At age five, Serj Tankian moved with his parents to Los Angeles, California. After high school, he studied marketing. He took singing lessons for four years and also took guitar lessons as a young child. In 1993, he founded the band Soil (not to be confused with SOiL) with Daron Malakian, which later went on hiatus, and later changed to System of a Down. Tankian is not only a member of the band System of a Down, but also has his own record label which is called Serjical Strike Records, a sub-division of Columbia Records. He also performed guest vocals on songs such as Mushroom Cult by Dog Fashion Disco, and Mein by Deftones. He produced "Enter The Chicken" by Buckethead, and provided vocals to the Buckethead songs "We are One," "Coma" and "Waiting Here." With Serjical Strike Records, he endeavors to offer those musicians often ignored by the mainstream a possibility to release their music and be heard. The first release of Serj's new label was Serart, a project consisting of Tankian, himself, and Arto Tunçboyaçiyan, an Armenian friend of Tankian's.
Tankian is also very involved politically. Together with Tom Morello (ex-Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine, The Nightwatchman), he founded the organization Axis Of Justice. Tankian often speaks publicly against violence and injustice in the world.
Serj is a vegetarian and likes to read poetry but other than that, few details are known about Tankian's private life. He is especially interested in Shakespeare, T.S. Eliot and Edgar Allan Poe. Serj hates celebrity gossip. He believes it is a waste of time and due to the spreading of rumors, can destroy close relationships .
Two days after the attacks on September 11, 2001, Serj posted a highly controversial essay on the band's website. It was promptly taken down by Sony, the band's record label. Sony's opinion was that Tankian had tried to justify the terrorist attacks and that his claims were unfounded.
Tankian's first poetry book, Cool Gardens, was published by MTV Books and released on October 1st, 2002. It is a collection of seven to eight years of Tankian's reflections on life, and features artwork by fellow Armenian, Sako Shahinian. The book has received much praise in the artistic community.
In late 2007, Serj released his first solo album "Elect the Dead" Serj later went on to perform live around the world on a tour to promote his solo album, backed by another band on his label, the FCC (Flying Cunts of Chaos). In 2010, Serj released a live album "Elect the Dead Symphony" during which he performed with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra. Afterwords, they embarked on a worldwide tour with the orchestra.
In September of 2010, Serj released another solo album "Imperfect Harmonies" through Serjical Strike Records, his record label. In December of 2010, it was announced by fellow members of his band System of a Down that they would be reuniting for a world tour in 2011. Fellow bandmate Shavo Odadjian released through his Twitter account that they would reunite. In May of 2011, they began their worldwide tour in Canada, with stops in America, England, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Austria, and Russia. They will also be heading to South America to play in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.
The Figure It Out Songfacts reports that Serj's third solo album, "Harakiri" will be released on July 10, 2012. The lead single, "Figure it Out," was released on May 1, 2012.
Deserving?
Serj Tankian Lyrics
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I will desert you, why don't you leave?
But you put your faith in me one last time
You, you put your faith in love all the time
I don't deserve you, why can't you see?
I will desert you, why don't you leave?
But you put your faith in me one last time
I believe that you, you and me, you and me
We, we've achieved a love that we, we can see
I don't deserve you, why can't you see?
I will desert you, why don't you leave?
But you put your faith in me one last time
You, you put your faith in love all the time
I believe that you, you and me, you and me
We, we've achieved a love that we, we can see
For, I believe that you, you and me, you and me
We, we've achieved a love that we, we can see
So go find your path, take me with you
I will make sure no one hurts you
I need your ways, we deserve it
We'll depend on our love here we
Go find your path, take me with you
I will make sure no one hurts you
I need your ways, we deserve it
We'll depend on our love, here we go!
Here we go!
You know, you know, you know
For I believe that you and me
We've achieved a love we can see
My love
In Serj Tankian's song Deserving, the lyrics are filled with conflicting emotions of guilt and love. The singer believes that he does not deserve the love of the person he is addressing, yet he also acknowledges the faith and trust that the person has placed in him. While he fears that he will abandon this person, he also promises to protect them and follow them on their path. The repetition of the phrase "you put your faith in me one last time" suggests that the singer has let down this person multiple times before, yet they continue to believe in him. However, the singer also acknowledges that they have achieved a deep love that they both can see, highlighting the strength and significance of their relationship.
The lyrics could be interpreted in various ways, as they can apply to many relationships that involve mixed emotions and complicated feelings. It could be a romantic relationship, a friendship, or even a professional relationship where one person feels undeserving of the loyalty and support that the other has shown them. The song seems to be about the struggle to reconcile one's own insecurities and doubts with the love and trust that another person has placed in them. Overall, Deserving is a raw and emotional take on the complex nature of relationships and the difficulties in accepting and reciprocating love.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't deserve you, why can't you see?
The singer acknowledges their own lacking worthiness, yet wonders why their partner cannot see this.
I will desert you, why don't you leave?
The singer believes that they are likely to abandon their partner, and wonders why their partner doesn't leave first.
But you put your faith in me one last time.
Despite the singer's doubts, their partner still trusts them and gives them one last opportunity to prove themselves.
You, you put your faith in love all the time.
The artist admires their partner for consistently placing their faith in love, despite potential setbacks.
I believe that you, you and me, you and me,
We, we've achieved a love that we, we can see.
The artist reflects on the connection they share with their partner, and how their love is visible to both of them.
So go find your path, take me with you.
The singer is willing to go wherever their partner goes, and support them in their journey.
I will make sure no one hurts you.
The singer vows to protect their partner from harm and prioritize their safety.
I need your ways, we deserve it.
The artist realizes how much they rely on their partner and how they both deserve a loving, healthy relationship.
We'll depend on our love here we
Go find your path, take me with you.
The artist reiterates their commitment to their partner and prioritizing their relationship as they both continue their paths in life.
Here we go!
You know, you know.
The artist is excited to embark on this journey with their partner and is confident in their love for each other.
For I believe that you and me,
We've achieved a love we can see.
My love.
The singer concludes by restating their belief that their love with their partner is strong and visible, and they address their partner with a term of endearment.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Serj Tankian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind