Rosetta stoned bad trip or alien abduction

Hm.. tough one, but it would probably go with alien abducktuon because it could offer you the most life experience, and give you the best stpry to tell upur friends, and it would probably be the one which would give you something to thjink about.. that is, if upu ever come back  :D

wait what

What?

ok i  have been debating this for a while with my buddies some of them think this song is about a bad trip and i and others think  its an alien abduction. one of them says that the song before is a homage to Albert Hoffman who was the first to synthesize LSD.  i was wondering what you giantbombers think.

engrish?

Yes.

Alien abduction.

" ok i  have been debating this for a while with my buddies some of them think this song is about a bad trip and i and others think  its an alien abduction. one of them says that the song before is a homage to Albert Hoffman who was the first to synthesize LSD.  i was wondering what you giantbombers think. "

the narrator says that there is an ET and that he gets strapped down to a table told he was the chosen one to protect the earth from destruction. 

" the narrotor says that there is an et and that he gets strapped down to a table told he was the chosen one to protect the earth from destruction.  "

u shud b n ingrish teecher

Definitely a bad trip during an alien abduction.

" Definitely a bad trip during an alien abduction. "

" @yoyokid said:

" the narrator says that there is an ET and that he gets strapped down to a table told he was the chosen one to protect the earth from destruction.  "

again he is tripping the fuck out. that shit is intense. you see some wierd stuff "

I love the people in this thread that have no clue what the thread is about.  = D 
 
Personally, it's just a bad trip of an alien abduction.  Goddamn...shit the bed... 
 
@yoyokid said:

"that's how subjective music can be man one person thinks its one thing another thinks its another. "

I would say alien abduction.  Tool seems to have a great fascination with the extraterrestrial and unknown, and other songs like Faaip de Oaid back this up

I think it's written, like most of their songs, to be taken however you want to take it.  

 "Four Degrees" = about anal sex (the asshole is four degrees warmer than the vagina) 

dude, what..

It's about Alien Abduction. I forget where, but I'm pretty sure Maynard has stated so in an interview.

" I love the people in this thread that have no clue what the thread is about.  = D 
 
Personally, it's just a bad trip of an alien abduction.  Goddamn...shit the bed... 
 
@yoyokid said:

"that's how subjective music can be man one person thinks its one thing another thinks its another. "

Right, but he specifically states in the song that he's tripping the fuck out.  "I'm out of my head".  Moreover, you have to listen to "Lost Keys" before this, as "Rosetta Stoned" is him replying to the doctor.   While I'm willing to believe that Tool's music is open to interpretation just as any music, all of their songs have at least one singular confirmed pointed purpose.  "Stinkfist", "Prison Sex" = commentary on censorship through the use of sexual imagery "Eulogy" = the final moments of Jesus Christ's life, told from the perspective of an onlooker "H" = the instability of life told through Biblical imagery while musically focusing on an unstable nature like Hydrogen "46 & 2", "Third Eye" = evolution of man on a chromosome level and opening the proverbial third eye"Hooker With A Penis", "Ticks and Leeches" = talking shit about fans that want the Undertow days back "Ænema" = California falling into the ocean, a tribute to Bill Hicks "Lateralis" = a point-of-view journey through childbirth"Schism" = the separation of the Roman-Catholic church in ancient times"Sober" = The Last Supper and Jesus wishing he wouldn't be betrayed "Wings of Marie Pt 1 & 2" = about Maynard's mother "Four Degrees" = about anal sex (the asshole is four degrees warmer than the vagina)  The majority of their songs have a pointed story and message.  It's less about the interpretation of the song with Tool and more about the messages and lessons you gain from them, as well as the experience you have with them.  I'll never forget when 10,000 Days came out at the midnight release.  A friend of mine at the time and myself picked our copies up, and as we were leaving to go home, "Wings of Marie Pt. 1" came on.  As soon as that happened, we started getting thunder and light sprinkles outside.  It was fucking magical, man. "

I will say this, though:  for being about an acid trip of an alien abduction, it's amazing how much shit he talks about L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology in this song as well.

" I will say this, though:  for being about an acid trip of an alien abduction, it's amazing how much shit he talks about L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology in this song as well. "

• The fact that he's using DMT, which traces were found in Hubbard's bloodstream after his autopsy
• The aliens that gyroscopes and all kinds of crazy instruments, which is a play on the meters and shit that scientologists use
• The reference to "Uncle Martin" as well as "L. Ron Hubbard".  Walter Martin was an evangelical minister that specialized in counterculting as well as his controversy of starting with the Seventh Day Adventists.
• The "bananas" are referring to the "spaceships" found in Scientology texts.
• The lyric "Me, the chosen one.  They chose me, and I didn't even graduate from fuckin' high school" is directly referring to L. Ron Hubbard as though Maynard is the chosen one because the aliens are coming to find HIM, not L. Ron Hubbard.
• "Shit the bed" is actually a common term used back in the day for failing at something.  L. Ron Hubbard had the belief that he could convert the world over to believing in Dianetics.  Maynard is saying he "shit the bed".

Alien Abduction.

looks like alien abduction is wat most people are saying

Sorry to revive this old thread, but I made an account here just to clear this up for you guys.   The second line of the lyrics holds part of the answer: 
 "X" =  Ecstasy (MDMA) 
"Yogi DMT" = DMT (the psychedelic hallucinogen which has been reported by many users to involve "entities" or "aliens") mixed in Yogi Tea (yogitea dot com).  A play on words, if you will. 
"Krispy Kremes" = mmm donuts.
 
