Reviews for Forty-Six & 2 Lyrics

This is for the person with the PHD who talked at everyone on 1/20/2012.

Have you read Jung's theory on the "Shadow" which TOOL does use over and over in their lyrics in "46 & 2".

Your PHD in education helps, but look further into Jung's theories and writings.

You are wrong about what you said: "The Forty Six and Two has NOTHING to do with Jung."

Try again...it's also about interpretation.

Not everyone has the same interpretation.

Interpretation can be supported by evidence such as the use of Jung's "shadow" theory which Tool in fact uses in their lyrics of "46 & 2".

He's writing about digging through his shadow and finding all the things he's been unconsciously suppressing. Which CAN be anything from his feminine emotional side to his primal brute side. It can be anything for anyone. And in doing this, its suppose to help him evolve a new level of spiritual enlightenment to make him a better person. That's what I got out of it and I think its something we should all pursue.

@ Everyone
You might actually attempt to attend something called College, and not get your 'tool' information from Google and Wiki. Forty Six and Two has NOTHING to do with Jung, PS, its not a Gung, its Jung. Drunvalo Melchizedek coined the 46&2 phrase. The shadow is an Archetype, and has nothing to do with Melchizedek's 46+2. Tool just combined the two theories. Contrary to what some seem to think, Maynard is not 'elusive' he is educated. Once again, stop relying on google, wiki, and tool to educate yourself. Read a damn book.

Its not 'overcoming' your brutish nature like a monkey, its called individuation - once again, look it up, its a Jungian theory.

Also, 'allusive bastard', along with the rest of your post, makes you look like a dumbass. It's 'elusive'. You make Tool fans look bad.

PS, most of you obviously are citing the YouTube explanation of this song.

Here, if you want to educate yourself from the source, pick up, "The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious" by Carl Jung as a starting point, and apply to a college - I am a college professor - yes I have a Phd (in philosophy), trust me, tool is amazing, but not as complicated as you'd all like to think.

@ p´t´r´gg very interesting. so now that i hear gorillas have 48 chromosomes, i ponder this variety of perception:
When i think gorilla, the words "dumb brute" come to mind. With the gungian theory thought process being that the shadow is one's repressed self, maybe he represses his "dumb brute" nature. So maybe he found himself in a situation where he thought he may find it useful to become a dumb brute, and succumb to violence as opposed to intellect. He speaks of muscle memory, perhaps referring to darwinism and the relationship between humans and monkeys in general, which he portrays similar thoughts in the more recent " right in two," referring to humans as silly monkeys. So in saying "hoping i can clear the way" and " step into my shadow, coming out the other side" becoming violent, coming out victorious and thus clearing his way of violent opposition? 46 and 2 just ahead of me, referring to another as a " dumb brute" or gorilla, having 48 chromosomes opposed to an intelligent human's 46.

Idk just food for thought. Maynards an allusive bastard. Who knows what he truly meant, but i can see this explanation being a likely thought process of his

Why is it in every Tool song review we have someone who links their songs with drugs. Yes, they have made some songs about drugs (third eye,opiate) but it doesn't mean that's what they are trying to convey to the people who listen to their music. I think he just finds some theory or philosophy that he agrees with and tries to send out the message behind that philosophy. None of this is proven fact, but it is a nice thought that we could all be connected.

Chromosomes do not divine your cosmic connection. Gorillas have 48 chromosomes; some plants have over 100.

I am a human; I have 46 chromosomes.

I inherited 23 chromosomes from my father and 23 chromosomes from my mother.

The Jungian shadow theorizes there are two sides to my existence:

One is expressed; one is repressed. The repressed is the shadow.

46 and 2 may = expressed self + repressed self.

It may = the male and female it takes to create a new human.

If Maynard meant it in either of these ways rock on.

If he meant having 48 chromosomes will allow him to become enlightened, then he really digs gorillas.

Have any of you done crystal meth? I have seen many users in homeless shelters and soup kitchens where I work and volunteer. I spent a lot of time with one or two meth users and they all spoke of the shadow people. People that were real to them, but only they could see. Always in peripheral vision, never clearly seen. They were following these individuals, and they could not elude them. Also, many users who shoot intravenously said the high made them pick their skin, producing sores. On subsequent trips, they picked their scabs. I believe Maynard is referring to not only evolving into a better person, but also the effects of meth use.

