What does Holy Mountain mean?

System of a Down: Holy Mountain Meaning


Holy Mountain Lyrics

Ahhh ahhh ahhh...

Can you feel their haunting presence?
Can you feel their haunting presence?

Liar, Killer, Demon
Back to the river Aras

Someone's blank stare deemed it warfare

Liar, Killer, Demon
Back to the river Aras

Freedom,...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    anonymous
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    May 31st 2007, 20:45 report


    First of all, the name of the song is Holy Mountains. Secondly, this song is about how the Turkish government (Talaat Pasha) commanded the Armenians dead in a genocide, known as the Armenian Genocide. This happened from 1915-1923. Still today, the government will not admit it. Also, the holy mountains are that of Aratat. And the river Aras is the one that separates the Turks from the Armenians. Hence why they yell, "Back to the River Aras!" System Of A Down are one of the only bands who try to make people recognize this. Genocide is evil, life is precious. If you can't respect that, then you deserve to die. This song was made to reach out to those who are ignorant of the issue. Serj Tankian's grandfather told him stories of this massacre; that is why he is affected by it so much. I hope the Turks realize and repent of the sins they committed. That is the message of System Of A Down - Holy Mountains.



  2. 2TOP RATED

    Cabose
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    Mar 15th 2006, 01:10 report


    Ok, Armenian here, because none of you got it.
    in 1915, The Armenians were mercilessly murdered by the Turks. They murdered everyone they could find. Holy mountain is Mt. Sinai, River Aras was the only boundary between the Turks and Armenians. They lied, killed, sodomized and we Armenians see Turks as horrible demons.

    That does it



  3. 3TOP RATED

    jacoyakian
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    Mar 29th 2006, 17:56 report


    Sorry mate, but Serj said himself the song's about Mount Ararat which appears on the Armenian coat of arms. It's now in Turkish territory (since 1915) and is suppossed to be the place where Noah's Ark finally came to land.
    Besides, Sinai is in Egypt!



  4.  

    anonymous
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    Jun 3rd 2012, 09:07 report


    So what? You say our fathers raped your mothers so bad, that they couldnt feel their asses for centuries ?
    even if so,it was casualty of war.when you start a war you should prepare your asses...



  5.  

    anonymous
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    Dec 26th 2011, 17:31 report


    god damn it genocide is done with out reason or a cause. Armenians was not killed with out a reason yet they were a threat in that are for turkey. and it is a war god damn it. if they wanted no one dead why england france vs attacked ? turks did not have an alternative, they must send armenians away in order fall back if needed and armenians didn't fall back and turks used force. if england didn't attack there won't be a reason to fall back so armenians wouldnt be killed



  6.  

    anonymous
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    Jun 27th 2011, 04:45 report


    Personally, I think, that this song is not only about Armenian genocide, or Ararat.
    Look at Turks and Armenians relationships. They're hating each other.
    Most of Turkish people deny genocide. Most of Armenians think, that all of Turks are treaters. So, they claim each other "Liar, Killer, Demon".
    Then, governments of both countries warm up this hatred for their own interests, "someone's mouth said paint them all red".
    Governments sponsor propaganda: "We have learned that you have no honor".



  7.  

    anonymous
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    May 7th 2011, 02:40 report


    When I first heard it, I thought it was in reference to when Melkor stole the light of the Two Trees from the Valar in the Silmarillion. They speak about the Holy Mountain, and the other lyrics (Liar, demon, etc.) fit into it pretty well.



  8.  

    anonymous
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    May 2nd 2011, 22:27 report


    I'm Armenian by the way.
    This song is about the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.It's also about other things also.It's about the Ararat moutains turks took from us.When Serj sings LIAR,KILLER,DEMON it's talat pasha.
    I think the goverment should recognize the Armenian Genocide!



  9.  

    anonymous
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    May 2nd 2011, 22:26 report


    I'm Armenian by the way.
    This song is about the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.It's also about other things also.It's about the Ararat moutains turks took from us.When Serj sings LIAR,KILLER,DEMON it's talat pasha.
    I think the goverment should recognize the Armenian Genocide!



