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Tool – Lateralus (9:24)

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About This Track

“Lateralus” is the title track of the 2001 album of the same name by the American band Tool’.

-Mathematical significance-
Counting between pauses, the syllables in Maynard James Keenan’s vocals during the verses form the first few Fibonacci numbers, ascending and descending:
(1) Black,
(1) then,
(2) white are,
(3) all I see,
(5) in my infancy,
(8) red and yellow then came to be,
(5) reaching out to me,
(3) lets me see.
(2) There is,
(1) so,
(1) much,
(2) more and
(3) beckons me,

(5) to look through to these,
(8) infinite possibilities.
(13) As below so above and beyond I imagine,
(8) drawn beyond the lines of reason.
(5) Push the envelope.
(3) Watch it bend.

The Fibonacci sequence shares a relationship with spirals, which are mentioned several times later in the lyrics.
The time signatures of the chorus change from 9/8 to 8/8 to 7/8; as drummer Danny Carey says, “It was originally titled 9-8-7. For the time signatures. Then it turned out that 987 was the 17th step of the Fibonacci sequence. So that was cool.”

-Interpretation-
In a 2001 interview, Keenan commented on the lyric mentioning black, white, red and yellow: “I use the archetype stories of North American aboriginals and the themes or colours which appear over and over again in the oral stories handed down through generations. Black, white, red, and yellow play very heavily in aboriginal stories of creation.”

Common Interpretations
You might want to re-listen to the song while reading the line-breaks to make sure you agree that they are legit ahead of time. Otherwise, you may have a hard time believing this…
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Albums featuring this track

  • Lateralus
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  • 2001-11-01: Irvine, CA, USA
    Tool Play
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  • 2001-07-19: Auckland, New Zealand
    Tool Play
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  • 2002-04-26: Wollongong, Australia (disc 2)
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See all 9 albums

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  • Goldfoot

    I hardly think that analyzing the relationship between the Fibonacci Sequence and this song is overdoing it. The lyrics were structured that way on purpose, so it's not unacceptable to look into it. I think the point of the song is to realize and appreciate the beauty of life and everything in it, not to forego thinking altogether.

    yesterday afternoon

  • allschockup

    i want this song inside me

    Saturday afternoon

  • wckey

    What's the deal with Fibonacci in the song? The lyrics themselves state "Overthinking, overanalyzing separates the body from the mind" - I seriously people should realize that it isn't divine or anything to put something in a song like that. I love Tool, and I think it was great to align the lyrics to the Fibonacci series, but man, people overreact..

    14 days ago

  • ERIXWORX

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS7CZIJVxFY <--Fibonacci in Lateralus explained: If you haven't seen it, you need to see it; if you have seen it, you probably want to watch it again...

    28 days ago

  • rirismo

    100 % PERFECTION [1]

    last month

  • jasminder82

    This song, especially the last couple of minutes, is simply orgasmic. Takes me to a higher place.

    last month

  • Metal-Kathy86

    100 % PERFECTION

    last month

  • fariborz69

    Super

    last month

  • Justgotmyperiod

    Loved hearing this live

    last month

  • createeternity

    This song has changed my way of thinking.

    last month

  • weafalsa123

    eargasm (4)

    last month

  • b1gag3

    eargasm [3]

    last month

  • HellsNewAge

    One of my favorite Tool cuts...love Danny Carey's drumming on this one!

    March 2012

  • placebobsh

    Love it!!!!!!

    March 2012

  • whoknoz

    wow... probably their best (or top 3, for sure!)

    March 2012

  • Tecumseh666

    Tool:)))))))))))))))))))))))))

    March 2012

  • Sheik777

    Golden Ratio Song

    February 2012

  • niceverdict

    black and white are all i can see,. in my infancy/

    February 2012

  • KChippie1

    MAYNARD KEENAN = TOOL & A PERFECT CIRCLE

    February 2012

  • Queslington

    This song is brilliant. If you don't know about the whole fibonacci thing with this song, google it.

    February 2012
See all 747 shouts

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