Hearing TOOL H. for the first time!!! 

H. Is Maynard’s son, the snake is the inner anger he feels from his passed abuse. His fear is that this anger will arise against his son. But the more his son touches and changes him, the snake is drowned. When that part of his past dies, that’s why he says it’s alright. That the killing of that part of him was considerate.

Vin nailed this. It’s about him being afraid to change into a father figure.

This is a gem, kind of overlooked unfortunately.

Possibly my favorite Tool song. Gets me every time. Beautiful.

Wow. Pretty damn good guess. Just looked it up. He is trying not to inflict the same abuse on his child and wife that was inflicted on him. He is dealing with the struggle to break the cycle of abuse.

This song completely changed for me after I became a father. "And as the walls come down and As I look in your eyes My fear begins to fade Recalling all of the times I have died And will die. It's all right. I don't mind" Have felt this for FOUR years now, but I don't mind, I don't mind...

Its about the birth of his son Devo H. Keenan. And how it forced him to change and allow who he was in the past to die. His son is consideratly killing who he used to be...

I've heard that in 1997 while playing at Lollapalooza, Maynard referenced this song "This next song is about having children, do any of you have kids? It is amazing how much they change your life isn't it?". I'm sure there's some deeper meaning to the song about just how exactly children change your life, but at least we know from The writer's lips what the song is about!

You know, usually I’m all team-Sori but i think I have to break faith a bit today. Firstly, from my knowledge, Vin’s interpretation absolutely knocks it out of the park. In fact, it’s so spot-on I have to suspend a bit of disbelief. This was written around the time of Maynard’s first-born (his son). I don’t think the proper subject would be easy to nail down on a first listen. Most others, myself included, would have initially been more inclined to agree with Sori. The second big break is on this point of “darkness” - it’s one of the things Tool is loved for, and it kind of shocks me that someone wouldn’t pick up on it. In fact, it’s something that sometimes turns people off of Tool - especially their older content. I could see how dissecting Lateralus early on could throw someone off the scent though. Although it has its own moments of darkness, it’s generally far more uplifting than the rest of Tool’s discography. And while I’d say that most of Tool’s music has a generally positive/healthy message, most of the sonic paths they create to get there are completely built around confronting and moving through the darkness of the human experience. It’s one of the reasons fans find their work so cathartic; a lot of it centers around being self-reflective and confronting the darkness that can otherwise consume your life. Even if you just reflect on the songs you’ve already heard so far, you can see it. “Jambi” does this. “Wings for Marie (10,000 Days pt. 2)” does this. “Jimmy” does this. “Pushit” does this. “The Patient” does this. “Schism” does this. I think the biggest irony here might be that Ænima is hailed almost universally as their darkest album. So much so that many fans who enjoy them for that dark edge actually enjoy it more than Lateralus, which would otherwise generally be considered their magnum opus. Don’t fight it Sori...succumb to the power of the dark side!!

Just shows you how deep the writing is. The music is amazing and the writing is a whole different level. That’s what’s makes Tool so good and deep.

"H." is a song by the American rock band Tool. The song was released as the second single from their second album, Ænima on March 19, 1997. "H." reached number 23 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[1] The working title for the song was "Half Empty", and thus "H." most likely stands for that or "Half Full".[2] During several tours, the lead singer of Tool, Maynard James Keenan, has referenced his son, whose middle name is H, just before performances of this song. However, on several occasions, specifically on November 23, 1996[3] during a show at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, Maynard James Keenan does grant some insight into another meaning of the song. Speaking to the audience he says, "So, any of you ever watched those Warner Bros. cartoons? Sometimes there's that one where that guy is having a tough time trying to make a decision. He's got an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. Seems pretty obvious, right? Usually it's the angel who is kind of the one trying to give him the good advice while the devil is trying to get him to do what's bad for him. It's not always that simple though. Most times they're not really angels or devils. They're just friends giving you advice, looking out for your best interest but not really understanding what's going to be best for you. So it kind of comes down to you. You have to make the decision yourself... This song is called H."

Wow Vin, you nailed that interpretation. Also this song grew on me so first time listen I would give it max 8/10 too but now it is my second favorite tool song.

Great discussion my friends. Much love from New Orleans!!!

Yes! I've watched a ton of yalls videos over the years. Good stuff! Nice to see my favorite Tool song!

