The Pot

About this song

The song follows "10,000 Days" on the same album and is closely tied to it. Maynard changes his vocal style noticeably from the track before it, which suggests a different narrator is speaking.

What it's about

The song criticizes hypocrisy, mainly aimed at the church and the government. It works as a reply to the earlier song's own criticism of hypocrisy, borrowing the idiom "the pot calling the kettle black." It also references Chief Black Kettle of the Cheyenne, pointing to people who killed innocent natives.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 1 other song, like “Flowers for Archibald by Tarbelo”.
• Covered 3 times, including “The Pot by 8-Bit Arcade”.
• Written by Danny Carey, Maynard James Keenan, Justin Chancellor and Adam Jones.
• Produced by Tool.
• Recorded at O'Henry Sound Studios.