Forty-Six & 2 Lyrics - Tool

So Maynard has never had a drug addiction "Buddy". This could be the interpretation some people find in themselves, but it's doubtful he would base such an emotional song on a philosophy he hasn't had to deal with himself. Usually he reserves that sort of fiction for a story, like Rosetta Stoned. You're assumption isn't impossible, but is unlikely.

This is really in response to the first review I read. I can appreciate their interpretation of the song, because if it helped them get to some understanding in their life with a particular issue they may have been enduring, then that is all that matters. But most of you have it correct. The "shadow" is a discrepancy; sexual, emotional, a metaphoric monkey on your back. According to Jung, the shadow stems from the universal sub conscious and it creates ego which ultimately interferes with our destiny - our intellectual evolution. With all of these negative emotions plaguing our existence, we put up walls or "armor" depriving us from experiencing true connections. But recognizing this, we can use the past-our suffering, as a means to heal. By stepping through our "shadow", we experience the full range of human emotions and grow in our evolutionary endeavor. 46&2 is when all the cells of the body are consciously aware and work in unison as one (much like the gears and mechanisms in a machine), one sending information to the other so as a whole, they are infinite in their intelligence. So far, only a few group of peoples have achieved this higher consciousness, the aboriginals in Australia and supposedly a few remote tribes in Africa. They are one with the universe according to the anthropologist who stayed with them for an extended period of time. They revealed their sacred understandings of their place on this earth and their connections - symbiotically and direct, with everything. So if drugs are you're shadow, then you are correct in a way. All in all, tool is profound and open to interpretation. If it helps the listener with an issue they may have, that is what truly matters. The band name says it all. Tool. Use tools to fight, build, and learn.

This song is obviously about coming off drugs most likely methamphetamines (ice, speed etc)

I am quite taken back about how naive most of you are to this fact you really think that this song has a complete different meaning. Are you sheep cause the first person thought this or you love tool that much you cant except they have big issues with drugs.

I dont get much in to lyrics but always wondered if the lyrics of this song were about coming off drugs from the few lyrics i could understand and reading this confirmed this.

Nearly every line of this song is obvious about coming off drugs.

Taking any one verse of this song screams coming off drugs and put them all together. The scabs scratching pain feelings the morphing is back to a normal person feeling again feelings good and bad. The shadow is a feeling that alot of drug addicts get and it is what they call it not doctors its a kind of skitzo paranoia.

I think the 46 and 2 ahead of me is a way of saying life is ahead of me this is guess though.

Show any ex drug user, their family that have seen what they go through (me) people who work with them (doctors etc) these lyrics and they will tell you without a doubt it is what it is about.

So many angry words. Everyone saying their interpretation is right and everyone else is wrong.

What is wrong with you folks? Can't you just enjoy the music and not debate the meaning? Like my mom used to tell me, "Opinions are like assholes; everyone has one and they usually stink." No kidding. She really did tell me that.

So everyone, get off your respective high-horses. You are liable to fall and hurt yourself. Just enjoy Tool and MJK. And quit bitching.

Maynard is a lyrical genius. He allows us all to interpret their songs however we want. So therefore nobody is wrong about anything they have mentioned .
Honestly only Tool knows the real meaning behind these lyrics.

I think he meant that apes are evolving and they are "ahead of us". Basically he is saying that pretty soon that movie....Planet Of The Apes....like the latest version? Yeah, It's gonna happen soon people. He is trying to send a message that we all need to get and be prepared, and remember, we fight best in the shadows. The change is coming people, It is time to prepare!

After reading these reviews, I have come to the conclusion that I am an uneducated person. But to my retarted ass, it seems that regardless of who the theory of the shadow comes from (Jung, or mezchizedek or whoever) call it christ consciousness, collective unconcious, collective conscious, parallel universe, sublimanal realm, spiritual realm, you are all talking about the same thing. Delving into our subconcious, transsubstantiating (should I not use that word, oops), becoming our true, whole selves, achieving enlightenment.

P.S. To all you self righteous (insert derogatory term here) telling people to go to college and what to read, I am mentally retarted, thus a moron (in a lot of ways) So I wont be spending $100,000 for a piece of paper that I could achieve the equivalent for $1.00 in late fees at the library (yes thats from Good Will Hunting). Also, you can read all of the books in the world but it doesnt compare to actually experiencing it!! Check your ego people, I know I know, I need to take my own advice, easier said than done since we are barely conscious and aware of it, but we have to try. Dont let those decietful, manipulative, cowardly, self righteous, asshole aliens get the best of us. COME TOGETHER, RISE UP, EMBRACE LOVE AND JOY!!! instead of fear and hate and depression and anxiety. They are manipulating us subliminally. Did I lose you with that alien comment? why is it so acceptable to believe that there is an all knowing all powerful omnipotent god and creator of everything, but someone whos aware of beings, or species far more intelligent(but not superior) from all over the universe, is called insane. Think about it people, they are real, and Maynard knows it. He's trying to tell you without actually saying the words.

