The Pot

"The Pot" is a song by the American progressive metal band Tool, released as the opening track on their fourth studio album, 10,000 Days, on May 2, 2006.^[1] Issued as the album's second promotional single in July 2006, the track marked Tool's first number-one hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, where it held the top position for four weeks starting November 25, 2006.^[2][3] The song's success contributed to the album's strong performance, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified double platinum by the RIAA.^[4][5] Lyrically, "The Pot" addresses themes of hypocrisy and the American war on drugs, with frontman Maynard James Keenan employing satire through references to marijuana and the idiom "the pot calling the kettle black."^[6] Guitarist Adam Jones has described the title as a dual nod to the slang term for cannabis and the expression highlighting judgmental double standards.^[6] The track's aggressive, riff-driven composition showcases Tool's signature complex time signatures and polyrhythms, blending heavy metal intensity with progressive elements. In 2008, "The Pot" earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, underscoring its critical acclaim within the rock genre.^[7] The song has since become one of Tool's most enduring live staples, often performed with extended improvisations that highlight the band's technical prowess.^[6]

Background and Production

Album Context

Tool's fourth studio album, 10,000 Days, was released on May 2, 2006, by Volcano Entertainment, marking the band's return after a five-year hiatus since their previous album, Lateralus (2001).^[8][9] This extended break reflected the creative pressures and deliberate pacing characteristic of Tool's approach to artistry, allowing the band to refine their evolving sound within the progressive metal genre.^[9] The album's thematic core revolves around mortality, spirituality, and personal growth, deeply influenced by vocalist Maynard James Keenan's experiences following his mother Judith Marie Keenan's death in 2003 after 27 years of paralysis from a brain aneurysm—an ordeal that the title 10,000 Days symbolically references as approximately 27 years.^[10] Guitarist Adam Jones contributed to the album's artistic explorations through his direction of the innovative packaging, including stereoscopic 3D viewer lenses integrated into the physical edition, drawing from his background in visual effects and fine art to enhance the listener's immersive experience.^[11] Within 10,000 Days, "The Pot" appears as the fifth track, functioning as an energetic opener to the album's second half and exemplifying Tool's signature blend of complex, polyrhythmic structures with pointed social critique in their progressive metal framework.^[12][13]

Recording Process

The recording of "The Pot" occurred as part of the sessions for Tool's album 10,000 Days, primarily at The Loft in Hollywood, California, with additional tracking at O'Henry Sound Studios in Burbank and Grandmaster Recorders in Hollywood.^[14] The main recording took place between August and December 2005, though the band had begun developing material through jam sessions in the preceding years following their Lateralus tour.^[15] Engineer and mixer Joe Barresi handled the technical aspects, utilizing analog tape machines like the Studer A827 with 2-inch Ampex GP9 tape running at 30 ips for capture, before transferring to Pro Tools for editing.^[16] Danny Carey's drumming, featuring intricate polyrhythms and syncopated grooves in 4/4 time, emerged from collaborative jam sessions among the band members, providing the track's rhythmic foundation with his expansive kit augmented by electronic Mandala pads for triggered percussion elements.^[16] Adam Jones contributed layered guitar riffs, employing multiple amplifiers such as Marshall, Diezel, and Mesa Boogie setups with custom effects like his Barge Concepts crossfade pedal to add texture and depth.^[16] Justin Chancellor's bass lines established the song's driving groove, recorded using a combination of direct injection and miked amplifiers for clean and distorted tones to support the rhythmic complexity.^[16] Maynard James Keenan's vocals were tracked last at Grandmaster Recorders using a Soundelux tube condenser microphone, allowing for integration with the completed instrumental bed and experimental techniques like occasional distortion via an SM57.^[16] Production decisions emphasized analog warmth and intensity, including heavy compression on the drums to achieve a punchy, cohesive sound and the incorporation of ambient elements derived from room acoustics and tape saturation.^[16] A notable choice for the track's intro was intentional tape print-through, creating a natural pre-echo effect without digital manipulation, enhancing the song's eerie atmosphere.^[15] The composition is credited to all four band members—Danny Carey, Justin Chancellor, Adam Jones, and Maynard James Keenan—reflecting their collective songwriting process.^[14]

