of the other person
I have found some kind of temporary sanity in this
The singer has found a way to cope temporarily through violent acts
Shit, blood and cum on my hands
The singer has become desensitized to the violence they inflict and are covered in its aftermath
I've come 'round full circle
The artist has completed a cycle of inflicting pain and seeking relief
My lamb and martyr, this will be over soon
The artist is trying to reassure the other person that the trauma they are experiencing will soon end
You look so precious
The artist is again acknowledging the innocence and vulnerability of the other person
You look so precious now
The singer is trying to comfort the other person and offer some form of solace
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Adam Jones, Daniel Carey, Maynard James Keenan, Paul M D'amour
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joshuasizemore4862
[Verse 1]
It took so long to remember just what happened
I was so young and vestal then
You know it hurt me
But I'm breathing so I guess I'm still alive
Even if signs seem to tell me otherwise
Got my hands bound
And my head down and my eyes closed
My throat's wide open
[Refrain]
Do unto others what has been done to me
Do unto others what has been done to you
[Verse 2]
I'm treading water
I need to sleep a while
My lamb and martyr, you look so precious
Won't you, won't you come on a bit closer?
Close enough so I can smell you
I need you to feel this
I can't stand to burn too long
Release in sodomy
For one sweet moment I am whole
[Refrain]
Do unto you now what has been done to me
Do unto you now what has been done
[Verse 3]
You're breathing so I guess you're still alive
Even if signs seem to tell me otherwise
Won't you, won't you come on a bit closer?
Close enough so I can smell you
I need you to feel this
I need this to make me whole
Release in sodomy
Have you witnessed that blood and flesh can't be trusted?
Have you witnessed that blood and flesh can't be trusted?
And only this one holy medium brings me peace of mind
[Verse 4]
Got your hands bound
And your head down
And your eyes closed
You look so precious now
[Bridge]
I have found some kind of temporary sanity in this
Shit, blood, and cum on my hands
I've come 'round full circle
[Outro]
My lamb and martyr, this will be over soon
You look so precious, you look so precious
You look so precious, you look so precious
You look so precious now
You look so precious
@BrokenZen311
It took so long to remember just what happened
I was so young and vestal then you know it hurt me
But I'm breathing so I guess I'm still alive
Even if signs seem to tell me otherwise
I've got my hands bound
And my head down,
And my eyes closed
My throat's wide open
I do unto others what has been done to me
Do unto others what has been done to you
I'm treading water
I need to sleep a while
My lamb and martyr,
You look so precious
Won't you—won't you come on a bit closer
Close enough so I can smell you
I need you to feel this
I can't stand to burn too long
Released in sodomy
For one sweet moment I am whole
I do unto you now what has been done to me
Do unto you now what has been done to
You're breathing so I guess you're still alive
Even if signs seem to tell me otherwise
Won't you—won't you come on a bit closer
Close enough so I can smell you
I need you to feel this
I need this to make me whole
Released in sodomy
Have you witnessed that blood and flesh can't be trusted
Have you witnessed that blood and flesh can't be trusted
And only this one holy medium brings me peace of mind
Got your hands bound,
And your head down
And your eyes closed
You look so precious now
I have found some kind of temporary sanity in this
Shit blood and cum on my hands
I've come round full circle
My lamb and martyr,
This will be over soon
You look so precious [6x]
@13squared57
Show me something
Show me something
Show me something
Show me something
I thought I could make an ending
I thought I could wash the stains away
I thought I could break the cycle, if I stepped right into your skin
So sweet was your surrender
We have become one
I have become my terror
And you , my precious lamb and martyr
@anaihilator
Sober put me on notice, but this song is the one that made me realize how talented Tool was a band.
Because I don't care if it's dubbed metal or not, this song to me always spoke to me of blues and funk roots.
When I read that Danny Carey was trained as a jazz drummer it cemented my assessment.
I know blues and funk when I hear it. Blues is a precursor to jazz and jazz is precursor to funk
Amazing
@literalidiot8369
Who else feels the struggle of trying to make it clear to your fbi agent that when you search "prison sex tool" it is, in fact, just a song.
@fivepointstcg9763
Wheeze
@kevinguthmiller8510
Best comment
@MrParkerman6
That's why you put the Band Name first, dummy. Then it only looks halfway suspicious.
@fivepointstcg9763
MrParkerman6 r/whooosh
@adopequeenatyrantkingaboss8057
Love the music, hate the lyrics.
@brutallyhonest123
Sang this at a karaoke bar last night. Nothing like the look strangers give you when you scream "shit blood and come on my hands" into a microphone
@Don_Underwear.walkongurl
Just some hero ish
@richardnamber813
They had that on the list? 😮😅
@user-zx9no4jn1g
Let's hang out haha yes my kinda people