What does I-E-A-I-A-I-O mean?

System of a Down: I-E-A-I-A-I-O Meaning

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Album cover for I-E-A-I-A-I-O album cover

I-E-A-I-A-I-O Lyrics

Peter's pecker picked another
Pickle bearing pussy pepper,
Peter's pecker picked another
Pickle bearing pussy pepper, Why?

Meeting John at Dale's Jr.
Winked an eye and point a finger,
Meeting John at Dale's Jr.
Winked an eye and point a...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 5th 2007 !⃝

    "As with many System of a Down songs, there are supposed double meanings. For this song, some of the possible meanings are a journalist digging up dirt on a politician (Meeting John at Dale's Jr.), and the western world's obsession with gadgets and trinkets (plutonium wedding rings). I-E-A-I-A-I-O are the vowels inside the word I-D-E-A-L-I-Z-A-T-I-O-N [citation needed]

    Also, I-E-A-I-A-I-O is a portion of a mantra or "word of power" described by the English occultist Aleister Crowley, presumably in parody of numerologically significant syllables uttered in magical ritual that have no meaning without understanding the specific numerology tradition used in the ritual (in this case, Hebraic Gemetria, numerology of Hebrew letters). The I-E-A-I-A-I-O is parodical because it somewhat emulates the sounded choral portion of the traditional children's song, "Old MacDonald Had a Farm". It is said that Aleister Crowley would teach his students the incantation as a sacred and mystical mantra, then after they'd chanted it for a few minutes, begin singing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" to see if they could keep their meditative concentration instead of laughing. [citation needed]

    There are other explanations theorizing that the "One flag", "plutonium wedding-rings" and other strange descriptive shapes, and the sharp, loud tribal drumbeat all add to the conclusion that this song is about the fourth of July - "and we light up the sky" is another strong reference, which could mean the traditional fireworks displays. The lyrics "Why, On the fourth of July" appear in the originally recorded version of the song from the Toxicity recording sessions, but not in the Steal This Album version.[citation needed] The "One flag" and "plutonium wedding-rings" could also be describing the effect after a nuclear bombing, with one flag ruling over all others, radiation affecting all things, and of course this could explain the "As we light up the sky" part of the song.[citation needed]"

    ------ www.wikipedia.org ------

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Nov 19th 2014 !⃝

    Mind Delusions Acquainted
    Bubbles Erotica
    Plutonium Wedding Rings
    Icicle Stretchings
    Bicycle Shoestrings
    One Flag,Flaggy But One
    Painting The Paintings Of The Alive.

    MDA Media
    BE Back-End
    PWR Power
    IS Is
    BS BullShit
    OF Opposing Force
    FBO For the Benefit Of
    PPA Propaganda

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 31st 2006 !⃝

    I'm going to touch on the fact that i-e-a-i-a-i-o are the vowels in idealization. Yes, aa ee eh aa eh aa oh is a kkk chant but it doesn't exactly sound the same as i-e-a-i-a-i-o recited. I postulate that soad played off the fact that the vowels of idealization sound are like the kkk chant. Perhaps that is a little too ironic for it to be true. So now we have 3 themes we need to relate. We have idealization, racism, and secret organizations that are named off in the other lyrics. The first lyric we will relate is 'why? As we light up the sky' perhaps soad is questioning the racist of our society. Why? Why would you hate somebody by grounds that have no relevance to anything. Why does it matter the color of skin or the place of birth? And maybe, becuase self-segregation is an ideology that is pushed upon americans, soad is trying to say that the idealization of our national government reinforces racism. So, u.S. Government, you are corrupt with your secret organizations that puppet our citizens and create this ridiculous idea of racism.

  4. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 15th !⃝

    It's rather telling that some of the interpretations are a mixture of either wild speculation or gossip.
    I spent maybe 30 minutes or so looking up the, erm ... what's-it-called ... er, that shit that intelligent striving can sometimes uncover, oh yeah ... truth !!!

    This is probably the most definitive answer to what is about.
    kudos to those that referenced knight rider.
    The references to war and conspiracies (as in negative perpetrations enacted in a covert manner) may be references to armenian politics
    and the ottoman genocide (i.e. islamic to give it it's most unambiguous "mantle") since members of soad have very strong bonds with their armenian heritage.

    The line "and we light up the sky" does lend itself to warfare very easily, though it may have spiritual connotations, in that it may be referencing the fact that the human race are such an incredible spiritual force, considering our potential for altruism, more than any other creature on the planet.

