Tool — “Eulogy”

Ænima - 1997

Despite his penchant for macabre aesthetics, I’ve always found Maynard James Keenan’s lyrics to be oddly life-affirming. At no point does he wallow in the depressive mire that many artists of the 90s were indulging. Tormented, sure, but always ready to rise above and overcome. What else would you expect from an avid student of Brazilian Jujitsu?

Ænima is a favorite album of mine. The name is presumably taken from Carl Jung’s theory of the Collective Unconscious, in which the Anima archetype represents the feminine side of a man’s psyche, just as a woman’s psyche contains her male characteristics, or Animus.

The concept is Tool at their edgy cusp between vindictive rage against Christian dogmatism and the positive New Age vibe to which the lyrics later turned. Danny Carey’s peculiar time signatures and Maynard Keenan’s vocal range are astonishing. The musicianship far outstrips their metal peers. Of course, Keenan always maintained that his lyrics are secondary to the emotion of the music, but not for me.

Ænima’s second track, “Eulogy,” casts a disparaging glare on self-made martyrs. The song could be about Jesus Christ or Kurt Cobain—it doesn’t really matter. Keenan’s point is that those truly living have little time to be dragged down by the Thanatos impulses of the dead. Considering the fact that Maynard still gets down at 46 years-old, I respect his position.

Standing above the crowd
He had a voice that was strong and loud
And I swallowed his facade ’cause I’m so
Eager to identify with
Someone above the crowd
Someone who seemed to feel the same
Someone prepared to lead the way, and
Someone who would die for me

[...]

Come down
Get off your fuckin’ cross
We need the fuckin’ space to nail the next fool martyr

To ascend you must die
You must be crucified
For our sins and our lies
Goodbye…