Are the lyrics in System of a Down's "Chop Suey" referring to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ?

Question

Wake up,
Grab a brush and put a little (makeup),
Grab a brush and put a little,
Hide the scars to fade away the (shakeup)
Hide the scars to fade away the,
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table?
Here you go create another fable

You wanted to,
Grab a brush and put a little makeup,
You wanted to,
Hide the scars to fade away the shakeup,
You wanted to,
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table,
You wanted to,

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

Answer 1

The song "refers" to the christian crucifixion story, however it is not what the song is about. In an interview, the bands guitarist claims that the song is about the way the public views people differently depending on the way that they die.

If someone dies of a drug overdose, they deserve it. But if someone is murdered, and happens to have used drugs a lot, its a tragedy. The commonly used example is Kirk Cobain.

The end of the song is also ripped right out of a speech given by a high ranking priest following the atrocities of the Armenian genocide.

The lead singer, as well as the rest of the band, are Armenian. Not Jewish.

Answer 2

This was the best interpretation I found:

bible interpretation
here is an attempt at a semi-comprehensive interpretation:

1. jesus' second last words when he was on the cross were "father why have you forsaken me?"
2. references to angels and suicide and the above make me confident in sayign that the song has strong spiritual/ religious overtones.
3. According to the bible, Jesus died willingly to take on the sins of others.
4. In some views, this willing death could be considered a form of suicide, and if he(jesus) believes he is taking on the sins of others, it could also be considered self-righteous.
If this is true then
5. "i dont think you trust in my self righteous suicide" could be a serj taking on the persona of his version of jesus (to a limited extent).

6. All the above suggest that serj is quite familiar with the christian story, but does not agree with it. If this is true then it is easy to say that he could write a line like "angels deserve to die"

7. how does that relate to the first verse? If you nkow the chrisitan story but don't agree with its truth, then it is a..... fable. The person in the first verse seems intent on creating their own fable. Is it likely that their story in some way mirrors serj's perspective on jesus? Perhaps an unhappy woman (hiding the scars from the shakeup) with a self righteous, self sacrificial bent?

Answer 3

Self Crucifixion. Not one time does it mention Jesus. I think the lead singer by the way is Jewish..can't confirm that yet though...still researching

Answer 4

I guess, Chop Suey is the best Jesus song I've ever heard though.

Answer 5

no...self righteous suicide and the whole makeup thing no.