First Time Reaction | TOOL - "Pushit" 

"There's no love in fear" that line and how he sings it is sooooo powerful

The live recording off of Salival completely changes the tone and amps up the overall journey, definitely worth checking out.

"it's a fucking masterpiece" I couldn't agree more. I have claimed , loudly and perhaps obnoxiously, that aenima is the single greatest album of all time for 20+ years. With Maynard's gift for being specific and vague at the same time with his lyrics I have found that sometimes there's a difference between what the song means and what it means to me. Another masterpiece is Puscifer's latest album Existintial Reckoning. They are touring now. The show is unlike anything I have ever seen. Thank you so much for the reaction

Tool is called tool for a reason. The music is a tool that's been given to you. A tool can't make you happy or sad or angry, it's up to you what you want to do with it. A hammer can build a house, break a bone or rust away; it's your choice.

It warms my heart to see you younger generation listen and understand what I grew up to as a teenager, absolutely awesome, keep rolling!

Both versions pull tears from different places. The studio version is about the anger and confusion he feels because of his abuse. While the live version is how he struggles with his current relationships because of his abuse. It relates to the song H. However, that song is more directed towards his son and how he doesn't want to repeat the cycle of abuse with some Jungian references. The live version of Pushit is broader and deeply emotional.

This song was recorded live on Saliva CD. They do a different version of the song and it's amazing. Please check it out.

🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟 Tool CAN'T make a bad song or album. I suggest "Rosetta Stoned" of 10,000 days...MASTERPIECE Aileen

Never underestimate the poetic beauty that Maynard can write to describe horrible tragedies.

Been my favorite song for 25 years. Glad you are able to appreciate them as much as we do.

seen TOOL many times. this is one of my all time fav TOOL songs. in 96 Maynard introduced this song like this..........."have you loved someone so much you had to kill them to get away..........heh, me either"

“And if I say that I may fade like a sigh if I stay “ just takes me to another place . Especially live. So many dimensions to this song. I absolutely love it.

The live Salival version is 1000% worthy of its own reaction video. Pull the lyrics up for that one too ... there are subtle but important differences.

I realize a hundred people have already told you to listen to the salival live version. But I’m just going to say it again. The first time I saw them was in 98 (fresh out of high school). But they played the salival version when nobody had heard it before. The studio version was already my favorite but seeing that rendition live when that was the one song I was waiting for, actually changed me and my perception of what music could mean to me in general. Not just with Tool but for all music. Anyways, I think you’re grasping how special these guys are and I’m here for it. Thank you.

One of "those" Tool fans chiming in again. As this is one of THE BEST SONGS EVER, this is going to be a winded comment. Amazing reaction as always and I can't tell you how much I appreciate being able to witness your journey on the spiral. This is probably the best song on Ænema and my favorite guitar work from Adam. After years of seeing them live I finally got to hear Pushit in concert this year and it was an overwhelmingly emotional experience. You picked up on a lot of the subtleties. My interpretation is that it's about a toxic relationship that you keep trying to leave, but the other person keeps exploiting the deep emotional attachment to bring you back. Then finally, out of desperation, you do something to cause so much emotional pain to them so that they can't bring themselves to even want you anymore. "Saw the gap again today while you were begging me to stay. Take care not to make me enter. If I do we both ma disappear." The key (I forget what it is) in the first part creates an ominous, uncomfortable musical space. It changes though, & you feel free. But then it changes back again, which I interpret as being pulled back into the toxic relationship and that uncomfortable musical space again. The line "Slipping back into the gap again" reinforces this. Then there's the slow, contemplative interlude where you're really taking stock of the situation followed by the amazing guitar section that puts you in that very sad, desperate emotional state. That leads to the full on instrumental crescendo with "Remember I will always love you as I claw your fucking throat away. It will end no other way." This is when you do something to utterly ruin the relationship. It's like "I love you so much, but I have to do this. It's going to destroy me to do it and destroy you even worse to experience it, but this has to end and this is the only way it's going to happen." Like you said, heart wrenching. Keep the reactions coming & spiral out.

