Invincible

"Invincible" is about Tool themselves, and about making an album in middle age. All but one of the members of the band was in their 50s (bassist Justin Chancellor was 47) when they released Fear Inoculum, and they took 13 years from their previous effort, 10,000 Days. The title of the song is tongue-in-cheek, as the lyrics clearly illustrate a man who is painfully aware of his mortality.

"Invincible" is probably the least ambiguous song on the album. It opens up with a verse about getting old: Long in tooth and soul Longing for another win Lurch into the fray Weapon out and belly in The term "long in the tooth" means that a person is old. It's taken from horses, whose teeth continue to grow throughout their lifetimes. "Longing for another win" expresses the motivations for making a new album, and "belly in" refers to the penchant middle-aged men have of sucking in their expanding paunches. There's another reference to aging with: Tears in my eyes, chasing Ponce de León's phantom song Filled with hope, I can taste mythical fountains False hope, perhaps, but the truth never got in my way Before now, feel the sting, feeling time, bearing down Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer who led the first European expedition to Florida in 1513. After his death, the legend rose that he'd been seeking a magical Fountain of Youth, which accounts for the "Invincible" line "I can taste mythical fountains." Before now, feel the sting, feeling time, bearing down Tool's music usually always addresses philosophical matters, esoterica, the quest for spiritual enlightenment, and social/moral commentary. The fact that this song is so nakedly autobiographical and even vulnerable is, in itself, another expression of its theme. James Maynard Keenan is getting old, and he knows it. He's a bit tired, but he's going down swinging. "A warrior struggling to remain relevant" he may be, but the most important part is that he hasn't given up - he's still fighting the good fight.

The song runs 12:44, but is only the third-longest track on the album.