    There's no doubt that Christianity has impacted soad.
    Especially since Armenia has it's own unique Christian denomination that is neither Roman Catholic, Protestant, nor traditional Eastern Orthodoxy, and possibly stems from quite possibly the oldest Christian denomination in history and have remained staunchly protective of their heritage and culture. This is self evident in chop suey.
    The following lyrics could be interpreted as a tongue in cheek or ironic dialogue between Jesus and Lucifer.

    I don't think you trust
    In my self-righteous suicide
    I cry when angels deserve to die
    In my self-righteous suicide
    I cry when angels deserve to die


    The reference below should clear up the majority of controversy regarding i-e-a-i-a-i-o.

    http://loudwire.com/system-of-a-down-john-dolmayan-lyrical-inspiration-i-e-a-i-a-i-o/

    System of a Down are well known for being the masters of weirdness, but one song stands unchallenged as the most odd track SOAD have ever released: ‘I-E-A-I-A-I-O.’ The various meanings of its lyrics, credited to Serj Tankian, have been debated upon for over a decade, but during an interview with drummer John Dolmayan, we got the exclusive on a story which inspired part of the song.

    System fans have correctly credited the show ‘Knight Rider’ as an inspiration for ‘I-E-A-I-A-I-O’ due to the track’s resemblance to the show’s theme. The song was also reportedly titled ‘KITT’ originally. Beyond the actual sound of ‘I-E-A-I-A-I-O’, ‘Knight Rider’ star David Hasselhoff was also a lyrical inspiration for the bizarre System track.

    When we told John Dolmayan about our 10 Weirdest System of a Down Lyrics list, along with ‘I-E-A-I-A-I-O’ in its entirety being declared No. 1, the drummer laughed before sharing this very exclusive gem:

    That was inspired by ‘Knight Rider.’ When I was a kid, I ran into David Hasselhoff at a liquor store in L.A. He was getting a drink, not an alcoholic beverage, a soda or something. He was walking out and I couldn’t believe it! Here was Knight Rider in front of me! And I said, “Knight Rider!” I must have been 12. He looked at me and he goes, “Hey kid,” and he kind of pointed the finger [at me] cowboy style. I told Serj the story, so the lyrics, “Meeting John Dale’s Jr. / Winked an eye and point a finger.” ‘Dale’s Jr.’ was the liquor store. There’s a little insight. That was a fun thing. The band was laughing when I told them that story, because it was one of those moments you have. When are you going to run into Knight Rider?! Could you imagine?! That was a big moment for me. If I ran into Knight Rider today it’d be a big moment. I love Knight Rider!



    Read More: System of a Down's John Dolmayan on 'I-E-A-I-A-I-O' Lyrics | http://loudwire.com/system-of-a-down-john-dolmayan-lyrical-inspiration-i-e-a-i-a-i-o/?trackback=tsmclip

  5. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Nov 5th 2017 !⃝

    Its talking about the book of revelation. "Fighting crime with a partner,Lois lane Jimmy Carter. Meeting John dale Jr winked an eye and point a finger. If you watch the remake of true grit,in the beginning of the movie when a man gets hanged, he chants ieaiaio.

  6. anonymous
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    Sep 1st 2016 !⃝

    I just wanted to point out that one of the lead riffs in this song sounds a lot like the theme to the TV show "Knight Rider". Not sure why.

  7. anonymous
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    Feb 25th 2013 !⃝

    Iv'e always believed that the "plutonium wedding rings" part meant the sky-rocketing divorce rate, becuase plutonium dies out very quickly.

  8. anonymous
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    Dec 8th 2012 !⃝

    Its all about the idealism and corruption merely ego... Idealism the ways of cunning around the world by politic..

  9. anonymous
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    Jun 3rd 2012 !⃝

    I'm with the 'IdEAlIzAtIOn' group. IMO, each verse has something to do with an object or thought that America idealizes.
    Verse 1 (Peter's pecker...pussy pepper): This verse may be about America's fascination/obsession with sex, as with 'pecker' and 'pussy'.
    Verse 2 (Meeting John at Dale's Jr.): As has been posted already, this could be with journalists investigating politicians or with gossip, as 'winking' and 'pointing a finger'.
    Verse 3 (A former cop undercover): Not so sure with this one specifically, probably just an observation of American crime or possibly even the need for undercover cops investigating drugs, which SOAD dislikes.
    Verse 4 (Fighting crime with a partner):???
    Chorus: This is possibly a Klan chant, but I think it is America's pride in the 4th of July, celebrating nationalist, unfounded patriotism.
    'Plutonium wedding rings'... plutonium is expensive and has a short half-life, so it might be American's tendency of having short, expensive marriages.
    'Bubbles erotica' sex?
    'Icicles stretching' possible AGW...
    The rest is nearly inscrutable to me, your guess is as good as mine.

