System of a Down: Chop Suey Meaning
Song Released: 2001
Chop Suey Lyrics
We're Rolling Suicide
Wake up(wake up)
Grab a brush and put a little makeup
Hide the scars to fade away the shakeup
Why’d you leave the keys upon the table?
Here you go create another fable
You wanted to
Grab a brush...
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I don't think this song is a reference to Christianity because, although they did quote Christ, the lyrics don't line up with the biblical facts. (e.g. "self-righteous suicide"; because Christ didn't resist doesn't mean he commmited suicide)
but on the other side I was told that Jewish people don't view Christ as the actual son of God but just another man who was very moral and upright, which would lend itself to SOAD's lines: "I don't think you trust in my self-righteous suicide" -
Submitted by: Madhatter
Added: 2007-10-25 17:50:01 Rating: [Rating 0/5 with 0 votes]
Rate this interpretation:
"why'd you leave the keys upon the table?"
Its the quick get away. The fact that he could get away but doesn't. And also they are out in the open for everyone to see. Sort of like prison doors being opened but still staying inside the cell.
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My eyes opened wide after reading this interpretation, I think I finally found the meaning to that Keys line in the song I was looking for. almost no one thought about the fact that he says "WHY DID you leave the keys upon the table?"
Madhatter interprets the keys on the table as a quick getaway, and I very much agree. but what is the person saying? so why did you leave the keys upon the table? why do you leave an easy way out like as if someone is taunting them making it seem really easy?? the key is there, you could open the doors tot the prison, but the prison is life, and the keys are the easy way out. So why is someone leaving the keys upon the table at such easy access? and how? how are they facilitating suicide, or the idea of it?
and also for the going to war interpretations, the song Soldier Side VERY MUCH supports your reasoning.
also why does the word father have an echo when he yells it, someone says it back, possibly in a demon's voice, (maybe not) but when he calls out Father, something says FATHER! like as if it is mocking him.
what does it all mean?
every interpretation just brings more and more questions. -
I don't think this is about the Armenian Genocide, there are many about it like Holy Mountains but this is more about Jesus Christ and the Bible. Someone said what the meaning of the name Chop Suey was and I thought of it like that too after I herd the song a couple of times. Suicide however is something that they are saying sarcastically. One thing that you should know about SOAD is they are very sarcastic at points. When they say
I don't think you trust
In my self righteous suicide
I cry when angels deserve to die
they are saying that he wasn't committing suicide. He wasn't necessarily dying for our sins like all Christians are taught, he was dying because of the ignorance of the human race, that is why he came, that is why he came down and committed suicide. And that is they cry when angles deserve to die. Because they don't deserve to, its sarcasm saying how ignorant the human population is. Father is another proof that it is about Jesus because people call Jesus the son of God. He yells to his father... In the Muslim and Armenian religion it is a sin to believe that Jesus is the son of God.
So basically I think it's about the Bible, Jesus, and human ignorance. -
I feel that everyone that has submitted an entry since 2005 is right. Serj and Daron are very educated men with college honors that excel in poetry. I truly feel that this song and many of SOAD's are deliberate in the sense that the band wants to leave it up to individual interpretation. Poetry is left up to individual interpretation. Many of SOAD's songs are also politically based on poor politics of all world leaders (i.e. The song boom.) Chop Suey is the bands claim to fame. I love all of their songs especially Sugar but if you ask anyone what songs do SOAD sing everyone says Chop Suey first. Personal interpretation is what Chop Suey is all about. I do believe the band has a specific meaning for the song that is unique to them which is what we are all trying to figure out. All of my rambling leads to one thing SOAD wants from every politician and SOAD fan and that is to think. God bless and hopefully soon they will return as one.
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I also believe it is about suicide and the band's view on it. I also think it is about the state of society in the beginning with grab a brush and put a little make up/hide the scars to fade away the shake up-its talking about how we are told to look pretty and hide ourselves and conform to society. Then when people commit suicide when they can't handle life because of the pressures of society that they are trying to fit into they are angels dieing, they don't deserve to die but society sees them as outcasts and couldn't care less about them because they are nonconformists. So to society they are angels that deserve to die because of their ways.
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Actually, I don't believe it has anything to do with religion or suicide in literal terms. I believe it's about the men and women going off to war. "Self Righteous Suicide" implies a mission that could result in death, but a death that is "Righteous". The name "Chop Suey" implies one of the Asian Wars. It starts with a "day in the life"... "Wake up, put on some make up.." ect. This is representing the "life" of this particular individual. A man and his wife starting out the day... It goes on to say "I don't think you trust, in my, Self Righteous Suicide." A fight breaks out between man and wife, arguing over his leaving to join some military branch or another.
"I don't think you trust
In my self righteous suicide
I cry when angels deserve to die" would be the band's satirical, and poetic version of said argument. The first two lines being the man's argument, the second, the woman's.
"Father! Father! Father! Father!
Father into your hands, I commend my spirit
Father into your hands
Why have you forsaken me
In your eyes forsaken me
In your thoughts forsaken me
In your heart forsaken me oh" At this point, he is dying, injured in battle, and realizes his wife was right.
