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)
The Patient
Tool Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Startling the fearful
Is this a test? It has to be
Otherwise I can't go on
Draining patience, drain vitality
This paranoid, paralyzed vampire act's a little old
But I'm still right here
And I'm still right here
But I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
And I'm still right here
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Be patient (wait it out)
If there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
Gonna wait it out
If there were no desire to heal
The damaged and broken met along
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
And I still may, I still may
Be patient
Be patient
Be patient
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
And if there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
And I still may
And I still may
And I still may
And I
Gonna wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
The lyrics of Tool's song The Patient express the feelings of a person who is going through a challenging time in their life, questioning whether it is a test or not, and struggling to keep up with the demands of the situation. The singer admits to feeling drained of patience and vitality and is tired of living a fearful, paranoid, and paralyzed existence. Despite all that, they are still willing to give blood, keep faith, and wait it out, emphasizing the importance of being patient and persevering through difficult times.
The song touches on a universal human experience of facing obstacles, doubt, and uncertainty in life, and the need to find inner strength and resilience to overcome them. The lyrics are open to interpretation but can be seen as a metaphor for the struggles of self-discovery and personal growth, where the rewards may not be immediately apparent, but the journey itself is worth it. The repetition of the phrase "Wait it out" underscores the idea that sometimes the best course of action is to be patient and let things unfold in their own time.
Line by Line Meaning
A groan of tedium escapes me
Feeling bored, frustrated and constrained.
Startling the fearful
Causing discomfort to those who are afraid of change.
Is this a test? It has to be
Wondering if this is a challenge to see if we have what it takes.
Otherwise I can't go on
Without a purpose, there's no point in continuing.
Draining patience, drain vitality
Being patient, waiting and enduring can be tiring and wear us down.
This paranoid, paralyzed vampire act's a little old
Continuously being afraid, incapable, and reliant is getting boring.
But I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
Despite all the difficulties, still present and committed to the cause with hope.
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Be patient (wait it out)
Just stay calm, patient and persevering; continuing to endure and trust the process.
If there were no rewards to reap
If there were no benefits to this struggle.
No loving embrace to see me through
No support from others to help you endure.
This tedious path I've chosen here
The path I've decided to follow is challenging and requires patience.
I certainly would've walked away by now
I may have given up already, but something keeps me hanging in there.
And I still may, I still may
There is still a chance that I might give up.
Be patient
Be patient
Be patient
Emphasizing the need for endurance, preservation and not giving up.
I must keep reminding myself of this
Continuously reinforcing the importance of patience and persistence.
And I still may
There's still the possibility that I'll give up even after reminding myself.
Gonna wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
The repetition emphasizes the need to persevere and remain patient.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Adam Jones, Daniel Carey, Justin Gunner Chancellor, Maynard James Keenan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Haydn Dinwoodie
A groan of tedium escapes me
Startling the fearful
Is this a test?
It has to be
Otherwise I can't go on
Draining patience
Drain vitality
This paranoid, paralyzed vampire act's a little old
But I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
And I'm still right here
But I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
And I'm still right here
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Be patient
If there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away
By now
Gonna wait it out
If there were no desire to heal
The damaged and broken met along
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away
By now
And I still may
I still may
Be patient
Be patient
Be patient
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
If there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away
By now
And I still may
And I still may
And I still may
And I...
Gonna wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
BulldozerBilly
I always associate this song with my older brother Niel. He died of pancreatic cancer about 7 years ago. He was a big fan of Tool and borrowed me some of their albums when I was younger and in high school.
To me I see this song as a type of metaphor for chemotherapy, my brother chose to do chemotherapy even though it really didn't do him any good. The statistics gave him a year to live after diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It is one of the absolute worst cancers and they even cut him open to view if the cancer had spread(hoping to stop it before it could), but the cancer had spread and that basically assured him that his fate was sealed. But, he still did chemotherapy because he had a loving wife and he loved his two daughters. He was only 37 years old and he would've done anything to have another second with them. He still lived life to the fullest in that year he had, we all went to Six Flags and he did everything there, he had fun with everything and how he would smile. He was always optimistic, and a spiritual man.
So how I see this song, is as his song. As a man, father or any woman or person who has chosen the harder way, purely out of just being hopeful and being patient. Optimistic. Holding onto anything to get through.
If I was diagnosed with cancer I don't know what I'd do, but it would come across my mind to end the suffering quickly. I think everyone has had that thought, thinking to go out with a bang instead of withering.
I'll always respect Niel for the path he walked for his family and his daughters. I love him very much, and wish I would've gotten to know him much better than I did.
I was a stupid high school kid when he died, more concerned about things that didn't matter or wrapped up in my own opinions.
I've realized something, just now. Niel didn't wither away, he left a resounding impact on me and many others.
Cherish those types of people in your life! And LIVE YOUR LIVES!!!❤
Haydn Dinwoodie
A groan of tedium escapes me
Startling the fearful
Is this a test?
It has to be
Otherwise I can't go on
Draining patience
Drain vitality
This paranoid, paralyzed vampire act's a little old
But I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
And I'm still right here
But I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
And I'm still right here
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Be patient
If there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away
By now
Gonna wait it out
If there were no desire to heal
The damaged and broken met along
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away
By now
And I still may
I still may
Be patient
Be patient
Be patient
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
If there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away
By now
And I still may
And I still may
And I still may
And I...
Gonna wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
rudolphValentino
thank you ♥️
Kelly Dayanne Ramírez
Tysm 🙏🙏
Haydn Dinwoodie
No problem......
HAnPPY : D
Thanks
Monsieur Luci Fer Diablo
🤘
pushin steel
Tool has the most amazing hypnotizing sounds like no other
RacoonMaster
hell yeah. Tool is awesome.
Rays woodshop
Some of tool reminds me of old 70s moog machine music. Like " Lucifer black mass " or anything " Tomita"
ParodyBoofStation
Tool is really good at making me question what the song is about