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)
Push It
Tool Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While you were begging me to stay
Take care not to make me enter
If I do we both may disappear
You know that I will choke until I swallow
Choke this infant here before me
What is this but my reflection?
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
You still love me
You still love me but you didn't need to shit on me
You still love me
You still love me but you didn't need to shit on me
Rest your trigger on my finger
Bang my head upon the fault line
You'd better take care not to make me enter
'Cause if I do we both may disappear
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
You still love me, you still love me
She didn't mean to pushit on me.
You're pushing me shoving me
You're pushing me shoving me
I'm slipping back into the gap again
I'm alive when you're touching me
Alive when you're shoving me down, hey
But I'd trade it all for just a little peace of mind
Pushit on me
Pushit on me
Pushit on me
Pushit on me
You're pushing and shoving and scrambling
Keep my feet flat on the ground
I am somewhere I don't wanna be
Push me somewhere I don't wanna be
Put me somewhere I don't wanna be
Seeing someplace I don't wanna see
Never wanna see that place again
Saw that gap again today
While you were begging me to stay
Managed to push myself away
And you, as well, my dear
If when I say I might fade like a sigh if I stay
You minimize my movement anyway
I must persuade you another way
Pushing and shovin'
Pushing and shoving, push at me!
There's no love in fear
Staring down the hole again
Hands are on my back again
Surviving is my only friend
Terrified of what may come
Remember I will always love you
As I claw your fucking throat away
It will end no other way
It will end no other way
The lyrics to Tool's song "Pushit" are layered with meaning and emotion. The song speaks to the nature of relationships, the struggle for power and control, and the pain that can come with trying to hold on or let go. The opening lines describe a gap that the singer sees, a gap that represents the distance between two people in a relationship. The person begging the singer to stay is trying to bridge that gap, but the singer warns them not to push too hard or they will both disappear.
The metaphor of choking and swallowing represents the singer's struggle with their own feelings and desires. They are caught between two conflicting impulses - to hold on and to let go - and the infant that they reference could represent their own fragile emotional state. The line "what is this but my reflection?" suggests that the person they are struggling with is a reflection of themselves, or at least a representation of their own conflicted feelings.
The repeated refrain of "pushing and shoving" reinforces the power dynamics of the relationship, with one person trying to push the other away and the other trying to hold on. The statement "there's no love in fear" is a powerful reminder that fear and control are not the same as love, and that trying to hold on to someone out of fear of losing them is not healthy or sustainable.
Overall, "Pushit" is a powerful and complex song that speaks to the struggle for connection and control in relationships, and the pain and intensity of trying to navigate those emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw the gap again today
I am realizing the same old problems and gaps in our relationship that we haven't been able to overcome.
While you were begging me to stay
You are desperate for me to stay, but I am still uncertain about our relationship.
Take care not to make me enter
Don't push me too far, or I might lash out in anger and frustration.
If I do we both may disappear
If we keep arguing and pushing each other away, our relationship may fall apart completely.
You know that I will choke until I swallow
I will hold onto my anger and take it out on you until I can no longer stand it, and then I will back down and let it go.
Choke this infant here before me
I am struggling to let go of my anger and frustration, even though I know it's irrational and childish.
What is this but my reflection?
I am realizing that my own flaws and insecurities are a major source of our relationship problems.
Who am I to judge or strike you down?
I am starting to question my own judgment and my right to be angry with you.
But you're pushing me shoving me
You keep pushing me to the brink, even though I am trying to hold back my anger and frustration.
You still love me
Despite our problems and arguments, you still have strong feelings of love for me.
You still love me but you didn't need to shit on me
You might still have feelings of love for me, but you also hurt me with your actions and words.
Rest your trigger on my finger
You are testing my patience and making me feel like I might snap at any moment.
Bang my head upon the fault line
Our relationship is on shaky ground, and any misstep could cause it to crumble.
You'd better take care not to make me enter
You need to be careful not to push me too far, or I might explode in anger.
But you're pushing me shoving me
You keep pushing me and making me feel like I am backed into a corner.
I'm slipping back into the gap again
I am falling back into old patterns of doubt and frustration in our relationship.
