“Fear Inoculum” by Tool
To begin with, an “inoculum” is basically a synonym for a vaccination. So on a metaphorical level, the title (Fear Inoculum) and content of this track is based on the concept of an individual, specifically the singer, vaccinating himself in order to combat fear.
As fans of Tool are already aware of, their music tends to have heavy philosophical and even metaphysical qualities. That is to say that many of their songs, including “Fear Inoculum” at certain points, read almost like religious doctrine. For instance, the titular fear is not necessarily presented as an emotion but rather personified as an entity referred to as “the Deceiver”. Moreover there is a section near the end of the song which fans have described as an incantation, and the piece in its entirety has been likened to a ritual or prayer.
And basically, the goal of Tool’s efforts via this song is the exorcism of fear. This dread seems to not only be directed at other people but also life in general. Or another way of looking at it is the Deceiver inculcating the singer with a sense of anxiety so deep that it is robbing him from enjoying his life. Thus this song serves not only as a rebuking of the Deceiver but also an active exercise on the part of the singer to get rid of him. And since this battle is something that is happening internally, he goes about doing away with this entity via chanting and consciously trying to think more positively.
Conclusively, whereas the singer is relaying his own personal experiences, this song is meant to apply to the listening audience as well. That is to say that listeners are also being encouraged to partake of the “fear inoculum”. Fear being labeled as “the Deceiver” implies that such emotions are based on lies. And the implication is that doing away with such pervasive feelings requires a conscientious effort, with the ultimate goal being to form an “immunity” against fear.
What Tool has said about “Fear Inoculum”
In a 2019 interview the band had with music magazine Revolver, they explained exactly the theme of the album on which “Fear Inoculum” appears. FYI, both this song and its album share the same title.
According to Maynard James Kennan (who is the band’s leader), the theme to him is about the wisdom one derives through the passage of time and “through experience”.
Release Date of “Fear Inoculum”
This song was released by RCA Records alongside Volcano Entertainment on 7 August 2019. It was released as the lead single and title track from Tool’s fifth album. Interestingly enough, “Fear Inoculum” came out as the first new track the band dropped in 13 years.
Duration
“Fear Inoculum”, with a duration of well over 10 minutes, is relatively-lengthy, with the other songs on the album on the album also being of a similar length.
Who wrote “Fear Inoculum”?
“Fear Inoculum” was written by Tool members. The official songwriting credits for this single are:
- Danny Carey
- Justin Chancellor
- Adam Jones
- Maynard James Keenan
And the track was produced by Joe Barresi.
This song is about Trump.
If you think the song is about Trump you need another injection of the inoculant.
If you don’t think it’s about Trump at least a little bit I think you need the shot.
They only think you know is what they sold you!
why would the song be about trump, he’s hardly worth fearing. if you take his money and snatch his wig, he’s a small, insecure mess of a man
You took a song that has nothing to do with politics and made it political. I get it, you don’t like Trump. This song has nothing to do with Trump.
Well said.
it actully is about the clinton legacy.
7empist is specificly about hillary
The song at face value is about the fear of vaccines – people are so afraid of what they MIGHT do that they forget what they actually do.
The key phrase here though, is “face value”. That’s what the lyrics mean literally, almost. One thing we’ve learned from, the real MJK, is that, there is likely a very hidden meaning amongst the literal.
Best example of this is Stinkfist – the song at face value is about fisting, but we all know that it’s not REALLY about that. It’s a facade. A clever metaphor hidden within a sensual act.
I’m still debating what I believe MJK is trying to hide behind the Fear Inoculum (or Fear Vaccination) lyrics. Loving the theories though, but I agree, it’s probably not about Trump (although there is an APC song that I believe could be? Who knows)
Interesting perspective. I think its about many things. But one thing that came to mind was vaccination, and how so much fear is deliberately put in the media over measles, that people run to get inoculated out of fear. But that fear is actually poisoning people, because vaccinations have a dirty secret, in fact many. People need to exorcize the fear of the measles and other “vaccine preventable diseases” which keeps them directly under mind control. I have many more thoughts but this will suffice.
Agreed
Bravo sir
Since you know APC, you should know the song Pet, which speaks of feeding the people with misinformation, and by that keeping the people ignorant, and the fear comes from ignorance, the Covid situation is a proof for that, therefore Tool are saying to protect ourselves from the ignorance, The Knowledge (THE TRUTH) is the “vaccine”.
Imagine going through life being soo butthurt about political disagreements with others that you convince yourself this song is about politics. Trump Derangment Syndrome has affected soo many.
That made me laugh. Thank you! 🙂
Wow! 🤦♂️ It is the deranged
J*rk-off could be about trump.
Yeah I get this Vibe too.
This song is about the writer tryouts by to inoculate his own fear. Kinda get rid of it, by singing and chanting
Ha ha… I guess if you’re afraid of the man… but the President (or past president) is hardly worth fearing. He’s a figurehead. The real, terrifying power lies in congress. Power brokers with no term limits, deeply entrenched power, power networks, and influence unchecked. You really should spend less time focusing on who is President (or not) and take a long look at who is pulling the strings. Start with Schumer. That should rob you of your sleep for a good long time.
This song has much more to do with the 24 hour news cycle and the speed of information. We are bombarded with terrible news every single day of our lives. There are mass shootings, the amazon is burning, and political corruption is abound. Fear is a tool used by the current ruling bodies against the citizens of America. Through fear, many people are paralyzed into a state of inactivity because at base level they fear failure. This song is about converting our idea of fear into something positive. IE, fear is a learning opportunity, not game over. It is okay to be afraid as long as we actually persevere and do something in spite of it. When you take a vaccine (inoculum) you are accepting a pathogen into your body, breaking it down, and developing defenses against it. This mirrors the actions we take when we overcome our fears and act in spite of them.
you are the only one that got this..good job. i cannot even believe the morons above you think this is actually about the ‘danger’ of actual vaccines…..idiocracy pervades….
