"Forty Six & 2" is a song by American rock

Rock music

Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 band Tool

Tool (band)

Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...

. It was released as the fourth single from their second album Ænima

Ænima

Ænima is the second studio album by American rock band Tool. The album was released on September 17, 1996 in vinyl format and on October 1, 1996 in Compact Disc format. The album was recorded and cut at Ocean Way, Hollywood, California and The Hook, North Hollywood, California from 1995 to 1996...

in 1997 and received radio airplay. Justin Chancellor

Justin Chancellor

Justin Gunnar Walter Chancellor is an English musician formerly in the band Peach but best known as the bass player for Grammy Award-winning rock band Tool. Chancellor is of Norwegian and English descent...

's bass performance was named the 39th greatest bass

Bass guitar

The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....

 performance by digitaldreamdoor.com affiliate nutsie.com in 2009.

Overview

The promotional single is the only release by Tool that was released on Freeworld Entertainment label, while the label being in business only for a short time. Zoo Entertainment, Tool's label until 1996 was dissolved in early 1997 by its new owners Volcano Entertainment. Following that, Volcano Entertainment was briefly renamed Freeworld Entertainment from sometime late in 1997 until Zomba purchased the company in 1998 and changed the name back to Volcano. Though the label released a number of albums and singles by other artists on its roster, the "Forty Six & 2" promo is the only release featuring Tool.

The song was featured in the trailer for Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The First Avenger is a 2011 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Captain America. It is the fifth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe...

.

Title and theme

The title references an idea first conceived by Drunvalo Melchizedek

Drunvalo Melchizedek

Drunvalo Melchizedek is an author and spiritual teacher, who lives in Sedona, Arizona. Drunvalo completed most of a Basic degree in Physics and Mathematics before switching to a fine arts degree which he was awarded in 1970...

 concerning the possibility of reaching a state of evolution at which the body would have two more than the normal 46 total chromosome

Chromosome

A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...

s and leave a currently disharmonious state. The premise is that humans would deviate from the current state of human DNA

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...

 which contains 44 autosomes and 2 sex chromosomes

Sex-determination system

A sex-determination system is a biological system that determines the development of sexual characteristics in an organism. Most sexual organisms have two sexes. In many cases, sex determination is genetic: males and females have different alleles or even different genes that specify their sexual...

. The next step of evolution would likely result in human DNA being reorganized into 46 and 2 chromosomes, according to Melchizedek.

Furthermore, the song references a wish to experience change through the "shadow

Shadow (psychology)

In Jungian psychology, the shadow or "shadow aspect" is a part of the unconscious mind consisting of repressed weaknesses, shortcomings, and instincts. It is one of the three most recognizable archetypes, the others being the anima and animus and the persona...

"; an idea which represents the parts of one's personality that one hates and fears, which also exists as a recurring theme in the work of Carl Jung

Carl Jung

Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration. Jung is one of the best known researchers in the field of dream analysis and...

.

The song is mostly in 4/4 time with some sections of 7/8 in between. In the intro, Danny Carey plays 4 measures of 7/8 on his ride cymbal over the rest of the band playing in 4/4, and they all meet up on the downbeat of the 5th measure in 4/4. During the bridge there are 3 measures of 7/8 followed by one measure of 4/4, and a brief polyrhythm of 6/8 over 7 in breakdown solo.