  10.  

    anonymous
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    May 2nd 2011, 22:26 report


    I'm Armenian by the way.
    This song is about the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.It's also about other things also.It's about the Ararat moutains turks took from us.When Serj sings LIAR,KILLER,DEMON it's talat pasha.
    I think the goverment should recognize the Armenian Genocide!



  11.  

    anonymous
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    May 2nd 2011, 22:26 report


    I'm Armenian by the way.
    This song is about the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.It's also about other things also.It's about the Ararat moutains turks took from us.When Serj sings LIAR,KILLER,DEMON it's talat pasha.
    I think the goverment should recognize the Armenian Genocide!



  12.  

    anonymous
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    Dec 18th 2010, 04:32 report


    This Song refers to the turks committing the armenian genocide. They were ordered to kill all armenians (except 1 to keep it in the national musuem as an armenian). Here SOAD's message is that we (armenians) have survived and miraculously had pushed the turks away and gained their independence. After all this the turkish goverment denies the armenian genocide. That's why serj calls him a LIAR MURDERER and DEMON.



  13.  

    anonymous
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    Feb 20th 2010, 10:52 report


    @Cabose
    The song is actually about Mt. Ararat where Noah's Ark was said to stop. Mt. Ararat is on the Armenian coat of arms and I think the meaning of this song is simple: This mountain was taken by the Turks in 1915, when the genocide was unleashed and the Armenians were sodomized, beaten, murdered and they see the Turks (Turkish government) as Liers, Killers, Demons, Murderers, etc...
    I could be 100% wrong on this interpretation but then again I could be 100% right. In the end, who gives a SH*T? It's just a song with a STRONG political message. It's a good song. It was meant for you to understand and enjoy, not for people to get into conflicts over the meaning.

    Thanks, I hope I cleared that up for you.






  14.  

    anonymous
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    Feb 17th 2010, 17:32 report


    Common guy .. one question for uu to understand what happened in world war one. and also you say turks must be sorry about the genocide of armenian . Here comes explanation for u.İf your grand dad kills someone who tries to kill your grand dad and if your grand dad is power and kills that man . and one day comes that death man grand sons comes and ask to you ' say sorry as your grand dad killed my grand dad , so will you say sorry for that . ofcourse not. and also . for centuries armenians lived in ottomon rule . ottomon called armenians ' the loyal race'. ottomon gave them some privilages such as no tax , tax no army mission.. open your archievs . you will see . So when ottomon had a war with france , russia, england, italy, all turks went to army. only armenians stayed in their homes.ANd you shouldnot be angery with turks.u should be angery with your some leaders who provokes your nation.without information they just provoked innocent armenian.they said turks will kill you as we are christian.infact that herald was baseless.Cuz it was only a game of french.France was about to loose clicia and france tried to take power of some etnichs so armenians was on target.france said to your leaders . leaders said innocent people. and they began to killed weak people because armenian beleived ottomon will loose and they will be on the side of winner. but they failt. Turks won and they began to turk their home. So I ask you if you see someone who killed your family. why will you do.. will you kill red rose. of course they killed that leaders.Further more loyal race turned to be inloyal race. They didnot kill .just exile.Open russian archievs and other archievs . I searched. and I know some turks sources are not objective. I opened bristol report and allign countries report. If you open these source. you will understand why ottomon chost to send armenian on syria. because . They planned to send thorough south east of turkey. but some kurd tribes attacked on armenians and they killed and adopted childreen. because kurds was cruel as turk first defiant started east. So ottomon saw that if they send from these land . all armenians can die.so they reached to armenia on syria. now in america and in other countries those armenians are the people who were adopted by kurds. red crescent took them from kurds and brought to america. So it is so normal in america Armenians says they killed . because its true. kurds attacked.but that nnumber is not so huge 1 million.u can see the number of red crescent in that period. Some Armenians say that 1 million. common guys don't be ridiculous. İn that period Ottoman total population was 16 million and 45 race live in turkey. can it be a minority 1 million and I was born in kozan / adana . old name SİS if you know history well . you can understand of sis the capital of Armenia on cilicia. Now kozans population is 70 000 . So think that 90 years ago . maybe 6 000 . and one capital is 6 000 . not all armenian live lets think 4 000 armenia . can you beleive where teh other armenians 996 000.if you search more you will understand. Yes genocide possible . but not turks on armenia. remember asala... guys governments play game to make the public powerful by trick . by infusing hate to other. Turkey does teh same. armenia too. and others too. and your diasporas trick is that . your archives baseless. and turkey called many time to armenia to cover all archives. but never armenia came. because they know if they come one public will loose their hate on turkey that makes armenians weak. That is political game and trick. Sad but truee. If you feel better by this way , go on guys. but turkey will not accept baseless thing . only if Armenia decides on to work with historians about genocide and open archives. If you have other questions . I am here to answerr. but don't be easy people... because we were not in that period....



