| | So, back again, with yet another installment of my interpertations of System's music. Crowd: Cheerrrr. This time, I tackle Toxicity, which some fans consider their best work(perhaps, depends on what you expect from System).
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1.Prison Song
Serj summarized the song very well in this interview:
It's about mandatory minimum sentences and the drug policy that this country harbors, utilizing it for its own globalist purposes. The drug war shouldn't be waged in Columbia or anywhere else in the world, it should be waged on our borders. We are the biggest drug-using nation, and if we can't stop it from coming into our borders, we have no right to go and mess with other people's countries and crops and what-not. And set up puppet regimes to give us what we want.
The true matter-of-fact reason for the drug war is to fund things that Congress will not fund in foreign policy, that the administration wants to achieve. We all know that. We've seen the [San Jose] Mercury [News] reports--I think it was they who first released the CIA's importing cocaine from Argentina and some other nations. [Ed. note: That controversial 1996 story did not report a concrete link between the CIA and the cocaine trade, but strongly implied a connection. Click here for some background.] We've all seen this many times. Our security forces, if you want to call them that, have been caught with white powder in their hands, importing it themselves, and that's very sad.
But you've got to think of when the drug problem started in the first place. It started in the '60s, not because of the freedom movement or the rights movements. It started in the '60s in the ghettos as a form of oppression, when the police were going and shooting around the Black Panthers offices, when they needed something like drugs to make people ... numb. So I think the administration has been very complicit in the drug problem. In my opinion, they partially created it.
2.Needles
I think Needles is about an ordinary man that does the same thing everyday. Sleep, Work, Eat, Sleep. But he doesn't feel good about it and wants to get out of the system. In this song the tapeworm is the system that holds him down. This man is waiting for the tapeworm to come out. And if he's ever going to be free of the system. He's waiting for the system to let him go and consume someone else. SOAD is trying to reach out to the "system-people" that live by the rules of the system. The sentence "My tapeworm tells me what to do / where to go" is the system keeping him in and telling him what to do. With these words: "Pull the tapeworm out of your ass" SOAD tries to get the people pull the system out of themselves. Pull the tapeworm out of me is a cry for help from this system-man. He wants to be freed by someone, he wants the tapeworm pulled out of him.
Cause you,
My tapeworm tells me what to do,
You,
My tapeworm tells me where to go,
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, Hey [4x]
Pull the tapeworm out of me?
I'm just sitting in my room,
With a needle in my hand,
Just waiting for the tomb,
Of some old dying man,
This piece of lyric reflects the system-man when he's old and gray. He's old and lived his live like the system wanted it to be. He wasted his live and knows it deep inside. He's sitting in his room with a needle to inject himself with the medicine he needs and he's waiting for the grave.
OR, It could be that “Needles” is talking about drugs. Like, when it say’s, “I’m sitting in my room, with a needle in my hand…” he’s talking about heroin or some sort of other needle drug. And when he’s talking about the parasite, he means the craving people try to overcome, the addiction. Other examples are, “I, cannot disguise, all the stomach pains, and the walking of the (Pimp.) canes.”
3. Deer Dance(personal favorite)
***This is an essay by Serj, expressing his disgust for a free concert put on by SOAD a year ago before the initial release of "toxicity", it's basically the meaning of deer dance, it has many references to lyrics. This was on their official website under the "News" section for a while, and was taken down after they updated to the new spiffy "steal this album" lay out.*** this is the essay:
Labor Day weekend Sept. 3rd, 2001 KROQ FREE SHOW FEATURING SYSTEM OF A DOWN
What happened?
3,000-4,000 people were expected to attend this free Kroq show featuring System and 10,000 showed up. The venue and security were not prepared adequately for such a show of heads. Barricades came down early before the band was scheduled to play. The streets were overwhelmed with bodies outside of the venue, and got closed off. The police got weary of the situation and along with the Fire Marshal called off the show before the band was scheduled to take the stage at 5:00pm. The band was ready to play the show and even ceded to cutting their set list short, despite looming threats of arrests of band members and danger to their lives. THE POLICE WOULD NOT HAVE IT! SYSTEM OF A DOWN NEVER CANCELLED THE SHOW! There were so many people there that only a part of them could even actually view the stage. It was FEARed that had the band set foot on stage, people would push, shove, and possibly trample others to get a visual fix on the band. At that point, the barricades had all come down, and the band could not safely make it to the stage.
The police may have FEARed that had the band announced that the show was being cancelled by LAPD, that it would have lead to anger and hostility against their presence. HOWEVER, NOBODY GOT ON STAGE AND ANNOUNCED WHAT WAS GOING ON. This left everyone to assume everything and anything, and some people out of frustration started to loot, fight, etc. My belief is that violence in all forms is a low-level human energy output, and undermines our existence as beings of light.
MOST SYSTEM FANS WERE APPALLED BY ALL THESE ACTIVITIES AND IMMEDIATELY FLED THE SCENE.