Nice
They are using fear as part of the vaccine push so the comparison in someways is relevant and fair for someone to associate words …. Like he said media fear porn etc.! So in the words of Manard himself It is about fear /experiences In life and as always he has left the meaning of this song open for interpretation without coming clean on his intention…as usual. So is it about a vaccine yeah probably not but one could easily tie such words to the appropriate time we are in right now! A lot of relative words in that song.
I agree. I always heard “venom in mania” as “them, the media” and always felt this song was a repudiation of the media, and its lies. The “fear Inoculum” is as simple as turning off the main stream media. The whole album speaks to the great awakening.
I grew up in a mostly Christian community. this song makes me remember how a part of that religion says that the other religions are bad. And creates in his followers a blind obedience.
I think the song is about the fact that most people are opening the eyes on the truths of the catholic religion.
I think it’s more of a broad statement. Can be applied to whatever is giving you fear. Musicians tend to do that. So to the guy saying it’s about trump, sure, could apply it there. I don’t. I thought originally it was about building an immunity to something by being exposed to it; not exactly a vaccination in my mind. Like the saying “to beat the beast you must become it”. I do believe it’s spiritual. Many people, especially tool fans, think they’re cut from a different cloth but in reality we’re all more similar than different. We’re deeper perhaps and/or have capabilities to be and I used to take that as “really?, that didn’t make any sense to you? For real?” Basically used to think everyone was stupid, this song makes you kinda realize that that thinking can be detrimental. I shouldn’t be telling others what they should hold high in life
That being said, isolating yourself only further divides us, giving “the deceiver aka the poison” the upper hand. Give people a chance instead of counting them out right away.
This song is about to get rid of a psychopath who concered your life…
If u think this song is about Trump ur an IDIOT. It’ more than that, what our country is turning to, war, power, socialism. My interpretation is fearing what the Demon-cratic is trying to turn us into.
You’re all wrong and right. This song is about fear in general, whatever that may be to you personally, existentially, or whatever.
The fact that so many people have different and passionate interpretations about this song makes me realize that song is a potent artform, like an abstract painting where everyone who sees it, comes away with a different impression.
Coronavirus. The inoculation of an entire race?
Impossible.
Kennan is a modern prophet. We should encourage the way we were and accept that we live to die. Something has to give. Inoculum… If we fear it, life then becomes easier to accept.
Substitute the word “religion” for the word “ contagion” and see what you think. The religulous will of course take it the other way but I will go with the former.
How is this song not more popular right now?
Lol! Did Tool know about covid19 pryor to the pandemic?
Thats what i have always wondered
Do you think that this was the first attempt for mass vaccination with fake pandemic? some recall like 10 attempts, at least. lol, it is related, as we can see with the Covid situation, how easily are people manipulated by fear, so Tool says to protect ourselves from fear, which comes from ignorance.
We found the codex inscriptions. Promote Fear Propaganda so public demands a vaccine. With the Stem Cell “Aborted fetuses” & Nanotech within the vaccines, created cyborg/human hybrid. Make Vacation Mandatory! Roll out with 6G & all vaccinated are now controllable.
Fear is just the unknown. As we age, learn, and experience life we become inoculated from fear. Just in time to die. Maynard gets it. Enjoy the journey, my friends!
It’s about “vaccination” against fear, and since fear comes from the ignorance, and the knowledge (The truth) is the vaccine, if you check a song by A Perfect Circle called Pet, this might make sense.
This song isn’t about Trump bit I think it’s about the time we live in. It’s amataheddon and Trump.plays a part. I believe he and Kushner are the antichrist and beast
I always thought APC’s song pet was about substance abuse and how the drug (substance) has got you by the balls and convinces you that it’s your only friend to go to or fall back on. The boogeyman being friends or family trying to help you, but you can only find peace of mind in your addiction
You are right my friend and “Counting bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums” is kinda like an alternative to the song “Pet” but with political views instead. Y’all just need to listen carefully, and enjoy the songs this great artist makes. And have any of you tried DMT? Well MJK made a song called rosetta stoned and its crazy that you can’t tell if he’s talking about aliens, drugs or spiritual like expiernces which is what DMT is all together in a way.. That’s how Tool’s songs are just like that (DMT), you get the punch line and it’s too freaking hard to explain or describe the trip/song. And once again think of Lateralus, Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind. Just go with it, like every tool song/ dmt trip. Let go and accept. Don’t give into fear or it will inoculate fear inside you. Just my opinion I thought I’d share lmao
I believe that the vaccine is about separation between the faithful to God from those who have chosen to make science as a greater God, which is minipulated by the best of stockholders. The deciever as from the start has always lied that we are capable of being like God. Something all the lawless want all humanity to accept.
M. J. Keenan is a Freemason, (probably others too, as the vast majority of musicians, actors, authors or celebrities) so he (and they) have the knowledge of what is really going on in this world. The truth. The level of mind control via different technologies is beyond comprehension. It is time to start searching the true knowledge. We have been lied since ancient times easily just by controlling information and knowledge. And keeping people in fear and ignorant. Most conspiracy theories are true. Turn everything upside down and things are starting to make sense. People are so brainwashed that they are not even aware of that. Luckily people are awakening more and more all the time, insiders have been warning humanity for decades. Everything is connected, there are no random events because behind is always the same people, same organizations. Those who speak, or try to, will be eliminated. Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington couldn’t make it.
We see the world not as it is, but as we are.
Everybody here speculating what the song may infer and there’s an actual quote from Maynard in the article. And the Trump implication is as absurd as the cult of personality he personifies.