"There's no love in fear" may just be the most life changing lyric Tool has ever written.

Aileen, you get to double dip with this one. There is an amazing live re-imagining of this song on Salival that is perhaps Maynard's most impressive vocal performance. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

Very thankful for this reaction Aileen, one of the best I have seen. Agreed this is a masterpiece, please check out the live version of this on the Salival album when you get a chance, it’s incredible. Much love and thanks again 😊

Edit: “fucking masterpiece “ said it perfectly. About a dysfunctional relationship with mother of his child. Which is a recurring theme on album - H is son’s middle name and learning growth and evolution in 46 &2. This song is top 3 TOOL song for me. And better than overrated live version that 99% incognizant ppl will comment the same thing over to listen to instead of enjoying this song. Middle eastern vibe throughout incredibly hypnotic

I think this Tool band is going to go places...

One of my favorite tool songs. Really have to hear the desperation in the lyrics

Loving the Tool reacts. If you get the chance, you should definitely check out Maynard's other projects, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer. Different vibes but still amazing

Tool is one of my favorite bands and the album this song came off of is my favorite album by them.

Yay! Another Tool reaction!

fantastic song choice

You’re right. A fn masterpiece. It’s been my fav track for a long time. I think it’s Maynard’s love song about a toxic relationship. They keep getting drawn back to each other but they both know how toxic it is. He tries to leave but gets coerced back for the sex. But he knows it will ruin them both. He does it anyways and they both end up dead. Such a classic love story hey lol Anyways loved ur take. I prefer the studio over the Salival. It’s pretty cool but the studio is perfection imo. It’s so satisfying to see someone not only get it.. but appreciate it like u do. Keep goin girl

Loved the reaction Aileen. Tool was sent down to make some of the most powerful, beautiful and emotional music of all time. ❤🙏

This record came out when I was a freshman in high school. My dad used to hit me (not like most kids parents hit them), and scream at me, and tell me what a piece of shit I was going to grow up to be. Though this song is about a different kind of relationship, I remember feeling a totally bizarre mixture of love, fear, and violent rage towards him back then. It stopped when I was eighteen and we finally had an actual fist fight that ended badly for him. This record, and this song in particular at the time, were absolutely huge for me 26 years ago.

TOOL rule! I seen them for the first time here in Dublin, Ireland back in May of this year and they were absolutely incredible. It was their first show in 16 years and I'm so happy I went.

The insight and honesty..fucking beautiful 🤙👊🤘

As always, a fantastic reaction from you. I really enjoy your take on what the songs are alluding to. I recommend listening to pushit Salival live version, it's the same song but completely different in terms of instrumental and meaning. 🤘🤘

This song just doesn’t get enough attention. I bet everyone has gone through a relationship like this, it hits so deep.

I love how the “pushit on me” sort of becomes “put shit on me” as the song goes along. Both seem appropriate in the context.

Tool army rejoiced. Great reaction

I won't be the first to say this, but now the Salival version of Pushit, please.

One of the greatest illustrations of how TooL approaches writing material. We are all pretty familiar with watching movies. There's actors playing characters that deliver dialogue and camera crews that light the sets providing moods and atmosphere and cinematographers that give the audience a perspective to view the movement and action. And then there's the score. In the background, there's accompanying music. Whether it's a full arrangement or just a few string instruments providing tension or perhaps sentimentality and warmth, the emotion of all the things you're seeing and hearing are woven through a tapestry of sound effects and music. Pushit has several compelling musical breaks; divisions that correspond with the storytelling. On another listen, once you're familiar enough with the lyrics that you don't need to read them, close your eyes and feel how the music provides a score to the imagery. You can almost feel the rising tension. The apprehension in the beginning, like slowly waking to find the drudgery of putting one foot in front of the other. There's a buzziness to the guitar. An uneasy tone but the volume is manageable. It changes. It becomes violent. It recedes. You can then hear the violence a second time, worse even.. Then a moment of haunting clarity. A sort of tranquility as a mind is made up. The frantic, incessant, confusing storm that follows. Theres a feeling of vertigo as things spin out of control. Realization that there's no turning back. Confrontation. The terror of screaming resolve into the cold darkness of the unknown. And having it face off against you. It will end no other way.