God this song is just TOO FRIGGIN GOOD. Tool is just... The best I swear. They aren't a band that just speaks out loud "this is a song about drugs!" It's all so beautifully wrapped in the lyrics, and the music is just powerful and punches you repeatedly. Fuck, this is the first time listening while reading the lyrics and now that I know it's about his son, I'm almost in tears writing this. Call me weak, but god damn tool are masters. I grew up with them, they are my favorite band, and I'm just so friggin pumped for the next album

You guys should check out the Opiate ep by Tool. How can you see their growth if you don’t listen to their early stuff?

Its hard for me to not question Vin's amazing ability to decipher not only tools lyrics but 95 % of the artists they react to lyrics correctly practically every time. That's a true and rare gift and hosting a reaction channel on utube wouldn't be his career path. I'm positive a talent like that would be highly sought after and would demand a generous salary. He does his homework, guaranteed

This song is amazing and highly underrated as far as TOOL songs are concerned. Vin was spot on Maynard wrote this song about his sons birth and the changes he will have to make in his own life for his son. Again brilliant song and obviously the lyrical content. 👍

You’re a genius vin. You almost always nail the lyrics

Awesome reaction to an awesome song! First time watching you guys react. Will be watching more. Great tool shirt btw! I have the exact same one

Favorite tool song without a doubt. The kid makes him Half empty because he has to give up some things yet Half full because it makes him open up his Heart again.

Vin, I am impressed by your whits. If you really have never heard about the meaning of this song that is. Well done!!‘ love ya guys.

Crowded House, Dont Dream Its Over!! You need to do it . Very important song that musicians like Mic Fleetwood and Dave Mustaine have spoke about and love. Crowded House Dont Dream Its Over!!

Wow with this and many Tool songs I actually start shedding tears at some point into the song. Maynard hits me so hard.

I always took the "my blood" line as being a reference to self injury. A reminder that love and openness is the path to healing from the kind of pain that makes that kind of outlet necessary.

This is probably my favorite song off of this album! It’s so good and a bit overlooked By people I feel like

Iron Maiden - Phantom of the Opera (or something off of their first two albums with their original lead singer - Di'Anno)

Thanks for all the Tool reactions. Watching you crazy kids react. Sori just rocks! She wants you to feel this song. Peace. Stephen

Thank you for making me revisit this song. The first time I heard it I was a teenager and English is not my native language, so I didn't fully understand Tool songs, but now that I am adult and with your knowledge, I can totally enjoy Tool.

The great thing about music as you can make your own interpretation and make it personal to yourself. There are no "right" answers.

Sori, not every song is about a "boyfriend + girlfriend" type of relationship......

Complete my RU-vid existence, Vin and Sori Portal - Curtain

Can’t help but always having a Toolgasm when listening to that intro, Tool makes me take extra long trips to the store.

Novembers Doom - Autumn Reflection 6 full months over 365!

This song reminds me to be loving, even if it's just toward a friend or family member. Every person in our lives is an opportunity to "die" again and be reborn as a kinder being. I guess it's a bigbigbigbig deal when you have a child, but I am not at that stage of my life yet.

Beautiful mind Vin👌👍got that spot on

Still my favorite Tool album. Granted, I was 14 it hit me at the right time...but it's a GREAT album!!!!!

This song is sooo underrated. I was hypnotized first time I heard it!

Love watching you both try to nail this down..This is exactly what MJK wanted, I think..anyway..the guy is truly an enigma, yet an open book.

Cool you would review this song today i’ve been listening to it and vibing off it today

It amazes me that if you send an instrumental track to someone & this is what that person feels shares & voices.

I used to warm up for practice with this song when I first started learning bass guitar. And then seeing Tool for the first time at Lollapalooza 97. So many great memories.

The song is about choices and people who mean good by helping you with these choices, but end up being poison for you. so you have to sometimes only listen to yourself.

Listening to the discussion regarding Maynard's childhood, all i could think was read his biography, it's a great read. "A Perfect Union of Contrary Things"

Your pretty on it dude! I love you dude..your tuned into this!

3 more days til TOOL and my brothers birthday celebration. It will be our 11th time seeing TOOL, only 3rd time together. We’re headed to see them after his small family wedding party. 🎈 🎉❤ Good Christian family.

Anathema- Internal Landscapes Anathema- Dreaming Light official video with the two girls Anathema- Untouchable live from Bulgaria Anathema- Flying live from Bulgaria An Amazing band that needs to done.