Musical Composition

Structure and Style

"The Pot" runs for 6 minutes and 22 seconds and employs a classic intro-verse-chorus-bridge-outro structure, augmented by irregular phrasing that imparts a sense of unpredictability to its progression.^[17] The track maintains a primary 4/4 time signature at approximately 107 beats per minute, fostering a steady, propulsive momentum, though it incorporates shifts to odd meters such as 9/8, 3/4, and 5/4 particularly in the bridge section, heightening the progressive complexity.^[17][18] These elements enable dynamic contrasts, with subdued, atmospheric verses escalating into powerful, explosive choruses that amplify the song's intensity and emotional arc.^[18] In terms of style, "The Pot" fuses the raw aggression of heavy metal with psychedelic undertones, evident in its syncopated grooves and layered textures, setting it apart from Tool's earlier output on albums like Undertow, which leaned more toward ambient alternative metal explorations.^[19]

Instrumentation

In "The Pot," Adam Jones delivers down-tuned riffs that form the song's aggressive foundation, utilizing a drop D tuning to achieve a heavier, resonant tone characteristic of Tool's progressive metal sound.^[20] His playing incorporates wah-wah effects via a Cry Baby pedal for dynamic phrasing and artificial harmonics to introduce ethereal texture amid the riffing.^[21] Jones' signal chain routes through multiple amplifiers, including Diezel VH4 and Mesa Boogie models, captured with Shure SM57 and Sennheiser MD 421 microphones for a layered, aggressive guitar presence.^[16] Justin Chancellor's bass lines feature syncopated rhythms that interlock tightly with the drums, creating a propulsive undercurrent through off-beat accents and melodic phrasing.^[22] He employs an octave-up effect via the Digitech Bass Whammy pedal to add harmonic richness, particularly in the song's breakdown sections, while tracking clean and overdriven signals separately through Gallien-Krueger heads and Mesa Boogie cabinets.^[23][16] Danny Carey's drumming features a propulsive 4/4 groove with syncopated rhythms and intricate double-bass patterns that drive the track's momentum, blending acoustic kit elements with electronic percussion triggered by Mandala pads for added complexity.^[18] His fills incorporate mixed subdivisions and rapid bass drum ostinatos, captured via an extensive close-miking setup including top and bottom tom mics, multiple overheads, and room microphones to preserve the kit's spatial dynamics.^[24][16] Maynard James Keenan's vocal performance alternates between multi-layered screams and clean, melodic delivery, with distorted screams achieved through parallel miking using a Soundelux tube condenser and an SM57 for aggressive edge.^[16] Reverb effects provide spatial emphasis and atmospheric depth to his phrasing, often layered for a choral intensity that complements the instrumentation.^[16]