I'm alive when you're touching me
Despite our problems, I still feel a strong connection to you when we are physically close.
Alive when you're shoving me down, hey
Even though you are hurting me emotionally, I still feel alive and impassioned by our relationship.
Pushit on me
You are constantly pushing my buttons and testing my patience in our relationship.
Keep my feet flat on the ground
I need to stay grounded and keep a level head, even when I feel upset or angry.
I am somewhere I don't wanna be
I feel stuck and uncertain in our relationship, and I don't know how to fix it.
Push me somewhere I don't wanna be
You are making me feel uncomfortable and uncertain about the direction of our relationship.
Put me somewhere I don't wanna be
You are forcing me into situations or conversations that I don't want to be in.
Seeing someplace I don't wanna see
I am being forced to confront uncomfortable truths or realities in our relationship that I would rather avoid.
Never wanna see that place again
I am so uncomfortable and upset with our relationship that I never want to revisit these problems again.
If when I say I might fade like a sigh if I stay
If I say that our relationship is making me feel like fading away, you still try to hold onto me.
You minimize my movement anyway
You don't listen to my concerns or allow me to express my doubts about our relationship.
I must persaude you another way
I need to find another way to convince you to listen to me and understand my feelings.
Pushing and shovin'
Our relationship is characterized by friction and conflict, rather than love and affection.
Pushin' and shoving, push at me!
You are constantly pushing me and making me feel uncomfortable in our relationship.
There's no love in fear
Our relationship is eroding because we are both too scared or unsure of how to move forward.
Staring down the hole again
We are both facing the same problems and issues in our relationship, but we don't know how to solve them.
Hands are on my back again
I feel like I am being pushed and manipulated in our relationship, instead of being treated with love and respect.
Surviving is my only friend
I feel like I am just trying to make it through each day in our relationship, without feeling hurt or helpless.
Terrified of what may come
I am afraid of the negative emotions and outcomes that may result from our relationship problems.
Remember I will always love you
Despite our problems, I still have strong feelings of love and affection for you.
As I claw your fucking throat away
At the same time, I am also feeling hurt and angry about our relationship problems, and I may lash out in anger.
It will end no other way
Our relationship problems may lead to a painful and difficult breakup or separation.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Adam Jones, Daniel Carey, Maynard Keenan, Paul D'amour
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Taranconalex
Here are the lyrics. Enjoy!
-----------------------------------------------
Saw that gap again today,
While you were begging me to stay.
Take care not to make me enter,
If I do we both may disappear.
Know that I will choke until I swallow,
Choke this infant here before me.
What is this but my reflection?
Who am I to judge or strike you down?
But you're
Pushin' and shoving me.
Pushin' and shoving me
Pushin' and shoving me
Pushin' and shoving me
Pushin' and shoving me.
Pushin' and shoving me
Pushin' and shoving me
Pushin' and shoving me
You still love me, still love me,
Push it on me, push it on me.
You still love me, still love me.
Push it on me, push it on me.
Rest your trigger on my finger,
Bang my head upon the fault line.
You better take care not to make me enter.
'Cause if I do we both may disappear.
But you're
Pushin' and shoving me.
Pushin' and shoving me.
Pushin' and shoving me.
Pushin' and shoving me.
You still love me, still love me,
Push it on me, push it on me.
You're pushin' it, shoving me.
You're pushin' it, shoving me.
I'm slipping back into the gap again.
I'm alive when you're touching me,
But not when you're shoving me down.
But I'd trade it all
For just a little piece of mind.
Push it on me.
Push it on me.
Push it on me.
Push it on me.
Your Pushin' and shovin' and scramblin'
To keep my feet flat on the ground
I am somewhere I don't wanna be.
Push me somewhere I don't wanna be.
Put me somewhere I don't wanna be.
Seeing someplace I don't wanna see.
Never wanna see that place again.
Saw that gap again today
While you were begging me to stay.
Managed to push myself away,
And you, as well, my dear.
If when I say I might fade like a sigh if I stay,
You minimize my movement anyway,
One must persuade you another way.
Pushin', shovin', pushin', shovin, pushin me
There's no love in fear.
Staring down the hole again.
Hands are on my back again.
Survival is my only friend.
