Tool’s “7empest” Lyrics Meaning

“7empest” is a song in which Tool is apparently addressing politicians and those of a similar ilk, as in leaders and masters of public opinion. And the sentiments they are relaying towards them are not favorable. Instead, the band is basically accusing them of misleading the masses. And they make this assertion specifically in regards to a pending “tempest” which is headed their way. And this is what the stylized title of this track actually alludes to.

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Tool's 7empest at Lyrics.org.

A “tempest”, as many of us already know, is a word used to describe a violent storm. However, in this case, Tool is not using the expression literally. Rather they are, once again, referring to the force of some type of pending calamity or judgment.

And lead singer Maynard James Keenan alleges that powerful public figures are well aware that such is about to transpire. However, instead of revealing the truth they, being the liars that they are, opt to “lull” the people “into a dubious state of serenity”. And then, when unfavorable conditions do occur, they act “all surprised”. Not only that, but they go on to feign ignorance while simultaneously deflecting blame unto their predecessors.

But ultimately, Keenan is asserting that the titular “tempest” will be so powerful that these people will be unable to escape its wrath. Basically it will create a harsh situation that they will not able to remedy. Even with their usual solution, which is by uttering misleading words, they still wouldn’t be able to escape the “7empest”.

Nature of the “7empest”

In terms of trying to ascertain the exact nature of the “tempest”, to some extent it reads as if it may be pointing to some type of mass, society-wide catastrophe. But more specifically, it seems as if Maynard is referring to an event that is political in nature. That is to say that the “tempest” sounds like a reckoning of sorts, as in the false statements of politicians cumulatively forming discontent in the masses, which ultimately builds up into a devastating, vengeful force.

Indeed this song may have the intended purpose of serving as Tool’s mouthpiece concerning the relatively-volatile political situation America finds itself in at the time of this song’s release. Or stated differently, the band apparently envisions a day in which untruthful leaders will be inescapably caught in their lies and have to deal with the consequences thereof.

Lyrics of "7empest"

Release Date of “7empest”

Tool released “7empest” as part of their album studio album Fear Inoculum on August 30th, 2019. Both song and album were released through RCA Records in partnership with Volcano Entertainment.

Did Tool release this as a single?

No. Fear Inoculum produced only a single (which is also titled “Fear Inoculum“).

Longest Track on Fear Inoculum

Fear Inoculum is full of tracks which are above-average in length. And “7empest” is actually the lengthiest of them all, coming in at almost 16-minutes long.

Writing Credits for “7empest”

Tool composed “7empest” themselves. Record engineer and producer Joe Barresi handled the production of “7empest”. Joe also produced the entirety of Fear Inoculum (which is Tool’s fifth studio album).

66 Responses

  1. Truth Monster says:

    Jews, this song is about Jews and white genocide

    • Timmy says:

      It could be…others will say it is about Bad Orange Man.

      • Albin0 says:

        Are you serious Timmy xD

      • Ben says:

        …or all the leaders. Putin, Xi Jinping, Netanyahu, Bolsonaro. The people are beginning to wake up. We are the Tempest. It is a song about the end of days for all of humanity. The planet is about to press the reset button and the album closes with birds. If you could invest in any creature making it through, it’d be the birds.

        • Se says:

          Poo-tee-weet? said Kurt Vonnegut in Slaughterhouse V

        • Ash says:

          As someone who has a strong disdain for both the dnc and rnc. They are both equally s**t. This song is definitely referencing Trump but is totally equivalent to the dnc, rnc and media. This country has a much deeper issue that Trump. Tempest reflects that perfectly. When you have Clinton or Trump, or Biden and Trump. Somethings very wrong in this world…..

          • Anonymous says:

            While its true the politicians are broken as we all are…the crux of the matter is the system is broken. There is no choice. Democracy is a farce

          • Anonymous says:

            thats almost every where on the planet

      • Adam says:

        I’m going with bad orange man for sure

        • Ian says:

          Tool is too smart to fall for the lies that the media espouses. This is exactly what they are speaking against in this song. Regardless of who it comes from, they must be held accountable. The media have lied a ton about the President and especially about foreign policy for decades. They also target certain groups in order to distract from the crimes of those they protect and encourage division. What they don’t realize is that people don’t buy it, and all of the animosity of the masses is directed towards the ruling class.