This is one of those songs that covers me in chills multiple times throughout it.

If you love story telling I HIGHLY recommend LOST KEYS/ ROSETTA STONED off the 10000 days album. It’s def 🔥!

Finally!!! Hahaha told ya 😂 now Eulogy

Damn, you’re spitting out these uploads!

The Live Version is great and totally different from the Official one !

I saw the gap again today While you were begging me to stay Take care not to make me enter If I do, we both may disappear Know that I will choke until I swallow Choke this infant here before me What is this but my reflection? Who am I to judge or strike you down? But you're Pushing and shoving me Pushing and shoving me Pushing and shoving me Pushing and shoving me Pushing and shoving me Pushing and shoving me Pushing and shoving me Pushing and shoving me You still love me, you still love me But you didn't need to push it on me You still love me, you still love me But you didn't need to push it on me Rest your trigger on my finger Bang my head upon the fault line You better take care not to make me enter 'Cause if I do, we both may disappear But you're Pushing and shoving me Pushing and shoving me Pushing and shoving me Pushing and shoving me You still love me, you still love me But you didn't need to push it on me You're pushing and shoving me Pushing and shoving me I'm slipping back into the gap again I'm alive when you're touching me Alive when you're shoving me down, yeah But I'd trade it all For just a little peace of mind Push it on me, push it on me Push it on me, push it on me You're pushing, and shoving, and scrambling To keep my feet flat on the ground I am somewhere I don't wanna be, yeah Push me somewhere I don't wanna be You put me somewhere I don't wanna be Seeing someplace I don't wanna see Never want to see that place again Saw that gap again today While you were begging me to stay Managed to push myself away And you, as well, my dear If when I say I might fade like a sigh if I stay You minimize my movement anyway I must persuade you another way Pushing and shoving Pushing and shoving Pushing me There's no love in fear Yeah, I'm staring down the hole again Hands around my back again Survival is my only friend Terrified of what may come, yeah Remember I'll always love you As I claw your fucking throat away It will end no other way It will end no other way

Absolutely magical piece of art! Now, the live version is a must hear. It just gets better!!

Can’t remember exactly when but I saw them on the original aenima tour in a fairly small club called “Metro” in Perth, Australia. To this day the best gig I’ve ever seen. I didn’t even know them as a band that well at that point but they opened with a medley of “Prison sex” and “Third Eye”. I remember standing on the top balcony of the club looking down on them when Maynard sprung into the chorus for “Third eye”. My whole body broke out in chills. I’ve never had a live experience like that since.

16:40 those were the exact same words i said when i hear it the first time, Pushit is one of my fav songs of all time, now you need to listen the Salival version and also i want to recommend you H. from the same album

I absolutely love your Tool reactions. It's been so long! Everybody is right, you should definitely check out the live salival version. It really showcases Maynard's vocal range. Totally different vibes.

I think this song is about how a toxic relationship with a partner causes Maynard to relive childhood abuse. The partners abuse one another to the point that Maynard has had it and wants to leave, but he can't. We see the abuse going back and forth, Maynard admitting he's contributing just as much to it. And then at some point the fighting overwhelms him, triggers something from his childhood, and he dissociates into the quiet place in his mind that he used to go into as a child. We sit with him for a moment. He resolves to never allow that awful thing to happen again, and the music builds back up into the instrumental section. This part to me represents the two partners escalating from shouting to having an all-out fight when the music crescendoes. The bass and drums represent the punches and kicks and shoves, and the guitar comes in like a bloodcurdling scream. I like your interpretation of the guitar crying along with Maynard too. Perhaps its both. Screaming and crying at the same time. And then...we are right back where we started, repeating the frist verse. this has all happened before. the fight is over, they go into the familiar routine of rationalizing and sweeping it under the rug. The song leaves it open-ended whether Maynard finally finds the strength to walk away or is pulled back in once again, stuck in a cycle of abuse and codependency that is all too common. That very last note seems to leave the song unresolved, leaving that doubt with us.

“Rest your trigger on on my finger. Bang my head upon the fault line” lyrically simply amazing

“Staring down the hole again Hands are on my back again Survival is my only friend Terrified of what may come of it Remember I will always love you As I claw your fucking throat away It will end no other way” I always have to make sure I’m emotionally prepared to listen to this song because that part fucks me up bad. It’s the desperate panic in Maynard’s voice that just eviscerates me.

there is a different version of this they did live which was fucking amazing imo. almost sounded like a gregorian chant

Never miss the tool reactions. I love ur open mindedness to them and allow yourself to be taken on the journey. I feel u are ready for the holy trilogy now. 😏 "Disposition" "Reflection" "Triad" In one sitting. Kinda meant to be done in order.

As perfect as this song is, I was shocked when they remade the song (possibly even better, in my opinion). Please listen to it aswell, I promise you, completely different experience. From there ep Salival

Such a powerful and emotional song I’ve been waiting for you to react too!!! Gotta react to the alternate live version from Salival it’s just as great and different from the original

Aileen, as others have said. The live version from salival is really good too. A great way to listen to it a second time

Thanks Aileen!! 🤘🤘🤘 You're awesome!!💯💯💯 PLEASE crank some fine Aussie Metal...🇭🇲🇭🇲🇭🇲 Dead Kelly🤘🤘🤘🇭🇲🇭🇲🇭🇲 Australian Made Just a change from the highly emotional and painfully deep sounds of sorrow and misery which I would respectfully describes your last few selections as.. Dead Kelly!! 🇭🇲🤘🇭🇲 For Less tears and more Cheers!!! 😊😊😊 Aussie Style!! 🇭🇲🇭🇲🇭🇲 You will love it!! 💯💯💯

You look sad I wish I could comfort you. Whatever happens in life I feel your pain. Lost a lot of loved ones over the years. This is Tools best album by a lot of Tool fans. They do bring emotions out in ppl.

"It's a fucking masterpiece". Truer words were seldom spoken. In an amazing catalogue, Pushit is still one of the best, IMO.

Slipping back into the gap agian. I'm alive when your touching me. Alive when your shugging medown.

You gotta do Disposition and Reflection together! Two amazing intertwined tracks from Lateralus much like Parabol/Parabola

The album Aenima from the art work, stage ware and lyrical content has the conceptual element of duality. Maynard on this tour is dressed up as half man/women, or painted half one color and another. The smoking box from the artwork and electricity sfx interstitial's are about positive and negative charges and equalizing. Jung concepts like the shadow and that each gender having opposite gender traits than need to be integrated. Agree with you. personally see this is some sort of internal conflict he is having.

I've always felt this song was about a dysfunctional relationship . A romantic of otherwise. Where both people bring out the worst in each other

Great reaction let's do them all please

Please do the Salival (live) version if you're up for it. What do you call a step up from "masterpiece"?

Suggestions for next Tool Reactions: Eulogy, Hooker with a Penis, or Right in Two

Even when abysmal, if you can resign yourself to an inevitable result, peace can be found..

Buy this album. Aenima is stands out from ... Everything.

I've always wondered by the way he sings Pushit, if it is a compound word, push shit on me

Joining in on the chorus of you must listen to the Salival version. Takes it to a new level - if that’s even possible 🙌🏻

Yep I think you got the meaning 👍

Can’t believe your haven’t done vicarious by now. Such a great song.

As much as You were blown away by listening to this album version, just wait until You hear it's 'live' twin brother version form the Salival EP. We probably sound like we're repeating ourselves, but You will not be disappointed - keep Toolin' away Aileen, great content. Thumbs up from an 43 yo Tool fan from Serbia!