Terrified of what may come.
Remember I will always love you,
As I claw your fucking throat away.
There will be no other way,
It will end no other way.
@MrJesusHKrist
@@robertcrabtree4843 depends who you ask my Surrogate parents would tell people Holy, my friends parents ahellion, my lover Mary Hellcat, historians think it's just superimposed letters until of each other kinda like how I was on your mother last night, some jokesters say it's Harold (Our father, who art in Heaven, Harold be thy name) but it's actually for Heroin because I'm an opiate for the masses let me just say this. ..
What's coming through is alive
What's holding up is a mirror
But what's singing songs is a snake
Looking to turn this piss to wine
They're both totally void of hate
But killing me just the same
The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again
And I feel this coming over like a storm again
Considerately
Venomous voice, tempts me
Drains me, bleeds me
Leaves me cracked and empty
Drags me down like some sweet gravity
The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again
And I feel this coming over like a storm again
And I feel this coming over like a storm again
I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me
And considerately killing me
And considerately killing me
And considerately killing me
And considerately killing me
Without the skin
Beneath the storm
Under these tears
The walls came down
And the snake is drowned and
As I look in his eyes
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of those times
I could have cried then
I should have cried then
And as the walls come down and
As I look in your eyes
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of the times
I have died
And will die
It's all right
I don't mind
I don't mind
I don't mind
I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me
And considerately killing me
And considerately killing me
And considerately killing me
@24Wynn
The lyrics for "Pushit"
I saw the gap again today
While you were begging me to stay
Take care not to make me enter
If I do we both may disappear
You know that I will choke until I swallow
Choke this infant here before me
What is this but my reflection?
Who am I to judge or strike you down?
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
You still love me
You still love me but you didn't need to shit on me
You still love me
You still love me but you didn't need to shit on me
Rest your trigger on my finger
Bang my head upon the fault line
You'd better take care not to make me enter
'Cause if I do we both may disappear
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
But you're pushing me shoving me
You still love me, you still love me
She didn't mean to pushit on me.
You're pushing me shoving me
You're pushing me shoving me
I'm slipping back into the gap again
I'm alive when you're touching me
Alive when you're shoving me down, hey
But I'd trade it all for just a little peace of mind
Pushit on me
Pushit on me
Pushit on me
Pushit on me
You're pushing and shoving and scrambling
Keep my feet flat on the ground
I am somewhere I don't wanna be
Push me somewhere I don't wanna be
Put me somewhere I don't wanna be
Seeing someplace I don't wanna see
Never wanna see that place again
Saw that gap again today
While you were begging me to stay
Managed to push myself away
And you, as well, my dear
If when I say I might fade like a sigh if I stay
You minimize my movement anyway
I must persuade you another way
Pushing and shovin'
Pushing and shoving, push at me!
There's no love in fear
Staring down the hole again
Hands are on my back again
Surviving is my only friend
Terrified of what may come
Remember I will always love you
As I claw your fucking throat away
It will end no other way
It will end no other way
@jelleveenstra8437
Saw that gap again today,
While you were begging me to stay.
Take care not to make me enter,
If I do we both may disappear.
Know that I will choke until I swallow,
Choke this infant here before me.
What is this but my reflection?
Who am I to judge or strike you down?
But you're
Pushin' and shoving me.
Pushin' and shoving me
Pushin' and shoving me
Pushin' and shoving me
Pushin' and shoving me.
Pushin' and shoving me
Pushin' and shoving me
Pushin' and shoving me
You still love me, still love me,
Push it on me, push it on me.
You still love me, still love me.
Push it on me, push it on me.
Rest your trigger on my finger,
Bang my head upon the fault line.
You better take care not to make me enter.
'Cause if I do we both may disappear.
But you're
Pushin' and shoving me.
Pushin' and shoving me.
Pushin' and shoving me.
Pushin' and shoving me.
You still love me, still love me,
Push it on me, push it on me.
You're pushin' it, shoving me.
You're pushin' it, shoving me.
I'm slipping back into the gap again.
I'm alive when you're touching me,
But not when you're shoving me down.
But I'd trade it all
For just a little piece of mind.
Push it on me.
Push it on me.
