tool's sober

I've always thought this video was really creepy and sad. In a way, it's even more creepy with the strings, even though the music is much more beautiful than the original. (Song meaning at the bottom of this comment)

Here are the lyrics:

There's a shadow just behind me,
shrouding every step I take,
making every promise empty,
pointing every finger at me.
Waiting like a stalking butler
who upon the finger rests.
Murder now the path is must we
just because the son has come.

Jesus, won't you fucking whistle
something but the past and done? (x2)

Why can't we not be sober?
I just want to start this over.
Why can't we dream forever?
I just want to start things over.

I am just a worthless liar.
I am just an imbecile.
I will only complicate you.
Trust in me and fall as well.
I will find a center in you.
I will chew it up and leave,
I will work to elevate you
just enough to bring you down.

Mother Mary won't you whisper
something but the past and done. (x2)

Why can't we not be sober?
I Just want to start this over.
Why can't we sleep forever?
I Just want to start things over.

I am just a worthless liar.
I am just an imbecile.
I will only complicate you.
Trust in me and fall as well.
I will find a center in you.
I will chew it up and leave.

Trust me. Trust me. Trust me. Trust me. Trust Me.

Why can't we not be sober?
I Just want to start things over.
Why can't we sleep forever?
I Just want to start this over.

I want what I want.
I want what I want.
I want what I want.
I want what I want.

Here are a few different people's ideas on the meaning of the song:

"Schism has a bunch of meanings, one is peices of a whole breaking apart, and another is a seperation of the church from christ. I think this song is a combination of both meanings."

"in a recent interview on TripleJ with maynard, he explained that it's about a friend of his that is an artist, and he has a drinking problem, but he always creates his greatest paintings when he's completely wasted. So he's taken that idea, that sometimes that the things that society concentrates on as being bad things that we shouldn't do, they can actually have some good points as well, and he's just gone from there.
but like with all Tool songs, there a many different meanings for their tracks, it all depends what you wanna get out of it"

"this song has nothing to do with drinking and/or drugs. Zilch, nada. Get a clue. That would be far to blunt on the part of the artist. This song is a story of love denied. The protagonist is remembering a love from the past. One he still craves. We don't know what happened, but it seems that they were pulled a part by external demands on both of them, "murder now the path called must we". He laments the events that pulled them apart, "why can't we not be sober, I just want to start over". But he still wants the passion he felt with her, "why can't we drink forever, I just want to start things over." He wants to drink from HER, not from a bottle. Wise up.
He blames himself, "I am just a worthless liar...I will find a center in you...I will chew it up in leave.."et al.
He is obsessed by her and seeks resolution, "mother mary won't you whisper, something but what's past and done."
But ultimately, he wants her and would do anything to have her, "Trust me, I want what I want.""

"This song represents the unitarian viewpoint. That at one point all religions were the right one, than, they fell apart. The pieces are now corrupt, molded shadows of the once great temple. This song says if the pieces don't communicate with each other than we are doomed. At least, that is what I hear."