Chop Suey
♫System of a Down Lyrics

The lyrics of "Chop Suey" by System of a Down are a stream of consciousness that tackle themes of control, power, and self-destructiveness. The opening lines, "Wake up, grab a brush and put a little makeup, hide the scars to fade away the shakeup," suggest that the singer is trying to present a polished facade to the world, hiding their inner turmoil and pain. The repetition of these lines throughout the song highlights the cyclical nature of this struggle, and the inability to escape it.

The chorus, "I don't think you trust in my self-righteous suicide, I cry when angels deserve to die," is a reference to the biblical story of Cain and Abel. The singer feels like an outcast, persecuted and misunderstood, and is struggling with the idea of suicide as a way to assert control over their own life. The lyrics, "Here you go, create another fable," suggest that this struggle is not only personal but also societal, as the pressures of conformity and the pursuit of power contribute to this cycle of pain and self-destruction.

The final lines, where the singer calls out to their father and questions why they have been forsaken, suggest a deeper spiritual struggle. The singer feels abandoned and alone, searching for something beyond themselves to provide guidance and meaning, but finding only emptiness and despair. Overall, "Chop Suey" is a powerful and emotive song that speaks to the complexities of the human experience, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that often seems chaotic and unrelenting.