Thats my interpretation. The only ones who know are the band. I may be wrong, but this is what I get out of it. -
I think this song is about how people think God is letting all these bad things occur with the world today and how its "OKAY" to commit suicide "self righteous suicide" because we can't keep hiding about how sad we are about the world " put on a little make up" and I also think it's about the bible and how there are some stories left out from it that the church doesn't want people to know about.--> maybe a prophecy? "Why have you forsaken me?" Is like Jesus saying how could you humans have done this with the world after I died for you..
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There is more here than meets the eye, I've looked at this song for years, seems to make the most sense with the whole aspect of Jesus' final words. In poetry, it is not uncommon for many things to be left to interpretation, here is a case study for you all. American Genocide, I will be honest, I don't know much of it, I know that deliberate infections were used, I know that people were culled for the sake of culling (seems somewhat of a dead ringer to the Nazis in WW2 to an auzzie like myself), and I know that the idea of a breakup and covering the scars with makeup is one that hits close to home here.
Suicide bombers, yes, explains a bit, but still leaves some holes, "keys on the table"...
But in all honesty, I believe the Biblical Ideal here is the closest of the lot of interpretations. Feel free to criticise as you see fit.
"Why'd you leave the kids up on the table" - Christ did say anyone who did not embrace the children as he did will not be embraced by the father, keeping the kids equal to be seen eye-to-eye, or to such meaning, translations and variations in versions will occur, but along those lines.
"Leave the keys on the table" - Keys to start the new church - metaphor.
"Grab a brush and put a little makeup" "Hide the scars to fade away the shakeup" - Christ knew what he had to do, and he did the best to hide his emotion, as he rode into Jerusalem for the last time before his crucifixion, it says that he cried before entering the city. Though this scripture can be seen this way, it can also be seen as he crying for the people of Jerusalem who within less than a week, would be shouting to crucify him. It could also mean cover the wounds of Christ on the cross or after the resurrection, for example, the cuts from his crown of thorns, not mentioned again after the resurrection.
"why don't think you trust in my self-righteous suicide" - the deciples were in hiding between the crucifiction and resurrection, this is easily taken as not trusting safety despite Jesus saying not to be afraid.
"Here you go create another fable" - Jesus spoke in parables as a test of the interpreter, those who think he's nuts, those who listen, understand but don't put into practice, those who listen, start to put into practice but fail to keep it going, and those who listen to it, understand it and keep it consistently going.
Obviously the last words of Christ in the quote from the song:
"Father (Father), Father (Father), Father (Father), Father (Father)!
Father into your hands, I commend my spirit,
Father, into your hands,
Why have you forsaken me,
In your eyes forsaken me,
In your thoughts forsaken me,
In your heart forsaken, me oh!"
Though dramatised for obvious reason (emphasis) and some words repeated, roughly translated, this is pretty much what Christ said upon his death bed.
"I cry when angels deserve to die" - well that one's an easy one... Christ was seen as an 'angel' by some, a higher being, immortal and in a more contemporary day, there are a lot of paintings where Christ is portrayed as an angel.
oh, and the whole "you wanted to" bit (see below) is easily explained, think if you were the disciples for a moment, Christ has just been crucified and from what he said, some would argue that through their minds, they could be thinking that he wanted to do it, though I'm skeptical on that opinion, it fits.
"You wanted to,
Grab a brush and put a little makeup
You wanted to..." and so on for that one...
"I cry when angels deserve to die" - watch any documentary where you see people getting taught about Christ's death after learning all the good things he did, particularly in little kid's Sunday schools, there isn't always a dry eye in the house, reminds me of last easter black friday service that I went to, a friend who is at least 30 years my senior cried over the death of christ because he seemed to feel it most strongly for the first time.
Yeah, seems the biblical reference works closest here in my opinion.
ragnaught -
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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Firstly, this is obviously NOT about some girl being abused by a husband/boyfriend/father... geez, just cause its says "makeup" doesn't instantly classify it as being about females....
This song could easily be about the dudes brother being abused, and it probably has 2 meanings, 1 about his personal issue, and at the same time, about worldwide issues, and historical issues. Quite a few of their songs are like that.
And that Armenian Genocide? They had a whole song about that, "P.L.U.C.K" -
The basis of this song is dedicated to Civilians being caught in the crossfire of wars and confrentations. At the beginning of the song, if you listen close, you can hear, "Rolling suicide." Then the music starts. This is in reference to suicide bombers and their attack on the civilians.
A lot of the people on here put, "When angels deserve to die," as a basis for their interpritation. While respecting their thoughts on the matter, you have to take the verse as a whole, not just a piece at a time for interpritation. It is like the Bible. You have to use the context that it is given in. The verse says, "I cry, when angels deserve to die." Thus backing up the helpless civilians being caught in the crossfire.
At another part of the song, SOAD sings, "Father into your hands I commend my sprit, father into you hand [...] Why have you forsaken me [..]" This is the main part of the song that backs up my interpritation. If you think actually look at it most of the people who do suicide bombings are extreamist wanting to go to heaven or where ever they believe. They believe, in giving your life up for Allah you will be rewarded with eternal life, heaven, ladies, and what not.
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