Read the lyrics:  
 
 "Alrighty, then ... picture this if you will.

10 to 2 AM, X, Yogi DMT, and a box of Krispy Kremes,
In my "need to know" pose, just outside of Area 51
Contemplating the whole "chosen people" thingy
When a flaming stealth banana split the sky
Like one would hope but never really expect
To see in a place like this.
Cutting right angle donuts on a dime
And stopping right at my Birkenstocks,
And me yelping...

Holy fucking shit!

Then the X-Files being,
Looking like some kind of blue-green Jackie Chan
With Isabella Rossellini lips, and breath that reeked of
Vanilla Chig Champa
Did a slow-mo Matrix descent
Outta the butt end of the banana vessel
And hovered above my bug-eyes, my gaping jaw,
And my sweaty L. Ron Hubbard upper lip,
And all I could think was:
"I hope Uncle Martin here doesn't notice
That I pissed my fuckin' pants."

So light in his way,
Like an apparition, [that]
He had me crying out,
"Fuck me
It's gotta be
The Deadhead Chemistry
The blotter got [right] on top of me
Got me seein' E-motherfuckin'-T!"

And after calming me down
With some orange slices
And some fetal spooning,
E.T. revealed to me his singular purpose.
He said, "You are the Chosen One,
The One who will deliver the message.
A message of hope for those who choose to hear it
And a warning for those who do not."
Me. The Chosen One?
They chose me!!!
And I didn't even graduate from fuckin' high school.

You'd better...
You'd better...
You'd better...
You'd better listen.

Then he looked right through me
With somniferous almond eyes
Don't even know what that means
Must remember to write it down
This is so real
Like the time Dave floated away
See, my heart is pounding
'Cause this shit never happens to me

I can't breathe right now!

It was so real,
Like I woke up in Wonderland.
All sorta terrifying
I don't wanna be all alone
While I tell this story.
And can anyone tell me why
Y'all sound like Peanuts parents?
Will I ever be coming down?
This is so real
Finally, it's my lucky day
See, my heart is racing
'Cause this shit never happens to me

I can't breathe right now!

You believe me, don't you?
Please believe what I've just said!
See the Dead ain't touring
And this wasn't all in my head.
See, they took me by the hand
And invited me right in.
Then they showed me something
I don't even know where to begin.

Strapped down [to] my bed
Feet cold [and] eyes red
I'm out of my head
Am I alive? Am I dead?
Can't remember what they said
God damn, shit the bed.

Hey ...

Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position.
Such a heavy burden now to be the One
Born to bear and bring to all the details of our ending,
To write it down for all the world to see.

But I forgot my pen
Shit the bed again ...
Typical.

Strapped down [to] my bed
Feet cold and eyes red
I'm out of my head
Am I alive? Am I dead?
Sunkist and Sudafed
Gyroscopes and infrared
Won't help, I'm brain dead
Can't remember what they said
God damn, shit the bed

I can't remember what they said to me
Can't remember what they said to make me out to be a hero
Can't remember what they said
Bob help me!
Can't remember what they said

[We] don't know, [and we] won't know (x12)

God damn, shit the bed!"

I am gonna pull out 10,000 Days again.

I wouldn't say it's a bad trip, but I would also say it is about a trip. Taking DMT and having your mind open to the concept that we are not alone, and that in the concept of time and space, we are rather insignificant. But equally, it's taking a jab at that experience for someone who has that experience then feels enlightened and wanting to share the experience as if it were God speaking to them. I always found that song fascinating. I wish someone would decipher what was the last word/phrase/ sound at the end of the album. I always assumed it was "Transmission". Interesting topic.

Where's the "Maynard is mind fucking us" option?

BionicMonster, you hit it right on the head. :)  

So wait...I laid all this out for people, and folks still want to debate what the song is actually about?  LAWL 
 
In other news, Tool needs to put out a new fucking album already.  Luckily, they started writing in March.  Therefore, we should have the album in...2013?

I just saw them live this summer.  I can't wait for a new album, but I think Maynard is off doing his weird shit with Puscifer more than sticking with either band (Tool or A Perfect Circle).

"A friend of mine at the time and myself picked our copies up, and as we were leaving to go home, "Wings of Marie Pt. 1" came on.  As soon as that happened, we started getting thunder and light sprinkles outside.  It was fucking magical, man."

Alien abduction hallucination caused by a bad trip. Obviously.
 
But no, I have no clue. I haven't listened to this record. Lateralus was enough of a departure from the classic Tool formula that I decided to pass on 10000 Days. I read that they wrote 10000 days the same way they wrote Lateralus: the band sent Maynard the music for him to write lyrics to while he was on tour with his other bands, then he sent them back to the band for them to finish the songs. Bleh.
 

@JadeDen

" "Yogi DMT" = DMT (the psychedelic hallucinogen which has been reported by many users to involve "entities" or "aliens") mixed in Yogi Tea (yogitea dot com)."

" I just saw them live this summer.  I can't wait for a new album, but I think Maynard is off doing his weird shit with Puscifer more than sticking with either band (Tool or A Perfect Circle). "

Really?! Where did you hear that? That's awesome news if it's true!!