          • IanIsRetarded says:

            That’s just amazingly stupid. The world’s most prolific liar runs the American government…but the song is actually about “teh media”? You need to get outside more. I would buy that the song isn’t specifically about Trump but more the type of man he is and the kinds of oligarchs he surrounds himself with but otherwise you’re out of your mind. If you think Adam Jones, who roomed with Tom Morello in college, would find the current crop of Republicans and their [expletive] Jesus inspiring in any way shape or form you’re out of your [expletive] mind. I mean [expletive] Maynard posted an opinion piece about global warming and the dangers it presents. Trump is the embodiment of “global warming isn’t real cuz I need to make more money” Republicans. It’s amazing watching you guys rationalize this [expletive] day in day out.

          • BNRound 4years says:

            I believe you are exactly right. Yea Trump pukes out some goofy lies but none are big or important. The big lies are coming from the media, MSNBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS. They are the ones that have lulled us into this false sense of serenity. Now that Trump has called them out for what they are, they attack him with lies. Either way, Maynard says in Invincible that the truth never got in his way before now. Political thinking doesn’t usually become clear until you are older and can really understand the truth. It’s why young people in this country are more likely to believe the leftist media and fall for their BS lies.
            There is a big storm coming and it won’t matter who is to blame. Your lives will change.

          • IanisretardedisretardednotIan says:

            Ian is [explicit] and showing classic signs of Trump Derangement Syndrome….seek help man.

          • Anonymous says:

            Maynard has on numerous occasions expressed disdain for Trump. This song is aimed at him and people like him (Putin, Xi, Bolsanaro).

        • Kitty says:

          Absolutely bad orange man.

      • Timmy says:

        Let me me be clear…I don’t view Orange man this way…but many do. And with Lyrics like, “your petulant stench and demenor” pulled straight from CNN talking points about Trump…well, one wonders. Look at Ben below conveniently leaving out such leaders as Trudeau, Merkel, and Macron…yeah…sigh. And further down IanIsRetarded parroting MSM talking points…saying the song isn’t about Media while ignoring Culling Voices which is so obviously about Media lies…well you see where I can understand some people hearing this song and going straight to ORANGE MAN BAD…ORANGE MAN LIAR

        I just hope that Tool weren’t so vapid as to actually mean this by the song…but hey TDS can affect even the greatest bands I suppose. But as with most Tool there is always another layer and another interpretation to be had…mine is certainly not about Orange. A much older liar and threat may be referenced here…deciever chased away, a LONG TIME coming…

        • IanIsRetarded says:

          Hot take bro. It’s like when Led Zeppelin sang about how mean the media was to Nixon. Singing about the end times and global apathy in French totally screams “Donald Trump is lied about by the lamestream media. Glad he left the Paris Accord that was a scam!”

          • Bill says:

            Nonsense. Zeppelin NEVER made political and moral statements, perhaps the lone exception being “That’s The Way”.

          • Don says:

            This may be the dumbest take on a song I’ve ever seen on any song meaning site. Zeppelin backing Nixon? That’s the most delusional thing ever. Trump is what he is. And his misdeeds are coming to fruition. He tried like hell to take over a country, cancel an election on false grounds, and then watched the Capitol building be attacked by his sycophants for 3 hours before saying anything. He could’ve quelled the riot at any time by bringing in the National Guard. But didn’t. Why? Because they were all little trumpers that were doing his misdeeds for him.
            He’s the Tempest we were warned of.

      • Anonymous says:

        Interesting you say that-it may very well be about Trump, yet since it’s release the facts surrounding the Russia collusion hoax demonstrated the shoe was in the other foot! It is actually Hillary, the FBI and DOJ caught in the tempest!

      • Bill says:

        It’s interesting you say that. It very well could be a Val Trump, yet since the songs release we now have overwhelming evidence-Declassified evidence, that is , that the Russian collusion hoax was actually perpetrated by the accusers-I.e. Hillary, the FBI and DOJ Under Barry Obozo! The shoe is on the other foot!
        Oh, how the worm turns! It was all a deep state coup to rid us of bad orange man-a duly elected president who has helped to bring peace to the Middle East and has indeed delivered on most of his promises to the American people!

      • Wssh says:

        7 is the holy number.
        A tempest being a violent windy storm, this is about being judged by God after repenting falsely. Then trying to say you did your best. You incur the wrath of God. A tempest must be just that. Woe to those who say peace and safety, for calamity shall befall them.

    • Keith A Stahl says:

      Jews? Really? Without a doubt you subscribe to the white identity push lead by Trumpfski’s master Putin. Also known as white supremacy, fascism, alt right, basically [expletive] but too chicken [explicit] to admit it.

    • Anonymous says:

      South poles, all planets system wide. Today vs just 10 years ago or so. That is our event. Apparently coming from below the orbital plain.

    • Some unimportant guy says:

      Really? I thought it was about China and the CCP.