  15.  

    anonymous
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    Aug 23rd 2009, 10:04 report


    For the Turkish that said Armenians don't like him simply because he's turkish: it's because of people who wrote bullshit after your comment that I don't like ignorant people. Thus all you can do is to stop your friends saying things they don't know about, so it won't be representative of your country. The guy is talking about being agains fascism and he is a representative of nazi of the worst kind.



  16.  

    anonymous
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    Aug 23rd 2009, 10:00 report


    Oh, of course it wasn't a genocide...it was just by "accident" that 1,5 million Armenians were brutally killed and tortured by the turks...it was an "accident" that women and children were raped and left to die of thirst and hunger in the Syrian desert...of course...this happens everyday, right?

    I can imagine why the Turkish government doesn't admit the genocide, but it's absolutely ignorant that the Turkish CIVILIANS don't admit the genocide. This is so sad.

    The Ottoman military uprooted Armenians from their homes and forced them to march for hundreds of miles, depriving them of food and water, to the desert of what is now Syria. Massacres were indiscriminate of age or gender, with rape and other sexual abuse commonplace.
    The premeditated destruction of objects of Armenian cultural, religious, historical and communal heritage was yet another key purpose of both the genocide itself and the post-genocidal campaign of denial. Armenian churches and monasteries were destroyed, Armenian cemeteries flattened, and, in several cities, Armenian quarters were demolished.

    And by the way, as a response to the continuing denial of the Armenian Genocide by the Turkish State, many activists among Armenian Diaspora communities have pushed for formal recognition of the Armenian genocide from various governments around the world. 21 countries and 42 U.S. States have adopted resolutions acknowledging the Armenian Genocide as a bona fide historical event.

    All I can do is ask for you, the turks, to study and read about your History before saying bullshit you don't know about on the internet.
    If you don't know about something, stay quiet.



  17.  

    anonymous
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    Dec 27th 2008, 16:27 report


    just understand that when you are in war you have to take actions against the family you are making accusations and some of even don t know the geographical places the incident happened. did you now that armenians attacked from behind during the independence war of turks and armenians were armed with the help of russians. are you that naive to believe that armenians hided in a stupid mountain during a war why do you think that turks decided to move armenians away becauses they were slaughtering the turkish villages but this act of armenians can not be classified as a genocide because in a war there are no good and bad everybody fights for thier own rights so the act of turks is not a genocide either it is something to have an opinian on a subject but don t you try to distort the history and reveal your level. !



  18.  

    anonymous
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    Dec 23rd 2008, 14:58 report


    i am turk but actually it doesn't matter because a lot of people were killed in the anatolia not only armenians but also turks.do you know why that is happened?ottoman empire must had to said because armenians were killing turks and turks are also killing the armenians.but that is the only way to rescue armeniens.some people are think this is the genocide but no one never think why this happened during ww1,why ottoman didn't do before the war.i think that is explaining everything.if ottoman empire wants to kill armeniens,it was possible and ottoman was the one of the most strongest country,but it happened.i believe even though a lot of people were killed, that was not genocide because ottoman empire was trying to stop to fight each other.i am sorry not only for us but also for you;but we did the same mistake...i understand you ,and invite you to fight fascism and nationalism .that is the only way to save the world



  19.  

    anonymous
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    Oct 27th 2008, 14:54 report


    Beautiful Song, especially with the part, where they sing about freedom.