PSS Sorry, I came hear to gain some insight into a song, and maybe give a little input based on personnal experience, and I did that, but I didnt mean to go off on a self righteous rant, dont let them turn you into an ego maniac like me, for your own sake.

"This sort of behavior is left to the psychotic, dogmatic, fundamentalist believers you see on your TV everyday letting off bombs and killing people in the name of God. Beliefs are dangerous. Beliefs allow the mind to stop functioning. A non-functioning mind is clinically dead. Believe in nothing." -MJK

He is definitely anti-religion, if he isn't anti-god. If any of his lyrics involve a god, they aren't to support the viewpoint, that's for sure.

i thought that it was more about the fact that we are made up of 46 chromosones and if you alter two we would evolve into some type of higher being or perhaps if we look into our past as a species we would find the answer to the begining of the humanbeing by finding out what we were at perhaps 44 chromosones the shadow is of course the sub conciouss which if we could properly tap into already knows the answer to every question posed by man about creation god ect and by the way micheal u dont know jack about meth why dont u get your head out of a text book and try living your own life not living vicariously through the people you encounter in soup kitchens life is only for the brave so go be brave man

i thought that it was more about the fact that we are made up of 46 chromosones and if you alter two we would evolve into some type of higher being or perhaps if we look into our past as a species we would find the answer to the begining of the humanbeing by finding out what we were at perhaps 44 chromosones the shadow is of course the sub conciouss which if we could properly tap into already knows the answer to every question posed by man about creation god ect

Muscle memory, he's talking about the body mind and the trauma we undergo in life, how repressed emotions create body armour that locks us out of spirit, keeping our heart chakra closed & making us age quicker & get sick. Wilhelm Reich talked about this. Opening up & breaking through the armor means facing your shadow, all your projections & issues gained over a lifetime, all the emotional garbage that keeps you enslaved

Tool does reach into ancient concepts & push them forward into our time, just 'cause someone acknowledges the ancient philosophy & agrees with it doesn't make him a preacher, or even religious for that matter. The whole Lateralus album is closely based on the ancient wisdom of Buddha & eastern philosophy in general. It doesn't have to be about God directly.

Got nuthin to do with god ya preacher!!! the songs about self enlightenment not through god through self teaching!! Its about a guy wanting to change into sumthing greater :) n how the brain holds onto memories n the struggle we go through to change our hardwiring!! Pfffft fuckng god antics there aint no god!!! Lol maybe a greater balance but no god lol

You guys can't be serious? He's referring to the theory of Christ consciousness. Look at the artwork that they use showing the 46 & 2 version of symmetry of man, pretty obvious for any Tool fan using his or her brain to connect the symbolism of their album and merchandise art to their music. I can't even believe there is a debate on the meaning of this song!! They continue referring to sacred geometry and higher forms of consciousness in their artwork and music on later albums, especially Lateralus. Alex Grey is the visual artist that produces a good amount of it. Personally, I love his work, you guys should look him up.

I am unsure if you actually read my review. I am very aware that 46& 2, the song, references the Shadow... I think you missed the point. 46&2 and the Shadow are not the same thing and, as I said previously, are not both Jungian concepts. AGAIN, as stated previously, 46&2 is Drunvalo Melchizedek's term for a higher-state of consciousness i.e. Christ Consciousness, and one could certainly attribute this to Jungian Individuation. However, to attribute 46&2 to Jung is wrong, and this isn't a matter of interpretation. And it is a bit insulting to be told to 'look further' into someone that I have obviously researched. I spent 9 1/2 years of post secondary education reading, writing, and debating about people like Jung, Aristotle, Freud, Winnicott, and yes, even the crazies like Drunvalo and Leary - I promise, I know what I am talking about - at least to some degree ;)

If you want to read about the Shadow Archetype from the horses-mouth, I recommend this.

The Archetypes and Collective Unconscious (oh snap! That's Tool's fan-club!) by CG Jung. It is available on Amazon.com for fairly cheap (if you get the paper-back) and is well translated from its original German-text. I assure you, though, there is absolutely no reference to 46&2 or Drunvalo in this book, nor any of Jung's other writings.

Happy reading