  2. Brian says:

    I agree with Adam. Bad lying orange man.

    • Phoenix says:

      You’re gonna happen again, that’s what I think. (Re-election)Blame it all on the [expletive] when you’re blowin out (tweeting) of course its about Trump. No brainer. So was much of APC Eat The Elephant.

  3. Natalie says:

    Big Bad orange Cheato Christ, Stupid Czar for sure

    • Truth Monster says:

      oh please, do you really think TOOL are dumb enough to go along with the Goldman Sachs McWalmart narrative about diversity/inclusion? Did you listen to descending? Any talk about Trump is just a way to appease the labels, the lyrics speak for themselves

      • Natalie says:

        I know Maynard is liberal and has had some choice words and opinions about Trump. However, I don’t think Tool would dedicate any song to him specifically.. and would not attempt to speak to there political views. Their songs are more about us looking deep inside to make the change that is necessary to all live in peace and harmony. But when it comes to Orange man, there are so many factors contributing to the lies and perpetuation of them. You cannot deny the lies – I mean the sharpie thing was just so [expletive] stupid. All he cares about is proving his original statement was true rather than focusing on the devastation and need for relief.. he is an ignoramus! And, now the cancellation of primaries in republican heavy states? Where is the democracy? It’s a [expletive] show waiting for a [expletive] storm. I hope we see a brighter future in 2020 and get someone in there who doesn’t incite hate and racism with his off the cuff comments that no one is supposed to take seriously – but he IS the president and his followers take what he says to heart. Hence, more mass shootings than ever before. He has no apologies, no remorse, no soul. He’s only about saving face and an ugly one at that!

  4. Jerry Smith says:

    I believe there will be a time when leaders of the world will not be able to walk the streets. If we all knew of the true crimes against humanity from the elite and politicians we would take our world back yesterday. It’s a great awakening far over due

  5. Wikid says:

    Anyone know when the lyrics were written? Perhaps with that information one could make a better assertion as to whether the song is directed towards an individual, or group of people. I side with the latter. Tool has always been about encouraging listeners to question…everything. Maynard once remarked that his lyrics are meant to be interpreted by the listener, as a result many opinions will be developed about the meanings. And that is exactly what he intended!
    On a side note, if you immediately assume he is referencing the current President, then perhaps you should consider how the media has programmed you to be a mindless follower waiting on your knees for their next command. \m/

    • Sheffy7 says:

      I don’t need the media to program me about anything, least of all Donald Trump. Trump Is a liar. And Trump IS an egomaniac to such a high level that I’m not sure even he knows when he’s lying anymore. He has for so long lived inside his narcissistic billionaire bubble that he doesn’t live in reality. He makes up his own reality which is one that is ALWAYS about HIM. He’s a piece of [expletive] through and through. The liberal media doesn’t have to make up anything about him. All they have to do is let him talk. But yes, even if he was a saint they still wouldn’t want him in office. Just like the Right wouldn’t want any Dem in office. It’s a broken system with King [expletive] on top. I don’t think the song is solely about Trump. But you can bet your behind it’s partly about him.

      • ToolFist says:

        What has he lied about? Further more, which politician do you know that hasn’t lied?? Trump has actually done pretty much every single thing he campaigned on, or at least has tried to. Trump has called more people out on their BS than any other politician in the history of this country, and it’s refreshing. Trump Derangement Syndrome is very real and there are several in this comment section that are infected. I especially love it when people try to argue morals out of one side of their mouth while screaming “F Trump” out of the other, as if them and democrat politicians are some kind of moral superiors to everyone.

  6. Wallace says:

    I thought the song was about condemning ‘the tempest’ to being ‘the tempest’. The point being that by defining someone as such, they become it even if they truly are not. The song being told from the perspective of the condemner, “you’re going to happen again, that’s what I think”. The spelling of the song showing that 7empest vs tempest, its in the perception. 7empest is not tempest. And perhaps the subject isn’t either, but you are told so by the speaker, who may ironically be the true tempest. “victim of your certainty, and therefore your doubts not an option, blameless, the tempest will be just that” sounds like it could be about themselves in this very song. The song opens saying to not blink at the lightning. In this interpretation meaning to be commanded to go against human nature, perhaps even after the fact, then judged poorly because of it just because it fits the narrative of the speaker.

    Tool tends to write songs to have multiple meanings, typically a more obvious one then other ambivalent ones. Part of why they are so incredible, many people can connect to the song in different ways. I think the political implications is the obvious first take most would have, but after 13 years, more depth is possible if not likely.

    • Wallace says:

      Also 7 is typically a ‘holy’ number. So 7empest could be interpreted as label of the speaker, being someone ‘holier than thou’ doing exactly what they condemning. 🙂 best band EVER.

