“Lateralus” is the title track of the 2001 album of the same name by the American progressive rock 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…
This song has strong ties to the Fibonacci Sequence as can be seen in this version of the lyrics. The Fibonacci Sequence follows the same growth ratio (phi) as the Golden spiral which almost certainly has something to do with the repeated references to the spirals in this song. When he goes up the sequence, then starts down and up again, he may be thought to be swinging on the spiral. Listen along as Maynard sings, and you can hear the pattern in the number of syllables in each line (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8…).
The Fibonacci Sequence is computed by starting with the two values “0” and “1”, then each subsequent number is the sum of the two previous numbers (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21…).
The timing in the chorus (“Over thinking, over analyzing…”) also hints at the Fibonacci Sequence: The bars have 9, 8 and 7 beats respectively. 987 is a number in the Fibonacci sequence. The song was originally named “987” while it was being written.
NOTE: Interpretation below isn’t necessarily agreed upon by a vast majority since this song is so mysterious…
As for the meaning of the words (not just their arrangement), it seems to be saying that organized religion and the clergy’s exploitation of it, dampens the ability to perceive reality and its glory and appreciate it for what it is. (“Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind. Withering my intuition, missing opportunities”).
Later he says “I embrace my desire to feel the rhythm, to feel connected enough to step aside and weep like a widow to feel inspired to fathom the power, to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain, to swing on the spiral […] of our divinity and still be a human”.In Maynard’s words (not referring to this song specifically) “Life should be revered simply for the fact that we need to be thankful that we are currently able to consciously appreciate what we are going through right now.”
If you don’t like this interpretation, you’re not necessarily wrong: Maynard believes that their songs have many layers, and are about self-reflection and discovery. He feels that you can (within limits) interpret their songs in various ways to help you understand life and create a self-identity.
Men hadde seff vært bedre om de hadde tekster om øl og drikking.
Men hadde seff vært bedre om de hadde tekster om øl og drikking.
Hrmf
Cesaro Summability er instrumental, da.
_________________ I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.
— Stephen F. Roberts
Posted:
Fri Nov 20, 2009 11:50 11
Den_Saakaldte
Metal Messiah
Joined: Jul 28, 2006
Posts: 2811
Location: Oslo
Jæsken. Forstår meg definitivt ikke på matematikk dessverre! Men alltid spennende med en konseptuell tilnærming til ting.
_________________ De profvndis clamo at te Domine.
Ad infinitvm - "Petrine Cross" EP ute nå, limitert til 25 CD-R.
Posted:
Thu Aug 12, 2010 2:10 14
master_k
Metal God
Joined: Oct 14, 2004
Posts: 7582
Location: Trondheim
Jeg er ganske lei av Tool for tiden. Hørte ekstremt mye på de for fem/seks år siden. Konserten de holdt på Roskilde i 2006 var veldig bra, men jeg fikk for en eller annen grunn nok av bandet etter å ha sett de live.
Synes for øvrig det er trivelig å sette på Hooker with a Penis en gang i blant. Herlig låt!
Slik rangerer jeg diskografien:
1. Ænima
2. Lateralus
3. Undertow
4. 10.000 Days
5. Opiate EP og Salival
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