Vin, it's Chris Beckerle one of your OG Tool subscribers, if you got the meaning of this song with no research, damn man, salute, you are even better at this then I thought.

This song is about struggling having a kid after having a bad childhood

Love these 2 what an awesome couple Vin was spot on on this

My take on the song is its about his son and his son's mother, and his life as a rock star, always on the road and the temptations. The abuse angle works too though. H and 46 & 2 are my favorite songs on this album.

I love your channel a lot. You're very great.

First time hearing H? Forget living under a rock, more like a mountain of rubble

Reminds me of the movie White Men Can’t Jump. Something about listening to Jimi Hendrix. You can’t just hear Jimi. You have to listen to him. TOOL is the same way. You have to listen and not just hear it to get a full appreciation of the music and lyrics

the bridge that starts at 4:16 is my favorite moment on the entire AEnima album

Wow, this whole time I thought this was about heroin. Maynard's take on his contemporaries falling to its grasp time and time again. Looking at the lyrics through that lens, it very strongly reminds me of the struggles of an addict. I can get more in depth if anyone is curious.

This song touches on multiple levels. This song touches on him being having Devo, his son, him facing his own suppressed issues(albeit due to realizing that he needs to fully grow up) & even the regards of the relationship with the mother of Devo. This isn't a one-note topic song. The bleed before him regard speaks upon both the birth of Devo & the sense of seeing what could be his own blood if he were to have turned out how statistics generally say that he should've been. Not to mention the yearning of what he felt for Devo's mother, but was half-afraid to completely reveal & give himself to her. So, it isn't just about one point. Not to mention that Maynard has H. as the middle initial of his own real name & Devo's name. Titling it as H. is him facing the fact of seeing a sort of younger version of himself & knowing all that he endured through. The means of him caring about Devo's mother is interplayed within their, too. "Considerately killing me" is stated for his shell cracking for the mother & completely coming off for Devo. It, in a sense, killed whom he created himself to semi-falsely be. It killed him & made him more focused, more real + more true to who he really is. Not just that, but for the basis of that, he doesn't mind doing such. So, proverbally, you can even say that him screaming "I Don't Mind" is him absolutely breaking of the shell to be the better version of himself, willingly.

I'm always so impressed with how Vin can pick up on these themes so quickly.

What do you mean hearing for the first time? Didnt you guys listen to the whole album a few days ago?

I Won't See You Tonight Part 2 by Avenged Sevenfold

I thinks it's basically about the residue of the effect adults behaviour have on children, good or bad. And the desperate need to sever those feelings/ties to be whole. And the fear that it's not possible to break that cycle. Sometimes even the best intentions by adults can negatively impact a child into adulthood.

its funny how on point Vin is, and how completely off Sori is and how much she's arguing the point lol, its entertaining

Great to see other Reaction Channels doing Tool 2018 Tool Army member here

The first two Tool albums are awesome! This band has some talent. When I heard this for the first time over 20 years ago, I thought to myself, "Wow...we have a band that has created a unique sound that will last for decades"....I guess that worked!

Please, do King Diamond - "Abigail" full album reaction/review. It's a great horror story you've to finish and hear from beginning to end. Their "Songs for the Dead Live" DVD/Bluray/Digital is now available! It contains the "Abigial" album in its entirety. As a matter of fact twice; two very different live performances to choose from (Philadelphia's Fillmore 2015 and Graspop Metal Meeting 2016). King is 62 years, but still hits those high-pitched falsetto notes he's known for. If you’ve a chance, please go and see the release party. That would make an awesome video! For more information check this link: www.metalblade.com/us/news/king-diamond-announces-nyc-release-party-for-songs-for-the-dead-live/

Im too glad watching this ♡ Hugs from argentina

The song is called H. H is a common street name for heroin. This song has always been interpreted as getting over heroin addiction to me.

Just want to give a quick shout out to Adam Jones, drummer of Tool. Dude is phenomenal!!!!

Love how you guys head bobbed the entire song!

This song... 🔥🔥🔥

Holy fuck I can’t believe Vin got the meaning immediately. Every single bit of it. So impressive. You sure you didn’t cheat?