Lyrics and Themes

Lyrical Analysis

The lyrics of "The Pot" were written by Maynard James Keenan, Tool's lead vocalist and primary lyricist, in collaboration with the band members Danny Carey, Justin Chancellor, and Adam Jones.^[25] The song follows a structured format consisting of two verses, repeating pre-choruses, choruses, a bridge, and an outro, which builds a rhythmic repetition to underscore the central accusations.^[1] Key phrases such as "Who are you to wave your finger? / You must have been out your head" open the first verse, establishing a confrontational stance, while the title directly evokes the idiom "the pot calling the kettle black," symbolizing hypocritical judgment without explicitly stating it in the text.^[1] The rhyme scheme highlights irony through consistent end-rhymes and internal repetitions, such as the echoed "high" in the pre-chorus ("You must have been high / You must have been high") and the chorus's pairing of "ass" with "out, boy," which reinforces the song's mocking tone.^[1] The narrative flows progressively from broad accusations of deception and self-righteousness in the initial verses—evident in lines like "Rob the grave to snow the cradle / Then burn the evidence down"—to a climactic condemnation in the bridge, where imagery like "weeping shades of cozened indigo" and "pissed all over my black kettle" intensifies the rebuke of hypocrisy.^[1] Keenan's vocal delivery aligns closely with the lyrical content, employing aggressive shouts during the chorus to amplify the sense of outrage, as the repeated "Foot in mouth and head up ass-hole / What you talkin' 'bout?" demands emphatic delivery. The musical builds in intensity further enhance this vocal impact, creating peaks that sync with the escalating rhetoric.^[26] For a detailed examination, the full lyrics are as follows: [Verse 1]
Who are you to wave your finger?
You must've been out your head
Eyeball deep in muddy waters
You practically raised the dead Rob the grave to snow the cradle
Then burn the evidence down
Soapbox, house of cards and glass
So don't go tossin' your stones around [Pre-Chorus]
You must have been high
You must have been high
You must have been [Chorus]
Foot in mouth and head up ass-hole
What you talkin' 'bout?
Difficult to dance 'round this one
'Til you pull it out, boy! [Verse 2]
You must have been so high
You must have been so high
Steal, borrow, refer, save your shady inference
Kangaroo done hung the guilty with the innocent [Pre-Chorus]
You must have been high
You must have been high
You must have been [Chorus]
Foot in mouth and head up ass-hole
What you talkin' 'bout?
Difficult to dance 'round this one
'Til you pull it out, boy! [Bridge]
Now! You're weeping shades of cozened indigo
Got lemon juice up in your eye
When you pissed all over my black kettle
You musta been HIGH, HIGH!
When you pissed all over my black kettle
You musta been! [Verse 3]
So who are you to wave your finger?
You must've been out your head
Eyeball deep in muddy waters
You practically raised the dead [Pre-Chorus]
You must have been high
You must have been high
You must have been [Chorus]
Foot in mouth and head up ass-hole
What you talkin' 'bout?
Difficult to dance 'round this one
'Til you pull it out, boy! [Outro]
Pull it out, boy!
Pull it out, boy!
Pull it out, boy!
Pull it out, boy!
(repeated and fading out)

Cultural Commentary

The song "The Pot" employs the idiom "the pot calling the kettle black" as a central metaphor for hypocrisy, particularly targeting authority figures who denounce behaviors they themselves exhibit. Guitarist Adam Jones explained in a 2006 interview that the title directly references this expression, tying it to lyrics challenging judgmental attitudes, such as questioning one's right to "wave your finger."^[27] This critique extends to police and politicians enforcing the War on Drugs, portraying them as hypocritical enforcers who criminalize drug use amid their own ethical lapses. Lines like "Kangaroo done hung the guilty with the innocent" evoke abuses of power, including miscarriages of justice and institutional corruption, highlighting how such authorities project blame to maintain control. The line "You practically raised the dead" alludes to Chief Black Kettle, referencing the Sand Creek Massacre and historical government hypocrisy toward Native Americans. A 2008 academic thesis on Maynard James Keenan's lyrics interprets these elements as a disdain for deceitful societal structures and manipulative leaders.^[28] Set against the 2000s U.S. political landscape, the track satirizes drug policies intensified during the post-9/11 era, when national security rhetoric amplified crackdowns on personal freedoms. Vocalist Maynard James Keenan's intent, drawn from collaborative band discussions on relatable societal flaws, frames the song as pointed social satire, as confirmed in group interviews emphasizing perspective-shifting critiques.^[27]

Release and Promotion

Single Release

"The Pot" was released as the second single from Tool's fourth studio album, 10,000 Days, following "Vicarious".^[13] Issued by Volcano Entertainment, the track served primarily as a promotional single targeted at rock radio stations, with initial airplay beginning shortly after the album's launch on May 2, 2006.^[19] This timing helped sustain interest in the album during its early commercial run.^[29] The single was distributed in limited formats, including digital download and promotional CDs containing only the album version of the song.^[30] No commercial physical single featuring B-sides was produced, aligning with Tool's typical approach to releases that emphasized album cohesion over standalone singles.^[30] The promotional CDs, pressed by Volcano and its distributors, were sent to radio outlets and industry contacts in 2006.^[31] The track listing consisted solely of "The Pot," clocking in at 5:21, with no remixes or additional versions included in the official single release.^[12] This straightforward presentation focused on the core composition, which debuted on digital platforms alongside the full album.^[12]

