Text written by WikiBrother Gabriel Brandino , from @moshinhell
System of a Down isn't just about political lyrics , and today we're going to explain the meaning of the song "Chop Suey!".
The song was written by the band's bassist, Shavo Odadjian , who stated that initially, the song was going to be called "Suicidal," but since all the other members thought that name was too strong, including the band's record label at the time, they decided to change it.
The song title is a play on words; "Chop" comes from "Chopped," which is something like "cut," and "Suey" is roughly half of the word "Suicide." On the album recording, there's an introduction to the track where the vocalist, Serj Tankian , can be heard saying, "We're recording 'Suicide.'"
Shavo stated that the death of his grandmother when he was a teenager, his possible depression, and subsequent suicide attempts inspired him to write the song. The lyrics are about someone who really wants to kill themselves, but everyone around them doesn't understand why.
The song says, right from the first verse:
"Take a brush and apply some makeup.
Conceal the scars to lessen the impact."
Clearly, this is to hide how depressed the person is, so they must put on makeup and pretend everything is fine.
In the next sentence, "Why did you leave the keys on the table?", the keys are probably an allusion to a tool for controlling her life, and she kind of gave it up and left it on the table, without any control whatsoever.
At the beginning and end of each sentence in the next stanza, the phrase "You wanted" is inserted, as if symbolizing all the people blaming the person for not taking control of their life.
“I don’t think you believe
in my presumptuous suicide.
I cry when angels deserve to die! […]
Why did you abandon me?”
Here is the person speaking and, probably, enduring their final torments, completely disillusioned by no one understanding them, especially because they themselves don't understand the world around them. They see all the injustice and cruelty in the world, so many people who claim to be 'angels' but are actually horrible people, and they feel completely abandoned.
If you need help, contact the Center for Life Appreciation (CVV), which provides emotional support and suicide prevention 24 hours a day, every day, by phone at 188, and also via chat, email, and in person. Click here to learn more .
READ ALSO: A true history lesson in another Iron Maiden classic
