Lyrics I like, part something-or-other: Tool, Hooker With a Penis
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First, if you have a problem with the "f" word, then you should not continue with this post. In fact, you're probably on the wrong web site. Not that we're just hear to cuss like sailors, but it does show up from time to time. So consider yourself warned.
Having said that, I think this song by Tool has some of the most genius lyrics I've ever heard. They're raw and enraged, and beneath the profanity explore one of those questions that crop up in the music world all the time--what does it mean to be a "sell-out?" Is it bad for a band to start making money? Does it kill the creativity when the profits come in? Or is that not an issue because the band had sold out from the beginning, which is proven because you've actually heard of them?
Anyway, enjoy. The video I found is on youtube, not the actual real video from the band, but something someone else did. Potentially disturbing enough to rate a pairing with Tool. and by the way, doesn't Tool just absolutely fucking rock?
I met a boy wearing Van 501's
And a dope Beastie tee
Nipple rings
New tattoos
That claimed that he
Was OGT
Back from '92
From the first EP.
And in between sips of Coke
He told me that he thought
We were sellin' out
Layin' down
Suckin' up
To the man.
Well now I've got some
Head advice for you, little buddy.
Before you point your finger
You should know that
I'm the man
If I'm the man,
Then your the man
And He's the man as well
So you can
Point that fuckin' finger up your ass.
All you know about me is what I've sold you,
Dumb fuck
I sold out long before you ever even heard my name.
I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip shit
And then you bought one.
I've got some
Head advice for you, little buddy.
Before you point your finger
You should know that I'm the man,
If I'm the fuckin' man
Then you're the fuckin' man as well
So you can point that fuckin' finger up your ass.
All you know about me is what I've sold you,
Dumb fuck
I sold out long before you ever even heard my name.
I sold my soul to make a record
Dip shit
And then you bought one.
All you read and
Wear or see and
Hear on TV
Is a product
Waiting for your
Fairly dirty Dollar.
So shut up and
Buy, Buy, Buy,
My new record.
Buy, Buy, Buy,
Send more money.
Fuck you, buddy.
Fuck you, buddy.
Fuck you, buddy.
Fuck you, buddy!
Comments (19)
Tools -Maynards lyrics shut you up and make you think.. hes trying to shake us take us above all this bullshit we supposedly call our lives.. Anyone who has ever really listened to Tools lyrics would know this.. thanks for posting the lyrics
Yeah, I think sometimes people focus on their music so much they don't notice that Tool actually has something to say as well. Glad you enjoyed.
I'd say the words are even more compelling that the grind they ply.
his lyrics for this one are more straightforward than a lot of their songs....which is kinda nice when normally you are trying to figure out what the hell he is talking about
and maynard seems to get a sinister enjoyment in people's ill-fated attempts to comprehend his lyrics.....
i was listening to a live show from Berlin recently and Maynard introduction for "4 degrees" was simple....
"this song's about buttfucking"
one of my favorite bands here
Some say the end is near. Some say we'll see armageddon soon. I certainly hope we will. I sure could use a vacation from this
Bullshit three ring circus sideshow of Freaks
Here in this hopeless fucking hole we call LA The only way to fix it is to flush it all away. Any fucking time. Any fucking day. Learn to swim, I'll see you down in Arizona bay.
Fret for your figure and Fret for your latte and Fret for your lawsuit and Fret for your hairpiece and Fret for your prozac and Fret for your pilot and Fret for your contract and Fret for your car.
It's a Bullshit three ring circus sideshow of Freaks
Here in this hopeless fucking hole we call LA The only way to fix it is to flush it all away. Any fucking time. Any fucking day. Learn to swim, I'll see you down in Arizona bay.
Some say a comet will fall from the sky. Followed by meteor showers and tidal waves. Followed by faultlines that cannot sit still. Followed by millions of dumbfounded dipshits.
Some say the end is near. Some say we'll see armageddon soon. I certainly hope we will cuz I sure could use a vacation from this
Silly shit, silly shit, stupid shit...
One great big festering neon distraction, I've a suggestion to keep you all occupied.
Learn to swim.
Mum's gonna fix it all soon. Mum's comin' round to put it back the way it ought to be.
Learn to swim.
Fuck L Ron Hubbard and Fuck all his clones. Fuck all these gun-toting Hip gangster wannabes.
Learn to swim.
Fuck retro anything. Fuck your tattoos. Fuck all you junkies and Fuck your short memory.
Learn to swim.
Fuck smiley glad-hands, With hidden agendas. Fuck these dysfunctional, Insecure actresses.
Learn to swim.
Cuz I'm praying for rain And I'm praying for tidal waves I wanna see the ground give way. I wanna watch it all go down. Mum please flush it all away. I wanna see it go right in and down. I wanna watch it go right in. Watch you flush it all away.
Time to bring it down again. Don't just call me pessimist. Try and read between the lines.
I can't imagine why you wouldn't Welcome any change, my friend.
I wanna see it come down. Come down. Suck it down. Flush it down.
damnit. i can never get that right
pimp, I considered doing a follow-up post for this one with those lyrics, as that song is a close seond for me when it comes to Tool lyrics. However, as I'd never actually read the lyrics and just figured the out by listening, I didn't realize how LA-centric it was. I thought it was more just hating the whole world and wishing it would all go away. Hmmm . . . not sure what I think about this new revelation!
i am crazy about lyrics as i used to write em quite regular
especially in the interweb age
i can find anything
back in the i bought some mags just cause the had lyrics
One of my favorite Maynard lines is from Prison Sex:
I have found a kind of temporary sanity in this shit, blood, and come on my hands.
On a tangent: The page that came up when I googled the Prison Sex lyrics had a full stop after "this," which is possibly how it was written, but I always heard it without the stop.
on the tool bands web site is where i check all things tool related
those are the correct lyrics
Cool site! Thanks, Pimp!
anytime
their web site RAWKS
I can remember as a teen being drunk, standing up on chairs with friends, & hollaring the lyrics to "Hooker" until we were hoarse. Good times :)
I always though it was
I have found some kind of temporary sanity in this-
shit, blood, and come on my hands.
Same words, but changes the meaning a little.
Astronot, you're making me feel older.
Great post Chuck.
Tool is awesome, lyrically and musically.
I remember one time while I was listening to "Hooker" and I casually looked down and noticed I was wearing Vans. Couldn't help but chuckle.
I'd have to say Aenima is my favorite album of theirs. The first time I heard "Learn to swim/See you down in Arizona Bay" in the title track my mind was blown. Of course they borrowed that from Bill Hicks, but that's a whole 'nother story.
You're right able the questions this song brings up though as far as selling out goes. It's like when Metallica made their first music video for "One" back in the day (a very heavy and intense video) they were accused of selling out. And that was before they released the black album. I read John Mayer (whom I'm not a fan of but recognize the fact that he's a very talented guitar player and think he should resurrect the blues to the mainstream instead of writing pop songs, but that's another story) say in an interview one time that in today's saturated music market, expecially given the internet and new technology etc., that there's no such thing as selling out anymore. I think there's a lot of truth to that. It's so hard for good bands to get there name out there since everybody has a myspace that you have to resort to putting your song in a movie soundtrack or an iPod commercial. I think you still can sell out these days, but you definitely have to try a lot harder.
Groon, you shouldn't. This would've been a little after the album came out, well over ten years now. We're both older, lol.
Guess who's about to find a little temporary sanity...
Ha!