  10. anonymous
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    May 6th 2012 !⃝

    I think the chorus sounds like a native American chant. Going with the assumption that the "4th of July" is part of the original theme, I think this is consistent. The native Americans were slaughtered by genocide to near-extinction, and the nation of America celebrates it every year with fireworks. The 3rd and 4th portions of the verse also seem to be an obvious crack at the "war on drugs" which disproportionately affects minorities and destroys the culture of native Americans and native meso-Americans. I still don't understand the first two portions of the verse however.

  11. anonymous
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    May 1st 2012 !⃝

    When you said that aa ee eh ah eh aa oh is a KKK chant. if you watch their performance at download he started chanting that instead of IEAIAIO

  12. anonymous
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    Mar 19th 2012 !⃝

    I-E-A-I-A-I-O are the vowels for IDEALIZATION, and the KKK are ''brain-washed-like'' about religions, racism and other thing.

    In my opinion, the USA governement wants everybody to idealize the American Dream (Having big things, big money even if it is not necessary), like the KKK idealize racism.

  13. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jan 1st 2011 !⃝

    Ummmmm..... it might be all what you guys think but it probably isn't because music is supposed to be portrait how u want it to be. So no it doesn't talk about racism or secret missions. I didn't look any of this shit up it's just kinda dumb how all u people think of this shit. And how would SOAD find out about the secret missions,and the KKK chant? This song isn't about anything, the only thing its about is what u want it to be about.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  14. anonymous
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    Oct 16th 2010 !⃝

    I-E-A-I-A-I-O......I d E A l I z A t I O n.........notice the capitals are the vowels that make up the name of the song? That is not just coincidence! and as far as the secret organizations, well it has been an ongoing thing with humans to keep secrets, and make new lies, and there for create a bond between those who share the secrets. one of my favorite lines in a song, comes from the theme for pretty little liars, "Cause two can keep a secret, if one of them is dead"

  15. anonymous
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    Sep 26th 2010 !⃝

    I'm only looking at the more random section of the song (Plutonium wedding rings, Icicle stretchings, Bicycle shoestrings).

    Plutonium wedding rings, I believe, like another person said, refers to the high divorce rate because plutonium decays extremely quickly.

    Icicle stretchings could refer to the issue of global warming (Global warming isn't just making hot weather hotter, it also makes cold weather colder, so as the glaciers melt more quickly, the icicles are becoming longer).

    Bicycle shoestrings (not sure if I am stretching this one or not) may be a reference to history repeating itself. Bicycles have circular wheels and shoestrings are on shoes that we use to go places. The reference may be to history being circular in the respect that we continue to make the same mistakes over and over again despite technology advancing (bicycles are more advanced than shoestrings).

  16. anonymous
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    Aug 30th 2010 !⃝

    Something that I don't think it has been mentioned is that the letters i-e-a-i-a-i-o are the starting letters of words like "illegal emigration" apart from being a KKK chant and the "why?" after it refers to that we are thought to be civilized and so in Europe and America(Canada and the U.S. basically) but still major problems are out there.

  17. anonymous
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    Aug 20th 2010 !⃝

    There are many interpretations. The first is that the title of the song is based after the vowels in the word idealization. The second, KKK related themes, the chant, and "lighting up the sky" relating to burning a cross. My personal interpretation being: i-e-a-i-a-i-o sounds like a siren (cop siren, etc?) and "lighting up the sky" perhaps relates to law enforcement (e.g. helicopters using spotlights to catch criminals etc.)

  18. anonymous
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    Jul 13th 2010 !⃝

    as others have pointed out, the "I E A I A I O" is a KKK chant, symbolizing the racism in our country. the song then continues to ask "why? and we light up the sky" which can symbolize the fireworks on Forth of July, our freedom. perhaps SOAD is asking why are we celebrating our freedom if not all of us are really free...

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