What is the real meaning of the song "Chop Suey" by System of a Down?

Question

I have heard a lot of meanings but the one i think makes sense is that they are singing about how they lost their fathers. Is that true or is there another meaning?

Answer 1

Many interpretations of the lyrics exist. One says that it is based on a poem about the Armenian genocide in the early 20th century (the band members are of Armenian decent). Another says that it is about an abusive father of one of the band members, or a member's brother that commited suicide. Also, yet a different theory says that people are wrongly regarded differently depending on how they die. Supporting this theory, in an interview, Daron Malakian is quoted to have said: "The song is about how when people die, they will be regarded differently depending on the way they pass. Like, if I were to die from a drug overdose, everyone would say I deserved it because I abused drugs, hence the line 'Angels deserve to die'." While another theory suggests that the songs lyrics refer to the sacrifice of Jesus of Nazareth and imply that it was of no relevancy and so is faith in it hence the words "Trust in my self righteous suicide" and suggest that Jesus expected a flock of angels to come down from heaven and take his place hence "I cry when angels deserve to die" and "...why have you forsaken me?"

Other popular thoughts:

1. This song is about their fealings on suicide. They think that people that kill themselves shouldn't go to heven (that's where the angels die comes in).

2. I think that it is talking about how other people see it. Say if a person took drugs and died, people would say that it was their own fault because they took the drugs, that the person deserved it. That's where the "angels deserve to die" comes in.

3. I believe that Chop Suey is a bout euthanasia which, in case you don't know is the consented suicide of a person who wishes to die because they are in pain.

The term "self righteous suicide" means the suicide is for the goood of the own person and the term "angels deserve to die" means that because people are forced to kill themselves because of pain that the angels should die for letting them suffer.

4. This song is about Jesus on the cross. "Self-righteous suicide" is referring to him dying but having the ability to save himself. "It's a suicide" and "Angels deserve to die" is Jesus being an "angel" that must die.

5. This song is about comparing suicide with martyrdom. The verse "Wake up, grab a brush and put on on a little make up" and so on is talking about the hidden stories in the bible and hiding the bad things they never told about christ in the bible. Then "here you go create another fable" another religious story.

6. This song is really about the guitarist's brother who committed suicide because his father used to abuse him.

7. This song is about the Armenian Genocide, and they tie a bit of christianity in it, too. Serj screams "Father! Father to your hands, I commend my spirit, Father to your hands why have you forsaken me" Which is a verse from the bible as well as him asking god why he would let the Armenian genocide happen.

Answer 2

I've always understood it to just be a jumble of things that are ultimately meaningless since they don't connect to each other. They were just thrown in together.

Much like chop suey. Random (leftover) veggies, noodles, and meats tossed together and made to eat.

Answer 3

You Kill Yourself Because You Think You Are Too Good For The World? Just My Guess. :]

Answer 4

It isn't about having meaning! It's all about getting caught up in the beat. And I don't think it was meant to be listened to at a volume where U could hear what they were saying...

Answer 5

The song was originally slated to be titled "Suicide," for whatever that's worth.

Answer 6

Whatever!!! I don't give a F.U.C.K about them.