Check out the Salival live album version of "Pushit" Very powerful emotions in this song as you can see. Some people interpret song as a toxic relationship you can't find the strength to get of. I've also heard it's about a toxic relationship with himself.

You have to do vicarious…it’s amazing and of course you have to do the salvail version of pushit

I feel like this is about a bad relationship that in staying with the person in the relationship it changes who you are and you don’t want to change who you are…

Great Tool reaction as always! Hope to see you do "Descending" and "H" by them 🤘🏼👁

Pushit Salival live. I know it’s been said. This comment is to emphasize it. Do it. I’ve listened to the live version so much that the studio version feels numb. There’s no way to describe the feels. I’m so glad you listened to the studio version first though.

The Salival version will blow your mind! 🔥

Listen to the salival version quickly while this version is fresh in your brain please

Absolutely love your reactions, your perspective is always appreciated. Not only is there another version of Pushit on the live Salival release that changes the tone of the song in a beautiful way, there is also a video of them playing live usually titled "Push it: The Fan incident." That I'd love to see your reaction. Basically a fan jumps on stage and Maynard didn't want to share his stage. F around and find out. If you didn't know Maynard wrestled in his youth and has kept up his Brazillian Jujitsu training over the years. While I don't condone violence Maynard's takedown was controlled. He continues to belt the song out while performing a submission. It also makes you think about the lyrics of this particular song in a bit of a different way. (Video quality isn't the best and there is some time spent in darkness but definitely worth a watch.)

Hi Aileen. How are you. Happy Thanksgiving. Hope all is well.

lyrics yourself next time, need it

"Damn she's listening to a sad one". I'll have to watch this in chunks

Top 3 favorite tool tracks. Most epic ending.

Tool was my first live concert from a major band, saw them in 98. This song had such an intense effect on the crowd, and at times It was very scary lol. I remember coming out of this conert a changed person.

Hot take: This is the better version. Salival ver is okay but this one slaps.

I love the drums!! Danny Carey 🤟🏻

Tool takes everyone on such a journey and everyone can relate to it. great reaction. If you're gonna keep doing tool, Right In Two, Rosetta Stoned and HWAP are dam good

Must, must listen to this live version.

This song goes hand in hand with Pet (APC) and Fear Inoculum. It starts with Pet, from the perspective of the abuser. Manipulating and slowly gaslighting. Then here with Pushit, in the midst of an abusive relationship and struggling to get out. And finally being free in Fear Inoculum

Ohhh you Chose push it this time. Awesome ,great song I’m sure the tool army has informed you, but just in case. It’s about Maynards first marriage. It was a toxic relationship and at wicked divorce. I went through a divorce this year and I refused to listen to this song for that reason. This is the first time I have allowed myself to hear it. Thanks for your reaction. Keep it coming you’re awesome..

I think its like a toxic relationship that you’re allowing to dictate your insecurities and making you dependent on them from the fear you feel that nothing else is going to be better than this relationship.

This song is a masterpiece in the studio. If you want to take it another notch higher, listen to the Salival version of this.

Happy Thanks Giving!!!!! That is the joy of Music, it moves the soul in different ways for different people. I believe the verses are more metaphorical in that it is an ideology, or some religious system being portrayed. These guys are amazing and are philosophical in their songs, the instruments are superb as well. Tool is a band multiple generations can learn to appreciate and enjoy. Hope you have a good Thanks giving week!

dang this girl is on it! this Tool reaction was great!!

......Wait till you get to "Stinkfist".............

Aileen deberías reaccionar a breña de a perfect circle

So...when do we hit the GWAR rabbit hole?

I love how you explain your feelings about music so many feel the same way ! Your voice Is amazing 10 of 10 😉

I really love this song. It hurts to listen to if you have been through a similar experience to the lyrics, but it really touches your soul.

Good to have heard the album track first