Marketing Strategies

The promotional rollout for "The Pot" emphasized radio airplay as a primary vehicle for exposure, with the song debuting on the Billboard Active Rock chart on August 5, 2006, and climbing steadily through the summer.^[32] It achieved Tool's first number-one position on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in November 2006, holding the top spot for four weeks and demonstrating the effectiveness of targeted rock radio adds in building momentum. Digital promotion played a key role, with the track available via iTunes as part of the full 10,000 Days album download starting from its May 2, 2006, release date, allowing fans immediate access and encouraging streaming and purchase integration with the band's website for exclusive content.^[12] Cross-promotion extended to the music video, which premiered on channels like MTV2 and Fuse in 2006, leveraging visual media to amplify the song's reach among rock audiences before its wider digital availability.^[33] Consistent with Tool's longstanding approach, the marketing for "The Pot" maintained a limited media presence, avoiding traditional interviews and press junkets in favor of organic fan-driven word-of-mouth and synergy with the band's extensive 2006-2007 world tour, where the song became a live staple to foster direct audience connection.^[34]

Music Video

Production Details

The music video for "The Pot" was not officially produced by Tool, as the band did not release an official visual accompaniment for the single. Instead, a fan-made edit syncing the song to the 1966 French animated short film Les Escargots (The Snails), directed by René Laloux and animated by Roland Topor, has become the most widely recognized and adopted version among fans since the song's single release in July 2006. This fan video has garnered over 50 million views on YouTube as of 2025.^{[6][35][36][37]} The underlying short film was produced using cut-out animation techniques over a period of several months, featuring custom paper cutouts for characters and sets to depict a surreal tale of invading snails overwhelming a farmer's garden on a distant planetoid.^[38][39] The collaboration between director René Laloux and artist/animator Roland Topor integrated Topor's distinctive, grotesque illustrations into the visuals, creating a low-budget, DIY-style production that aligned with experimental animation ethos of the era.^[40][41]

Visual Elements and Symbolism

Tool has not released an official music video for "The Pot," though the band has screened custom visuals during live performances of the song since 2017; some fans speculate these may derive from an unreleased video project, but this remains unconfirmed.^[42] However, the most widely associated visual for the song is an unofficial fan edit syncing the track to the 1966 French animated short Les Escargots directed by René Laloux, featuring cut-out animation of giant snails invading and destroying a rural town.^[35] This surreal style, characterized by fluid yet jerky movements of the oversized mollusks, evokes a sense of inevitable doom through grotesque, exaggerated proportions and chaotic destruction. The color palette employs dark, earthy tones—dominated by muted greens, browns, and grays—to heighten an atmosphere of unease and oppression, mirroring the song's critique of hypocrisy.^[37] The central motif of the snails serves as a symbol for the slow, creeping nature of corruption and moral decay, much like the "pot calling the kettle black" idiom, where the seemingly harmless creatures represent officials who hypocritically judge others while embodying the same flaws. The narrative unfolds as an abstract sequence of invasion and breakdown, with the snails methodically overwhelming the townsfolk in a trial-like confrontation of innocence versus overwhelming force, culminating in total chaos that parallels the lyrics' accusatory tone. This interpretation, while fan-driven, has endured as a cultural touchstone for the song's themes due to its alignment with Tool's artistic aesthetic of distortion and revelation.^[35]

Commercial Performance

Chart Success

"The Pot" achieved its greatest commercial success on U.S. rock radio charts, becoming Tool's first number-one hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart, where it held the top position for four weeks beginning November 25, 2006.^[3] The song debuted on the chart dated August 5, 2006, at number 32 and remained on the tally for 28 weeks, demonstrating substantial longevity and consistent airplay within the mainstream rock format.^[43] It also crossed over to alternative radio, peaking at number 5 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.^[3] Internationally, "The Pot" benefited from strong radio airplay in Australia and Canada, contributing to its global rock audience appeal. The track's chart trajectory reflected the album's release timing in May 2006, which facilitated its initial entry onto rock charts that summer.^[3]