I agree with most of your reviews, thank you. im still trying to learn about this theory and concept but these reviews have helped also. This song, to me, represents metamorphosis or evolution of mankind also individually. Maynard is great at positive, intellectual lyrics like this and many others. Also much gratitude to danny, adam and other members, this band evoloved my life immenselly. Metamorphosis could be an extremely positive symbol of recovery or evolution and i love the thought. thank you for reading

Actually, the apes have forty-EIGHT chromosomes because we made one of the pairs redundant in our evolution! Now the reason I came here was to figure out the name so I could go get the album. :P

And the aborigines there breed true so they must have 23 pairs... That's just the same kind of 'wisdom' that makes comparisons to monkeys with other races. If you're wondering, look up the word mule in a genetics textbook. Species with different numbers can not breed vital stock.

It’s quite an egoistic statement to proclaim knowledge that you are the sole source of meaning for any song, 46 and 2 regardless of intention of its original purpose of intent is a very spiritual and self-enlightening piece, what is found within any aspect of life is of our own conscious will, if one finds wisdom where another see’s nothing then that is their own path, whether anyone decides to elate any subject is their choice, from my own point of view of Maynards lyrics it is a well written song, one in which lead me to think outside the box and I am happy to say lead me to research some very interesting things, such as Carl Gustav Jung’s multiple principles of consciousness, and the shadow self, for those whom disclaim its relevance are ignorant and by all means please do your homework, the true point of 46 and 2 is to be free of your fear and to become unified, there for striping away the chaotic insecure delusions that lead to destructive behavior.

Í've seen that explanation in too many places for it to be incorrect. The song is about therapy, and the painful process of dealing with the parts of ourselves that we might not like to admit exist - the 'shadow' in the song. Anyone who's been through therapy can tell you that its a pretty literal description of the process. The stuff about the chomosomes, well the theory is absolute crap, but that is what 46 and 2 refers to.

dont make life so difficult for yourself trying to find meaning in every little thing, dude he wrote it for attention and money look at it that way, and if you say no maynard is not like that, well he is because he sure has your attention and money

I feel like this song is about how you reflect on yourself and what patha you choose personally. Maynard is an atheist so I highly doubt its anything about religion unless he's mocking it which he does in several songs. He is extreamely smart despite his major drug useage, which is what gives him most of his inspiration, his songs always have a deeper hidden meaning. His song Stinkfist is about drug addiction he openly admits he does a lot of hard drugs. Tool sings about politics, mocking religion, ignorant closed minded people, and struggles inside yourself weather it be good or evil. I may not agree with everything they sing about but a lot of it makes sense when you listen to it.

I can not say that i know what this song is about but i have my opinions, to do what ever it takes to break through, we must over come what others say and do and find what we think is are most logical step after we die, this song is not holy nor evil it is a reflection " a word to guide me through" finding something that makes sense to us, "Change is coming through my shadow" its not about evil because it says shadow, the shadow represents us as basic as it gets, no features or colors, are shadow comes and goes, just as life does, hte dip shit " On Tool" is obviousley retarded and has no moral guidance and is narrow minded to the possibilites that await us all "Clearing out what could've been." searching for your own resonable answer to life, this song is not about emoral or physical daminar towards anyone, it is simplily due to are spiritual remefications that we all must face. "Hoping I can clear the way" I I I.... all he is trying to say is look into your soul, this life is all questions and the next is the answers, remember this.

I like that you're cynical towards Tool and don't just blow them off as the most awesome band. I think you're right in some ways, on how he expresses disdain towards others and their ignorance in some of his music. On the other hand this particular song to me speaks to making a positive personal transformation, I think it was partially inspired by Bill Hicks and his passion about trying to evolve people's collective consciousness. A lot of us our brought up to be 'cool' and dismissive, so most of us our conditioned have disdain for others, overbearing self-pride and our trapped by our own ego's. This song speaks to breaking through the chains of our conditioned 'self' (shedding skin) and moving through as a greater, stronger human vehicle.