The fleeing of this mass of people may have in turn caused FEAR in the police, seeing groups of people running, etc. Let's not underestimate the amount of fear created by the visible police presence, not in casual police uniform, but in riot gear and horses, reminding some of ancient feudal tactics. It is this CIRCLE OF FEAR that prevailed yesterday in Hollywood, much to the band's regret.
What was missing was an invitation to peace....a deer dance perhaps, as in the DNC protests a year before, where Native Americans from Arizona delivered a welcoming dance to deer during their respective season. The eloquent movements and delivery of methodical action on stage derailed the overwhelming aggressive visuals of riot police, and created the only thing that could have saved the day-the smile of a young child watching the event.
That did not happen yesterday....
We believe that all of this could and should have been avoided had the band been allowed on stage. We also believe that there is lack of understanding and communication dealing with such events between promoters and the LAPD. We strongly suggest the creation of a communications forum and an officer training program between the LAPD and KROQ, as well as other promoters/radio stations.
Someone told me that because of this, free shows will not be allowed in Hollywood, at outside venues. That's one more blow to our freedom to convene, and System Of A Down is completely opposed to this.
Today, we were told that our Tower Records "Toxicity" record release signing was cancelled in FEAR of more drama.
FEAR is the worst reason to make any decisions in life. People came to the show to have a good time, in peace. Someone needed to give them the respect that they deserved to let them know what was going on, especially since they would not allow the band themselves to do so. It is my firm belief that the problem of undefined and unknown fear among people is a direct result of the insecurities harbored in any densely populated Metropolis, and defines the times that we live in.
Without judging it, I have decided not to be a party to the CIRCLE OF FEAR, and I hope that you will all join me in doing so.
All of us are radiant beings with physical temporary shells that seem to define us more than it should. When you listen to music and you are uplifted, the place you go is not physical........
Serj
AND, The song Deer Dance is about a Democrat convention that was being held at the Staples Centre in LA. It happened in August of 2000. Rage against the Machine was playing a concert not to far from the Staples Centre, and they were believed to have caused the riot. Lines of youths advanced on police clad in riot gear.
4.Jet Pilot
There is no specific reference to blinders (device used to narrow a horse's field of vision) in this song, but I feel this is the implied meaning of the horse's eyes. When we are ignorant of things going on around us, we plow blissfully through life with diminished regard for the consequences. (For instance, not realizing that heroin, a.k.a. "horse", is a highly addictive substance - and then sticking a needle in your vein.) We have lots of fun while we are young and stupid, but once the damage is done we are left with grey skies and shackles.
I also can't help but wonder if Serj throws complete nonsense out every now and then just to see what kind of idiotic speculation we'll indulge ourselves with. :D
5.X
“X” is talking about cloning, and the morals of it. “Ask you people, ask your people what is right.” Is a great example. And where it says, “Show your people, show your people how we died.” Is a way of saying how the human race could become expendable, and easily replaced. Another example is, “We don’t need to multiply
6.Chop Suey
"The song is about how society views death. Like, if I died from cancer you'd be like 'Oh poor Daron!' But if I died of a drug overdose you'd be like 'Well, he did it to himself.' But what people don't realize that they are both diseases. And sick people deserve to be treated not judged."
- Daron Malakian P.S. This explanation didnt leave room for me to question the lyrical meaning of this song....damn....
7.Bounce
Basically it's about 'showing off' in dating and social situations, with phoney people, or people who like to brandish their egos. His date put him on the firing line to do his thing, tell everyone how great he is, and all his accomplishments, possessions, big car, etc. Hence the 'pogo stick', bouncing for everyone else, showing off. Kind of like Tom Saywer doing handstands for Becky (of course no one ever read that crap!).
Each person gets their turn to show off, (bounce on the pogo stick), and show the group just how truly cool they are. This song is a slam at the 'social status', name dropping, ego centered types, not just in Hollywood but all over the place. Just one pogo stick means only that each person gets their turn in the spotlight. Their turn to either make or break, with a good showing. She had so many friends...another slam at the social, keep up with the Joneses mentality of that type of person. Lots of shallow 'friends' but all into themselves. None are really friends, or even fully 'human', just shallow shells, all showing off for each other.
Or, its about an orgy. You choose.
8.Forest(interesting and Bizarre song)
It could be about a person with a split personality who "goes inside the forest" (he isolates himself from society and develops a split personality). "Speak with me my only mind" he is talking to his other personality which is really his own mind, and he is talking to himself.
"Why can't you see that you are my child,
Why don't you know that you are my mind,
Tell everyone in the world, that I'm you,
Take this promise to the end of you."
Alter ego talking to him. (Also could be schizophrenia)
"Take this promise for a ride,
You saw the forest, now come inside"
Alter ago (his own mind) telling him to "change" so he has a split personality.
"You took the legend for its fall,
You saw the product of it all"
Alter ego still talking to him about the obvious, he took the legend (He thought it would turn out good) and he now realises that it was a bad idea. At the end of it all, I think it is either a person developing a split personality or a person who hears voices..and has schizophrenia.
