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.
Harakiri
Serj Tankian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deciding to fly against the sky
Within our dreams, we all wake up
To kiss the ones who are born to die
We're the greying herds
Hurting each other with our lives
Within our dreams, we all wake up
Born to die, born to die
The drum fish
They beached themselves in Hara-kiri
The blackbirds
They fell in thousands from the sky
Their red wings
Streaming down from the higher seas
Deflected by the grounds
They crowned the sun
They crowned the sun
But I believe that they are free
When their time was done
They were drowned by the only One
But I believe that they are free
Washed by the sun
Our statues
The soaring edifice of our times
Detracted from the ways of the wise
The future will view all history as a crime
So father, tell us when is time to rise
They crowned the sun
They crowned the sun
But I believe that they are free
When their time was done
They were drowned by the only One
But I believe that they are free
They crowned the sun
They crowned the sun
But I believe that they are free
And we believe that they are free
'Cause I believe that they are me
Washed by the sun
Serj Tankian's "Harakiri" is a song that reflects on the idea of life and its inevitable end. The lyrics start with "We're the day birds, Deciding to fly against the sky," suggesting that humans are unique and have their own ways of moving. The line "Within our dreams, we all wake up, To kiss the ones who are born to die," refers to the inevitability of death and how we all know that one day we will have to say goodbye to our loved ones. The lyrics then continue by suggesting that humans, the "greying herds," hurt each other with their lives. This line highlights the idea that humans inflict pain on each other in different ways.
Tankian continues the idea of the inevitability of death by referring to the drum fish and blackbirds that beached themselves in hara-kiri and fell from the sky, respectively. He then suggests that these animals are free now that their time is done and they have been washed by the sun. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the idea that even though death is inevitable, we are free from the weight of life once it is over.
The lyrics then suggest that humans' actions in the present will be viewed as a crime in the future. The line, "So father, tell us when is time to rise," refers to the idea that we need guidance on how to live our lives and when to take action. The song ends with the line "And we believe that they are free, 'cause I believe that they are me, Washed by the sun," suggesting that all living beings are free from the weight of life once they pass on.
Line by Line Meaning
We're the day birds
We are people who feel lively and joyful during the day.
Deciding to fly against the sky
We choose to go against the conventional norms and expectations of society.
Within our dreams, we all wake up
In a world of our imagination, we discover our true purpose.
To kiss the ones who are born to die
We want to appreciate and show love to those who live with the knowledge of their inevitable death.
We're the greying herds
We are aging individuals who cause pain and sufferings to each other.
Hurting each other with our lives
Our existence only causes harm and destruction to ourselves and others.
Born to die, born to die
All living beings have to face death, as it is an inevitable fate.
The drum fish
Refers to the fishes that commit mass suicide by beaching themselves.
They beached themselves in Hara-kiri
They killed themselves in the way of Hara-kiri, a Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment.
The blackbirds
Refers to the thousands of birds that died suddenly and fell from the sky.
They fell in thousands from the sky
They died en masse and fell as lifeless bodies from the sky.
Their red wings
The birds' wings, which were red in color.
Streaming down from the higher seas
The birds' lifeless bodies falling from a higher place.
Deflected by the grounds
They bounced off the hard ground after falling.
They crowned the sun
The fishes and birds that died acted in honor of the sun as their God.
But I believe that they are free
Their sacrifice liberated them from the mundane existence of the world.
When their time was done
Their journey on Earth was over as they reached their ultimate destiny.
They were drowned by the only One
The Sun, which they worshiped as their God, caused their deaths as they reached their final destiny.
Our statues
Refers to the monuments and architectures of the contemporary era.
The soaring edifice of our times
The high structures that signify the advancement of human civilization.
Detracted from the ways of the wise
The contemporary civilization has moved away from the path of wisdom and justice.
The future will view all history as a crime
The future generations will consider our current behavior as a wrong committed against them.
So father, tell us when is time to rise
The younger generation seeks guidance from their elders to know the right time to take action.
And we believe that they are free
We also recognize and believe that the fishes and birds are free and liberated after their sacrificial death.
'Cause I believe that they are me
The singer of the song identifies himself with the fishes and birds that gave up their lives.