    Well I am myself Turkish, but my grand grandfather saved Armenians and Assyrians from ongoing genocide. Later the government found out about it and killed him for "betrayal". God thing, the Ottoman government don't exist anymore. But as long as Turkey is ruled by right-wingers, we gonna call San Marino our home. Eventually forever. And Armenians don't like us too, since we are only Turks. Fairly they don't know about the sacrifice, my grand grandfather made in the name of humanity.
    And as long, as hatred is living up, there will be no peace out there. Don't let stupefying Nationalism and Religious fanaticism get the better of you. It's like a epidemic plague, killing everything.



  20.  

    anonymous
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    Sep 6th 2008, 17:19 report


    April 23th, 1920. Turkey is born. Learn the history. Turkey is born from the ASHES of Ottoman Empire. Not ANOTHER Ottoman country. So first, you have to know that you cannot be talking about Turkey since the date you're talking about is 1915! On the other hand, there's no genocide. It's hard to understand the truth after believing the same lie for years just used those days of war in order to provoke the Armenians. See, still Armenians are living and working in Turkey peacefully. We, Turks never hate we only fight-back. The facts are the same, check the Cyprus history. Ok: swear puke spit. After you're ready to listen, read this: Have you ever heard someone denying genocide she did? Who did genocide know what he did, and also is proud of. Ask that jerk, pig, monster whether he's regretful... Got the idea? Armenia and Turkey will live forever in the same geographic place, forever. What is against peace? Who is against being in a union? Just think about it. Force diaspora to answer this. They're rich, they're filled up. To keep their stomachs filled, they have to continue to spoil all relations between Turkey and Armenia. That's what they depend on, count on, PAID ON! Peace forever. No dispersion needed. System of a Down's doing very hard and great music. I hope they'll someday be hating the ones using nationalism for stomach-filling. Nice days to come friends, nice days to come...

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway


  21.  

    anonymous
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    Jul 3rd 2008, 23:05 report


    I think, Some people are just plain dumb. I also think, that some people only have a small idea on what this song is really about.

    Can you feel their haunting presence?

    I think this is about when the Turks began the Genocide on the Armenians.

    Liar, Killer, Demon
    Back to the river Aras

    This is about how the Turks Lied about their status in the goverment, Killer, Because of all the Armenians they killed, And Demon, Because what Angel would do something like that?

    Can you hear the holy mountains?

    I Think this is about how The Ararat Mountains, the holy mountains, used to belong to the Armenians, And now it belongs to the Turks.

    Someone's mouth said paint them all red

    I think this is talking about the Turk leader who decided that the Armenians needed to go.

    They have returned
    Resting on the mountainside

    I think this talks about the Armenians when the genocide was over.

    We have learned that you have no
    Honor, Murderer, Sodomizer
    Back to the river Aras

    I think this talks about the Turks, And the after interpretation that they had left on people. Everyone thought that they were good until they realized what they were actually doing.

    So We LEARNED That the Turks are assholes and shouldn't be trusted.

    This is only what I think, But maybe it can help you put the pieces together.



  22.  

    anonymous
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    Feb 22nd 2008, 10:26 report


    Tha land over the river Aras (on the left side) was under the rule od Russia about 1915. Those Armenians who fled from Turks and managed to cross the river were saved and, let's say, free.

    Besides, there was an episode in WWI when a group of few thousands Armenians fortified themselves on Musa Dagh mountain near Mediterranean coast of Turkey and kept defending against consequent attacks of Turkish army for almost two months. They were picked up by allies ships and survived.



  23.  

    anonymous
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    Aug 31st 2007, 15:23 report


    I think the line "Back to the river Aras" refers to the Turks being pushed back to the border between Turkey and Armenia.



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