Reaction Tool - Vicarious

Missed opportunities this week, not to mention many more since the beginning of the year as well: Mark Reale (Riot) - died 1-25-12 Demis Roussos (Aphrodite's Child) - died 1-25-15, their 1972 album, 666, is a concept album based on the Book of Revelation. James Stewart Bain (Rainbow/Dio/Gary Moore) - There are conflicting dates of his death. It's 1-23-16, or 1-24-16. Claude Hudson "Butch" Trucks (The Allman Brothers Band) - died 1-24-17

guys you both are right, there is even the theory that marks this song is about Heroin, another theory says this song is about the cruel past of maynard's infancy and nevertheless the song is about "relationships" father-son, lovers, drugs, and everything all you can make a relation with, no matter the object.

This is the song that made me fall in love with tool. Maynards versatility in full display.

There is something to be said about intelligently written lyrics, through poetry and music, tristes and analogues that explain one thing as the forefront, but ask to be internalized, and made the reader/listener's own. I love Tool and System in equal, but, whereas system is a band that is almost always expressing how they want their message interpreted, tool, and especially Maynard asks you to self reflect on the lyrics and the music, to find your own meaning. We want to feel close to the artists we revile in, and we find ourselves in the best of it/them. That is what art does when art is done best... We find meaning for ourselves because we can, because we need it, nd it helps to fill the gaps that our static construct of reality can't do without exterior context. I look, and the horizon is... so I choose the road less travelled...

Vin hit the nail on the head!

Still just chillin waiting for “Say Hello to Heaven”

Have you been informed that it's about his son yet? LOL Basically what Vin is saying.... I interpret it as: His son is taking away the pain of his past and giving him hope for the future. But at the same time he is making him a "softer" and more vulnerable man (considerately killing me).

H. Is the name given to the main character in the CS Lewis novel “A Grief Observed”. Where he battled with God and grieved over the passing of his wife. He fought and challenged God to justify the enormous loss in his life. Jeopardizing his faith, challenging his belief system, because of the closeness he had with his wife for such a long time. But wouldn’t submit and reject his faith, regardless of his faith. He submits to God on this situation. CS’ wife’s name was Helen Joy Davidson. And he penned the book under another name using the main characters name as H (the person being grieved over). Picture a person alone after losing the love of their life and having an argument with God about justifying this loss. And God justifying it to the point you submit to His will. He knew the anger was wrong, vs God for the loss. But he couldn’t help it. Ultimately he accepts it and try’s to move on. Maynards lyrics on multiple songs are comparable to the works of CS Lewis.

Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons Dream Theater - The Count of Tuscany Dream Theater - The Spirit Carries On (live) Dream Theater - The Dance of Eternity (live)

The nice thing about tool songs is that it means whatever you need it to mean.

Been waiting for this one

The song is about the angel and the devil on your shoulder. They both want to give you the best advice but it’s ultimately up to you to make the decision. It’s about finding the balance within yourself. It isn’t meant to be specific or taken literally.

Interesting fact that the working title for this song was called "Half Empty." But as usual Vin is mostly right, but like most Tool songs you can interpret the song anyway you want.

The song is about afirmation through love to your child. You need to know what Uroboros snake mean. Also knowing Nietzsche's thought is useful for interpretation of this song.

From what I had read this song refers to two things, the first is Heroine and the second is a girl which name starts by H (Heather or Helen) and that he was dating when he was using heroine. And both the drug and the girl were destructive to him. But the interpretation about the songbeing about his children makes sense too....So, maybe it's both.

Wow, Vin, you sure interpret songs so very very well!

It's about his kid and how he pushed Maynard's transformation

I always saw the snake as a metaphor for temptation. This is positive song about the birth of his son killing his past dark self.

Still my favourite Tool-Album. Memories, oh sweet memories.

H and Reflection by Tool are the only two Tool songs I find 'bizzare' sounding, I can't describe it, but I love them anyway

5:39 Sori's reaction and body posture is spot on!!!

Play this song while looking at HR GIGER'S ART WORK. IT'S THAT otherworldly

You guys really should read his book. I think it would give you some insight to his way of thinking. It's a good read.

mesmerizing reaction wow.. it gets you dont u.. i would love for u to do Godsmack Touche live in Vegas..

Damn, Vin smoked this one. A lot of meanings from different people on this song but the most recognized one is exactly what Vin is mentioning

Spot on Vin. It's about him not wanting to act like his father figures did to him to his son Devo H Keenan

What most people said and what I’ve know so far is that this song is really dedicated to his son when he was born.

These are the reasons I love lunch break. I was like damn though yesterday with eulogy I had to wait till after work.