Push it on me.
Push it on me.
Your Pushin' and shovin' and scramblin'
To keep my feet flat on the ground
I am somewhere I don't wanna be.
Push me somewhere I don't wanna be.
Put me somewhere I don't wanna be.
Seeing someplace I don't wanna see.
Never wanna see that place again.
Saw that gap again today
While you were begging me to stay.
Managed to push myself away,
And you, as well, my dear.
If when I say I might fade like a sigh if I stay,
You minimize my movement anyway,
One must persuade you another way.
Pushin', shovin', pushin', shovin, pushin me
There's no love in fear.
Staring down the hole again.
Hands are on my back again.
Survival is my only friend.
Terrified of what may come.
Remember I will always love you,
As I claw your fucking throat away.
There will be no other way,
It will end no other way
@joshuasizemore4862
[Intro]
I saw the gap again today
While you were begging me to stay
Take care not to make me enter
If I do, we both may disappear
[Verse 1]
Know that I will choke until I swallow
Choke this infant here before me
What is this but my reflection?
Who am I to judge or strike you down?
[Chorus]
But you're
Pushing and shoving me
Pushing and shoving me
Pushing and shoving me
Pushing and shoving me
Pushing and shoving me
Pushing and shoving me
Pushing and shoving me
Pushing and shoving me
You still love me, you still love me
But you didn't need to push it on me
You still love me, you still love me
But you didn't need to push it on me
[Verse 2]
Rest your trigger on my finger
Bang my head upon the fault line
You better take care not to make me enter
'Cause if I do, we both may disappear
[Chorus]
But you're
Pushing and shoving me
Pushing and shoving me
Pushing and shoving me
Pushing and shoving me
You still love me, you still love me
But you didn't need to push it on me
You're pushing and shoving me
Pushing and shoving me
[Verse 3]
I'm slipping back into the gap again
I'm alive when you're touching me
Alive when you're shoving me down, yeah
But I'd trade it all
For just a little peace of mind
[Chorus]
Push it on me, push it on me
Push it on me, push it on me
You're pushing, and shoving, and scrambling
To keep my feet flat on the ground
[Bridge]
I am somewhere I don't wanna be, yeah
Push me somewhere I don't wanna be
You put me somewhere I don't wanna be
Seeing someplace I don't wanna see
Never want to see that place again
[Verse 4]
Saw that gap again today
While you were begging me to stay
Managed to push myself away
And you, as well, my dear
And if when I say I might fade like a sigh if I stay
You minimize my movement anyway
I must persuade you another way
[Outro]
Pushing and shoving
Pushing and shoving
Pushing me
There's no love in fear
Yeah, I'm staring down the hole again
Hands around my back again
Survival is my only friend
Terrified of what may come, yeah
Remember I'll always love you
As I claw your fucking throat away
It will end no other way
It will end no other way
@phillipweber6059
This album was released in October of '96. I was working in a plastics fabrication shop. Everybody got this cd as a Christmas gift from me.
@patrickchanningii366
You're an awesome co-worker.
@floydmcmondo
Many of my co-workers did what I did and my friend Miguel did, which was to buy it the day it came out. I think we all perpetuated the idea that it was an album to buy on release. None of us were disappointed and we discussed the album for a month every time we noticed something else that we thought was amazing. What I remember is that none of us were put off by the experimental tracks the way the critics were.
@kempo900
@Jason Graves checked out your pure g playlist....was expecting some good music, just saw a bunch of cheese about Jesus dying on a cross.
@jimicusjolcen9460
Released in '96, and I was 69th to like this.
@As_Asa_PhD
I got it for Christmas that year. I never even knew it had come out. Tried acid for the first time on New Years Eve right after that and listened to it. I remember a balloon followed me up the stairs to my room and stopped at my feet. The acid was called Felix. Never see good acid anymore.
@normantheiss7108
"But I'd trade it all for just a little... Peace of MIIIIIIIIND".
Hits me every time.
@jensclarberg6419
That whole passage when Maynard sings the higher register is my favourite part of the song.
@kvancroonenburg
There's no love in FEEEAAAARRRRR!!!!!
@justinschexnayder8485
It hit hard live