Revelation said:

I have some ideas, what are your thoughts?

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i think the most obvious interpretation would be the inherent dangers in delving into the psychedelic realm.
the well known fact that you can pretty much go crazy.

but i think hes trying to say more than that.
i know 'Nard and the guys in Tool are heavily into things dismissed by the world.
psychedelics, occult, hyper dimensional thought, DMT consciousness, aliens, the idea that there is so much more than we know or want to admit.
i think Maynard's message, is a message of hope to those who choose to hear it, and a warning to those who don't.

i think Lost Keys is a key to it.
it starts out in the hospital... it fades in.
In a way thats like coming back into consciousness from a heavy dose psychedelics and downers.. barbiturates... such a heavy place, in a very placid way.
I know, I've come back in the same sort of way when i went to the hospital once on a heavy dose of shrooms, when they stuck me with barbiturates.

perhaps Dave, our anti-hero came stumbling in, dropped off by his worried friends, rambling about a message from aliens, in a schizophrenic thats all too common.
they stick him with a needle to calm him down and put him out.

it fades in slowly, first the atmosphere of the music.
then the beeps of the machines.
then his spastic, worried, confused breath.
then the sound of people and voices as he hears what they're saying and is beginning to realize where he is, in a hospital.
possibly the psychiatric ward.

the man comes to him.
he calms him down with his soothing welcoming tone and voice.
he gets him to talk to him and tell him whats trippin' him out.

alrighty then... he goes into his staccato and intense recap of his just-recent experience that he wants to tell so bad because he is serious about it.
what with the intense music too.
at first hes saying that he thought it had to be the acid...
((gotta be the dead-head chemistry))
but he goes into saying that hes sure it was real
((it was so real ; and this wasn't all in my hand))

i love how the 2nd bridge puts you both in Dave's recap and back where Dave was in that placid zone of his intense psychedelic realm as Maynard sings in 2 voices
low voice talking to the doctor: then he looked right through me...
higher voice, almost quivering in the presence: then you looked right though me...

Hes so desperate to have anyone believe him...
((You believe me don't you? Please believe what i just said.))
The doctor, obviously would be quick in his disbelief.
The being showed him something... and he doesn't even know where to begin.
He knows the doctor obviously won't believe him, as he obviously hasn't believed a word thus far.
He can barely remember... he really doesn't know where to begin...
he cant even put his finger on it... how to describe it.
its so far away and hazy by now, like a dream.

In the end of the song, hes in the hospital strapped down.
possibly temporarily committed for his insane ramblings.
By now he's lost the message.
He forgot it after being dosed with downers and psychiatric drugs.
The experience must seem so far away by now.

This is how i felt after playing cosmic plinko with my soul and being dropped into my body which was almost in that brain-dead state, exhausted by the experience, slowed down and mute from the synthetic drugs put in me by the doctors.

The other key is the "Don't know, we won't know".
I think think this line suggest that Maynard possibly believes theres truth in his story.

the song ends short...
it doesn't fade out...
or grow into a glorious positive message.
it gives up and dies.
like Dave gives up in the end.
goddamn... shit the bed.
probably to never tell anyone about his experience again unless they're someone who can relate and who can believe.
someone like Maynard and tool.

The moral and message in the end:
that we're (as a society)so quick dismiss these valid psychedelic experiences that are experienced by so many of the "subculture"...
so quick to say... oh hes just crazy from ALL the drugs.
just another sad product of drug abuse.
another fried crazy rambler.
we wont even give this realm a chance to show itself.
we ignore it so much that it will hurt us in the end.

DuNeRaVeR said:

I think Dave was kinda saying "Alright if you REALLY want to try to understand"

"Alright...Picture this if you will"

Like, a pre-determined feeling that nobody will ever understand but what the fuck might as well.

he also says

"You believe me, don't you?
Please believe what I've just said!"

.........................................................

"Bob help me!" who is bob?

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are you agreeing with my interpretation? disagreeing?

Bob is most likely J.R. "Bob" Dobbs, the figurehead from the church of the subgenius. that coming from the fact that Bob replaces God in what would be "God help me"

Bob is pictured here.