Sales and Certifications

"The Pot" was released exclusively as a digital single in July 2006, achieving significant download sales in the United States that contributed to the multi-platinum status of its parent album 10,000 Days. The album has sold over 2 million copies in the U.S., earning a double platinum certification from the RIAA on April 15, 2021.^[44] No physical single format was issued or tracked separately, with sales bundled into the album's total exceeding 2 million units domestically.^[45] By November 2025, "The Pot" had accumulated over 197 million streams on Spotify, reflecting its lasting appeal among listeners.^[46] Although the single did not receive a separate RIAA digital certification for 500,000 units, its performance underscored the shift toward digital consumption in the mid-2000s. Internationally, no certifications were awarded specifically to the single, but 10,000 Days attained platinum status in Canada from Music Canada on May 2, 2006, denoting 100,000 units shipped, and gold certification in the United Kingdom from the BPI for 100,000 units. The track's chart peaks enhanced its visibility, driving further digital engagement and streaming growth.

Critical and Fan Reception

Professional Reviews

Professional reviews of "The Pot" generally praised its musical intensity and lyrical edge within the context of Tool's 2006 album 10,000 Days. The album received generally favorable reviews, with an aggregated Metacritic score of 68 out of 100.^[47]

Audience Response

Fans have expressed strong acclaim for "The Pot" due to its high-energy riff and commentary on hypocrisy, frequently ranking it among Tool's top singles in fan-voted lists.^[48] Vocalist Maynard James Keenan himself recommended the track as an ideal entry point for new listeners, citing its quintessential elements of groove, intricate instrumentation, and soaring vocals that appeal broadly within the fanbase.^[49] This enthusiasm extends to online communities, where supporters highlight its relevance to ongoing social issues like judicial double standards. The song's official audio video on YouTube has amassed approximately 58.7 million views as of November 2025.^[50] Fans often praise the accompanying music video's artistic claymation directed by Adam Jones for its surreal symbolism and technical innovation, though some describe its depictions of violence and dissection as disturbing and off-putting.^[35] In live settings, audiences actively participate through chants and sing-alongs during performances of "The Pot," contributing to its status as a concert staple that energizes crowds.^[51] The track's enduring appeal is evident in streaming platforms, where it has accumulated approximately 55 million Spotify streams as of November 2025, frequently appearing in rock and alternative playlists.^[52] While predominantly celebrated, some fan feedback notes occasional criticisms of the song's explicit lyrical themes—such as references to drug use and vulgarity—which can alienate more casual or conservative listeners seeking less confrontational content.^[53] This audience response echoes the professional reviews' appreciation for its boldness, underscoring the track's polarizing yet impactful role in Tool's catalog.

Live Performances

Debut and Tour History

"The Pot" premiered live during Tool's performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 30, 2006, serving as the opening show for the band's 10,000 Days World Tour.^[54] The track, drawn from the then-upcoming album of the same name, was introduced early in the set following "Stinkfist," alongside the debut of "Jambi."^[54] This debut occurred just prior to the album's release on May 2, 2006. The song quickly became a fixture in Tool's live repertoire throughout the 2006–2007 legs of the 10,000 Days World Tour, appearing in 91 performances across North America, Europe, and Australia.^[55] It remained a staple during select dates on the band's limited 2010 Summer Tour, contributing to a total of over 90 live renditions by the end of that year.^[55] Early live adaptations drew from the studio version's aggressive groove and lyrical themes, adapting the track's structure to fit the band's elaborate visual and lighting production.^[55] After a hiatus from regular touring, "The Pot" reemerged in 2017 during festival and arena shows, its first performances since 2012, and was incorporated into setlists for the 2019 Fear Inoculum Tour as part of the band's preparation for their fifth studio album.^[56] Over time, live versions evolved from condensed arrangements in initial 2006 outings to fuller executions by 2007, emphasizing extended instrumental sections and dynamic shifts.^[55] The song continued to feature in setlists during the 2023–2025 tours, with 27 performances in 2023, 4 in 2024, and 3 in 2025 as of November.^[55]