  7. DANKXI says:

    Eye on the TV, cause tragedy thrills me.

    There you go.

  8. Neal says:

    The arrogance required to assume what this song about is exactly what this song is about

  9. DJ says:

    empest – transitive verb
    em·​pest | \ ə̇m, em+\
    -ed/-ing/-s
    Definition of empest
    : to infect with or as if with a contagion

    The dictionary is our friend…

    • SYZ says:

      Good catch! So really “Tempest” is 7 Empest (inflict with contagion) which takes us back to the first track fear inoculum which is about breathing out contagion. Couple that with the song “recusant ad Infinitum” which is the video that comes with the physical cd which is essentially an endless loop. The concept of the album emerges.

  10. Jigs says:

    Tempest in a teapot or Storm on a teacup.
    You have all fallen for it.
    Making a big deal out of nothing.

  11. L says:

    The song is about Shakespeare’s work “The Tempest”.

    • Rin says:

      I’ve thought about this too but not the entire song per say. Just the title meaning, our last major performance. The farewell.

  12. Tim says:

    This is probably my favorite song on this album, but so close to Descending and Invincible. I’ve loved seeing that Maynard doesn’t want to spoon feed the meaning of the coming Tempest. It’s ironic for me in that I’ve been on a ruthless terror to uncover hidden truths from my upbringing. Then I found the books of Enoch. Talk about describing the entire history of man. The parallels between the books of Enoch and Tool songs is fascinating to me and so many gifts ready to be experienced. Much respect for Tool and this amazing song.

    1 “And those men took me and led me up on to the second heaven, and showed me darkness, greater than earthly darkness, and there I saw prisoners hanging, watched, awaiting the great and boundless judgment, and these angels were dark-looking, more than earthly darkness, and incessantly making weeping through all hours.”

    2 Enoch 7:1

    1 “And those two men led me up on to the Northern side, and showed me there a very terrible place, and there were all manner of tortures in that place: cruel darkness and unillumined gloom, and there is no light there, but murky fire constantly flaming aloft, and there is a fiery river coming forth, and that whole place is everywhere fire, and everywhere there is frost and ice, thirst and shivering, while the bonds are very cruel, and the angels fearful and merciless, bearing angry weapons, merciless torture, and I said:

    2 “Woe, woe, how very terrible is this place.”

    3 “And those men said to me: This place, O Enoch, is prepared for those who dishonour God, who on earth practice sin against nature, which is child-corruption after the sodomitic fashion, magic-making, enchantments and devilish witchcrafts, and who boast of their wicked deeds, stealing, lies, calumnies, envy, rancour, fornication, murder, and who, accursed, steal the souls of men, who, seeing the poor take away their goods and themselves wax rich, injuring them for other men’s goods; who being able to satisfy the empty, made the hungering to die; being able to clothe, stripped the naked; and who knew not their creator, and bowed to the soulless and lifeless gods, who cannot see nor hear, vain gods, who also built hewn images and bow down to unclean handiwork, for all these is prepared this place among these, for eternal inheritance.”

    2 Enoch 10:1-3

  13. Justin Womack says:

    Same as The Outsider. Narrator is some person leaving little statements in the comment section like their opinion matters or like they can somehow communicate directly to the person, Trump or Hillary, whoever. I believe the song is a commentary on internet culture and fear culture. People see a clip online and feel compelled to comment and share their feelings. Nobody cares about your feelings, your comment changes nothing, wasted energy. Trump is not your enemy, ignorance is.

  14. speck says:

    Maynard’s actual words from an interview recently with Joe Rogan. (Joe Rogan Experience #1326)

    “There’s all this stuff going on in the world, everyone’s divided, and freaking out, and going down the dopamine rabbit hole of clickbait and we can talk about that. I feel like the polarization of everybody, everybody has a position they are taking up this stance, and this cause, and I get that, to feel connected to feel like you are a part of a movement, for injustice or whatever, you know I completely get that you need to do that. But at some point when you start to fighting with your neighbor, you start to lose connection, and I think these things man, these things are a poison in terms of dividing people, and forgetting to have these conversations openly… ”

    If you can’t go 10 minutes without looking at your phone, you are an addict. You have to understand that the actual chemical reaction to your body, to the charge you get on that, and the fact that it is fed by adjusted titles, whatever the headline is, if that’s not getting it, they adjust the headline to see if it gets you now, and then you click on it oh that’s the one, and that is the rat hitting the cocaine button.”

    “…do us all a favor, turn your phone off, turn your computer off, your TV off, and go for a long walk, just go for a long walk somewhere, even if it is the mall or whatever, just go talk to a stranger, and just find out something about them, it doesn’t matter what it is, just find out something about them, have a conversation with them.”

    After talking about how he has wasted a lot of time himself on his phone and computer, Joe asks him if he reads comments, and he says:

    “I try not to, just because people are… they need to have a voice and they need to be identified, and there are a lot of mean spirited things out there and I feel like, the world we’re living in right now there is so much back and forth, and there is so much posturing and there’s so much disconnected disconnected disconnected behavior that we really just need people to reconnect with their loved ones, especially in your community cause as things are progressing in the world, the population and the climate change, which I believe are, there’s some stuff coming, you need to reconnect with people.”

    Joe then asks him if he thinks the shit will hit the fan.

    “Yeah I do.”

    He then says that based on the things he has seen and heard, we have about 400 years left before we’re done. That made me think of this song.

    (I edited any cursing out).

  15. speck says:

    Adam Jones from a recent interview:

    “There is a song called Tempest where I do a 4 and a half minute solo in, and it was really a crazy song to write because it’s 3 rounds of 7, it’s 21, it is a riff in 21…”

    Later the guy asks him what’s the name of the song again, and he answers “Tempest” so the way he pronounces it is with a T. Then he continues:

    “Maynard spelled it with a 7, because we have all 7, kinda weird stuff happening with the record… and just thought it was important…”

    He then continues on to explain the technical details of writing a song in 3 sets of 7, if you want to hear that check out that interview. Adam also tells the whole story of how Tool originally met.

  16. Matt says:

    The first wave of the 7empest has now hit and they call it a pandemic. However, the song is not just about the mendacious politicians and specifically Trump. It’s about us, the masses, or more correctly, the Trumpians, Myrmidons, acolytes, sycophants, enablers and rapacious apologists who put these liars in place (Shame on you – shame on you). And let us not forget Caliban, Shakespeare. Did many not sit by silently while hoping for that advantage instead of shouting the pejoratives we should have. Democracy only works if you have the nads to confute through action. Our inaction laid the groundwork for many deaths, with many more to come.

    • Fleet says:

      I think a lot of people sat by idly because when you have Trump or Clinton, now Trump or Biden, to choose from it feels like there is no “choice”. Trumpians, Clintonians, or Bidenians, they’re all dubious……

  17. Alive and Awake says:

    Great evidence of predictive programming with all of the references to inoculation, contagion, politics, and fear.

  18. twats says:

    Most of these comments are a mix of extreme autism and 60 IQ retard opinions

    It’s not as complex as all these theories from the asperger’s crowd, nor as simple as herp derp it’s about Trump

  19. Anonymous says:

    its be about the corrupt democrats brain washing every human being on earth telling them what is right is wrong and what’s wrong is right, also do as I say not as I do.

  20. Thomas Beaver says:

    I don’t think this is political. To me, it rings of ancient theology and our pending destruction due to our misbehavior and lies. The tempest could be a spirit, or non-human intelligence. “A tempest must be true to its nature. A tempest must be just that.” So the nature reference is to the tempest, not to the one’s whom are to be destroyed. Being lulled in by the non-human intelligences lies of being serene, is an attempt at having us believe that it is not a threat. Letting our guard down and walking to our death without a fight.

    “Follow the evidence
    Look it dead in the eye
    You are darkness
    Trying to lull us in, before the havoc begins
    Into a dubious state of serenity
    Acting all surprised when you’re caught in the lie”

    But, that’s just one way to see it.

  21. Ego says:

    I think this song is about the ego or false self, in all of us, cullingly waiting to crop up to disturb our serenity when we fall asleep to it. Misleading us, thinking it’s coming from outside of us. Ready to blame others for our own mistaken thoughts.

  22. Firefighter Han says:

    It’s about The Clinton’s and their continued coverups about the crime empire

  23. Brain Spotting says:

    This song is about people that stuff their emotions and needs until they explode in a fit of rage or a Tempest.

    Keep calm… keep calm… oh f–k, here we go again.
    We’re not buying your dubious state of serenity… we know your nature.

    “Control your delusion. Insane and striking at random.” Control your emotions until you cannot take it anymore and you explode at a seemingly unrelated event.

    Then they try to apologize for their outburst. “So try as you may, feeble, your attempt to atone. Your words to erase all the damage cannot”

    A Tempest is a violent windy storm.

  24. Chele says:

    James always says that all of his songs are never about one thing. This song is referencing political climate, spiritual reflection, and personal relationships all-in-one.

  25. Single says:

    This song is about my ex, she is the Tempest

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