Tool - Schism

watch the temple topple over: Much has been talked about this song’s technicalities and indeed I never stopped to find out about its lyrics until I decided to make this arrangement. I am not a progressive metal expert, but what I like about Tool in particular is how they make use of musical sophistication to support their statement, creating musical symbols which at times say so much more than mere words possibly could. Different interpretations have been attached to the lyrics from referencing the need for communication between different religions – the schism in question would be a quite literal one in that case – to what lyrics and video seem to imply in a more immediate fashion: Relationship problems. While everybody is of course free to apply whichever interpretation they prefer, I would like to interpret it in the latter way; it turns out that this might actually be one of the most intelligent, immediately provable songs about relationship problems ever written. The basic idea, then, is laid out quickly: A couple’s relationship is not what it used to be, due to the fundamental differing between the sexes. They say differences attract each other which may be all the more true when mechanisms of evolution come into play: The more different the genes of two persons, the more resistant will the children they engender be, in their fertile days of the month women tend to be attracted to rather masculine men that they might in other moments find impossible to stand etc. It turns out that that difference can be “a light that fuels the fire” at first, but “burns a hole” between the couple once the first infatuation has passed. The pieces “fall away”, although there is a definite belief that “they fit” and can be “brought together”; after all men and women need and cannot be without the other – an insight so obvious that you would have to ask how the human species could have survived otherwise. What has been proven, too, is that male and female communication differ from each other – it is telling that in the video the male character does not have a mouth while the female does not have ears. The only way to overcome misunderstandings seems to be to communicate more, in order to make sure that what has been said is what has been understood etc. Lack of communication, likewise, leads to a cold silence that creates an atmosphere of alienation, disconnection and callousness; the fact that the people in this situation are supposed to be lovers makes it all the more absurd. I vaguely recollect a myth from some part of the world, which advocates the “hermaphroditic primordial shape” of the human being: Man and woman are one before they are born, are separated at birth and spend all of their lives looking for their lost halves. The song reflects some of this: In the end of the video, the two characters reach out for each other, presumably having overcome their communication problems although not without what seems a fit of rage, and consequently blend into each other, becoming one again. “Schism” refers to the separation of a whole, pieces of the same thing that belong together; the hermaphroditic being from the video could be a symbol for a bond like matrimonial union then that turns two people into a unit. Let’s talk about the music: The main riff is composed of a 5/8 and a 7/8 bar each, odd time signatures which sum up to 12/8 which is a regular meter again; an example of how the split or schism is symbolized musically. The verse starting from “The light that fueled…” is quite notable too: The guitar plays the bass riff here, but a fifth above, creating a rather neutral accompaniment. However the vocals are at the same time doubled by a second voice which runs in thirds: Closer analysis reveals that between the guitar and the second voice, both fitting the part they accompany, dissonances as severe as a minor second actually occur. I like to think of this as the couple talking to each other, their intentions perfectly in tune with what each of them they says himself, but somewhere these “unspoken overtones” without anybody noticing have drifted apart from each other and clash. And yes, polyrhythm occurs: For example in “Pure intention juxtaposed…” where 12/8 in the vocals runs against the main riff in the other instruments. The main example however is the bridge at 3:14: The guitar part in 7/8 runs against 7/4 in bass and drums, with a displacement, however, of one quarter note – arguably the most complicated part of the song and it took me a few listens to figure it out. So remember – it is only communicating that the pieces can be brought together again.