Washed by the sun
The final destination of all life is to be purified and liberated by the Sun.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Serj Tankian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yuumetal2363
[Chorus]
We're the day birds
Deciding to fly against the sky
Within our dreams, we all wake up
To kiss the ones who are born to die
We're the greying herds
Hurting each other with our lies
Within our dreams, we all wake up
To kiss the ones who are born
Born to die
Born to die
[Verse 1]
The drum fish
They beached themselves in Harakiri
The blackbirds
They fell in thousands from the sky
Their red wings
Streaming down from the higher seas
Deflected by the ground
They crowned the sun
[Refrain]
They crowned the sun
(They crowned the sun)
They crowned the sun
(They crowned the sun)
But I believe that they are free
When their time was done
(Their time was done)
They were drowned by the only one
(They crowned the sun)
But I believe that they are free
Washed by the sun
[Quote from Lyndon B. Johnson (Video Version Only)]
These are the stakes. We must either love each other, or we must die
[Verse 2]
Our statues
The soaring edifice of our times
Detracted
From the ways of the wise
The future
Will view all history as a crime
So, Father
Tell us, when is the time to rise?
[Refrain]
They crowned the sun
(They crowned the sun)
They crowned the sun
(They crowned the sun)
But I believe that they are free
When their time was done
(Their time was done)
They were drowned by the only one
(They crowned the sun)
But I believe that they are free
[Quote from Ronald Reagan (Video Version Only)]
We're at war with the most dangerous enemy that has ever faced mankind in his long climb from the swamp to the stars. There's no place to escape to, this is the last stand on earth
[Chorus]
We're the day birds
Deciding to fly against the sky
Within our dreams, we all wake up
To kiss the ones who are born to die
We're the greying herds
Hurting each other with our lies
Within our dreams, we all wake up
To kiss the ones who are born
Born to die
[Refrain]
They crowned the sun
(They crowned the sun)
They crowned the sun
(They crowned the sun)
But I believe that they are free
When their time was done
(Their time was done)
They were drowned by the only one
(They crowned the sun)
But I believe that they are free
They crowned the sun
(They crowned the sun)
They crowned the sun
(They crowned the sun)
But I believe that they are free
And we believe that they are free
'Cause I believe that they are me
Washed by the sun
@carterc3683
"Harakiri"
We're the day birds
Deciding to fly against the sky
Within our dreams, we all wake up
To kiss the ones who are born to die
We're the greying herds
Hurting each other with our lies
Within our dreams, we all wake up
To kiss the ones who are born...
Born to die
Born to die
The drum fish
They beached themselves in Harakiri
The blackbirds
They fell in thousands from the sky
Their red wings
Streaming down from the higher seas
Deflected by the ground
They crowned the sun
They crowned the sun (They crowned the sun)
They crowned the sun (They crowned the sun)
But I believe that they are free
When their time was done (Their time was done)
They were drowned by the only one (They crowned the sun)
But I believe that they are free
Washed by the sun
Our statues
The soaring edifice of our times
Detracted from the ways of the wise
The future will view all history as a crime
So father, tell us when is the time to rise
They crowned the sun (They crowned the sun)
They crowned the sun (They crowned the sun)
But I believe that they are free
When their time was done (Their time was done)
They were drowned by the only one (They crowned the sun)
But I believe that they are free
We're the day birds
Deciding to fly against the sky
Within our dreams, we all wake up
To kiss the ones who are born to die
We're the greying herds
Hurting each other with our lies
Within our dreams, we all wake up
To kiss the ones who are born...
Born to die
They crowned the sun (They crowned the sun)
They crowned the sun (They crowned the sun)
But I believe that they are free
When their time was done (Their time was done)
They were drowned by the only one (They crowned the sun)
But I believe that they are free
They crowned the sun (They crowned the sun)
They crowned the sun (They crowned the sun)
But I believe that they are free
And we believe that they are free
Cause I believe that they are me
Washed by the sun
@The-Athenian
Serj Tankian, surely a man to be mentioned in historical art books in years to come.
@alexd.e7993
they will...
@reemabd4211
Absolutely 👍
@madkandi
Unless the world changes to a peaceful, honest society it won't happen. They can't have men like Serj exposing their shady ways in their mind numbing lies called history books.
@linaresbojorquezandresalbe7437
Emil K If thats what you think about history books, you've read the wrong ones, or just the ones from your school.
@NelsonBigGunP200Fan
Ricardo Camacho He's bad ass. No one can compare, except SOAD. They need to get back together. Awesome band.
@elkevinski
"The future will view all history as a crime"
That line ALWAYS gave me chills. Specially with the native crying...
@wolfofthetwincities5704
Fun fact. The actor for the crying native isn't even native. I'm pretty sure that is Chief Iron Eyes, who's Sicilian.
@user7495
I think he says "The future will view our history as a crime" referring to the Armenian genocide
@elkevinski
@Anonymous Pretty sure the lyrcis were like that when I checked out just in case to not commit any mistake but maybe I got it wrong