Notable Performances

One of the earliest and most celebrated live renditions of "The Pot" took place at the Download Festival on June 9, 2006, at Donington Park in Castle Donington, England, during the initial leg of Tool's 10,000 Days tour. The track served as the third song in a high-energy set that showcased new material from the album, and drew widespread praise for the band's commanding stage presence amid a scorching, dust-filled atmosphere.^[57][58] In 2017, Tool revived "The Pot" for the first time in over five years during their North American tour, debuting it on June 7 at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan. Fan-recorded high-definition footage of the performance quickly spread online, amassing significant views and reigniting discussions among the band's dedicated followers about the track's enduring appeal in a live context.^[56][59] The 2022 extension of the Fear Inoculum tour featured "The Pot" as a consistent highlight across arena venues, seamlessly integrated with expansive LED screens that projected hypnotic video elements synchronized to the song's polyrhythms and thematic intensity. Encores during these shows occasionally incorporated acoustic teases of complementary tracks, enhancing the atmospheric transitions and providing fans with intimate contrasts to the full-band ferocity of "The Pot."^[60][61]

Legacy

Influence on Music

"The Pot," as a key track from Tool's 2006 album 10,000 Days, exemplifies the band's progressive metal style through its intricate rhythms and layered lyrics critiquing hypocrisy, influencing subsequent artists in the genre. Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher has cited Tool as an early influence, highlighting their shared emphasis on progressive rock elements that push musical boundaries beyond traditional metal structures.^[62] This rhythmic complexity, evident in the song's syncopated grooves and metric dissonance—where Tool's works exhibit up to 69% large-scale metric dissonance compared to rock averages—has shaped the aesthetic of progressive metal bands like Periphery, which incorporate similar polyrhythmic and thematic depth in exploring personal and societal introspection.^[63] The song's exploration of moral hypocrisy, framed through the idiom "the pot calling the kettle black," resonates in broader discussions of social protest within rock music.^[6] Academic analyses position Tool's dissonance, including in "The Pot," as a tool for conveying transgressive emotions and societal tension, aligning with metal's role in safe expression of dissent.^[64] Tool's visual approach, particularly the animated style of videos accompanying tracks like "Schism" from the same era, contributed to darker stop-motion techniques in metal music videos, expanding narrative possibilities in the genre.^[65] By 2025, "The Pot" appeared in electronic remixes blending its grooves with techno elements, such as the Marksman Remix released in July 2025, while music theory texts reference its polyrhythms and modal dissonance as exemplars of progressive metal innovation.^[64][66]

Covers and Tributes

One notable adaptation of "The Pot" is the 2018 brass band cover by Brass Against, featuring vocalist Sophia Urista on lead, which reimagines the track with prominent saxophone and horn sections for a voluptuous, energetic reinterpretation.^[67] This version highlights the song's rhythmic drive and thematic bite on hypocrisy, earning praise for its orchestral power and live performance potential.^[68] In 2016, progressive metal band No Consequence released a faithful yet intensified cover, preserving the original's complex time signatures while amplifying its aggressive edge.^[69] The same year, Music Box Mania released a whimsical music box rendition on their tribute-style compilation MBM Performs Tool V2, stripping the track to delicate, mechanical chimes that underscore its ironic lyrics in a novel, minimalist form.^[69] Fan tributes abound online, with numerous YouTube acoustic interpretations demonstrating the song's versatility for solo arrangements. For instance, guitarist Sam Westphalen's 2014 guitar-and-percussion cover at the Australian Institute of Music blends fingerstyle techniques with percussive elements, capturing the track's groove in an intimate setting.^[70] Similarly, Ernesto Schnack's solo acoustic version from 2022 rearranges the composition for fingerstyle guitar, emphasizing melodic layers and polyrhythms.^[71] Drum-focused tributes include Meytal Cohen's 2018 cover, which spotlights Danny Carey's intricate patterns through precise isolation and fills.^[72] A standout fan recreation is the 2017 performance by young musicians from the Reformed band, joined by Tool drummer Danny Carey himself, which blends youthful energy with authentic execution and has amassed over 3 million views.^[73] Satirical online videos from the 2010s, such as reaction compilations and skit-style discussions, often riff on the song's anti-hypocrisy message by juxtaposing its lyrics with real-world examples of moral posturing, though these remain informal and niche.^[74] As of 2025, "The Pot" has not received major mainstream covers by prominent artists outside progressive and tribute circles, underscoring its enduring niche appeal within rock and metal communities.