OR, It seems to be that forest could be a song about self denial. The 'child' represents the predjudice/idea in the persons mind, 'the forest of denial' is the persons mind, and turning the forest to wine is representing poisoning your mind with the idea, and convincing yourself that something that is untrue, is true. 'tell everyone in the world that im you' talks of the person who the mind belongs to trying to convince everyone that they are something which they are not. 'you took the legend for its fall, you saw the product of it all' is the outcome of the self denial, that it will only lead to bad things.
9.ATWA = Air, Trees, Water, Animals
A song espousing killer Charles Manson's ecological philosophy and titled after his anti-pollution organization, Air, Trees, Water, Animals. And how people only saw the bad things he did and overlooked the good thing he contributed to humanity.
10. Science
I believe when Serj says "Science, has failed, our world" he may be reffering to the fact that because of science there are now technologies that are ruining the earth. "Scienece has failed our Mother Earth." And that all the medical technologies have led to such things as cloning which we know is wrong and will get out of hand causing God knows what to the earth, "Spirit moves through all things" that all you need is to believe and you will be fine. This is actually a very good song. (But so is every other).
"Letting the reigns go to the unfolding is faith, faith, faith, faith." Allowing yourself to observe without preconceived expectations for a particular outcome, whatever it might be, is to entrust your belief system to something greater than your own ego. To refrain from imposing your own will/opinion on your observations and allow God/Universe/Whatever to be whatever It will be, that is an exercise in spirituality.
"Science has failed our world." Having a truly open mind is necessary for proper scientific observation. However, scientific "authorities" are reluctant to openly admit the possibility that the entire universe may be constructed, controlled, or otherwise influenced by a spiritual entity (or entities). This materiocentric view is a failure unto itself, leading to all sorts of mischief. We are trained to ignore and suppress all spiritual perception, so we no longer hear the earth scream in pain as we stab our heels into her skin. The failure is not so much science itself, but our seeming inability to use it properly and respectfully, without arrogance and ego.
"Spirit moves through all things." This statement is quite literal. Don't underestimate inanimate objects, or anything in your environment for that matter, especially if it doesn't have the ability to defend itself. Respect each pebble as if it was God incarnate... because it might actually be just that.
11.Shimmy
"Shimmy" concerns the mandatory schooling of children in the United States. It criticizes the cliché life of an average american. "I think me, I want life, I think me, I want a house and a wife". It also suggests that mandatory schooling is, in fact, indoctrination... "Indoctrination of a nation". The last things it criticizes is the fornication that goes on in school, and the way that the government subdues the children, with "education". "Education, subjugation, in you are go, Education, fornication, now you're out go".
12.Toxicity
Toxicity is a song about how our world has become so materialistic, and how beauty is being drowned out by the city and the hustle and bustle of the city. It's about how human beings have taken over space, and how they think that they own everything, however 'how do you own disorder?' is bringing up the point that the world will always being in chaos, and that we in fact, do not own the world. 'Eating seeds as a pastime activity' symbolises how we exploit the environment, and its new growth (seeds) for leisure purposes (pastime activity).
13.Psycho
The song aims at burnt out, drug-addled groupies.
So you want the world to stop, / Stop in and watch your body fully drop, / From the time you were a / Psycho, groupie, cocaine, crazy,
It is implying that groupies will try to become the center of attention, even if they have to resort to sexual means.
So you want to see the show, / You really don't have to be a ho / From the time you were a / Psycho, groupie, cocaine, crazy
System is stateing that there is no point in whoreing themsleves out, for it doesn't impress them.
14.Aerials
I believe Aerials is about all of the faults, especially fickleness and greed, of the human race. "We're one in the river and one again after the fall" refers to the fact that we were all one united people who were wholly good in the beginning of time (the river), then split and were overcome by greed and fought against ourselves in the present (the waterfall itself), then after an unforeseen apocalypse we will unite again and start over (after the fall). "We are the ones that want to play, always want to go, but you never want to stay" refers to our fickleness; at first we want one thing, but when we get it we want another. "Always wanna play but you never wanna lose" refers to our competitiveness. "We drink from the river then we turn around and put up our walls" tells of our greed, how when we see something good, we all go and take it, but then we turn around and resume our fighting. When the song says, "When you lose small mind you free your life," it means if we just forget all those negative things like greed we will be free and open and achieve peace. "Aerials, so up high, when you free your eyes, eternal prize," means that when our leaders (the aerials) stop seeing things with prejudice, we will be rewarded with peace.
15.Arto(The stuff at the end of the CD.)
The last song on Toxicity is a very personal piece of work. All four band members descend from Armenia, a little country in the south of the former Soviet Union. 'Arto' is a very emotional piece of Armenian folklore and has its own history. John Dolmayan: "The artist we recorded this song with is Arto Tuncboyaciyan, also an Armenian. We invited him to the studio to do the percussions for this traditional armenian song. He's the only artist outside the band who can be heard on the album. The moment we recorded the song was very magical and emotional, almost spiritual. When I played the song to my mother she cried. It's a sorrowful song that is played at funerals." A reaction of Serj Tankian's family is also known: "My grandfather reacted also very emotional to the song because he lost his whole family in the first half of the last century. They were all killed by the Turkish army."
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Crowd: Cheeerrr. Thank you, and goodnight. |
