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.
Occupied Tears
Serj Tankian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you hit the floor
Your nouveau poses
Asking for war
Have you forgot the wall?
I've foreseen it all
We've foreseen it all
How can you just occupy another child's tear?
Don't you all know?
Don't you all care?
Don't you all see how this isn't fair?
Are we all blind? Do we not see?
Do we not bleed?
The faint cries of lost limbs
Mimes surrounded by mines
Without warning signs
of the great sacrifice
Holocaust, you tasted great fear
How can you just occupy another child's tear?
Don't you all know?
Don't you all care?
Don't you all see how this isn't fair?
Are we all blind? Do we not see?
Do we not bend to misery?
Of course we all know
Of course we all care
Of course we all see how this isn't fair
We are not blind, yes, we do see
It's time to end this misery
It's time to go up to bed
No more sipping on our regret
Tuck the kids in without worry
No more running out in a hurry
No more bombs falling over head
No more sirens predicting death
Yes, it's the two state solution
No more glaring through oblivion
Asking for war
Have you forgot the wall?
I've foreseen it all
We've foreseen it all
Holocaust, you've tasted great fear
How can you just occupy another child's tear?
Don't you all know?
Don't you all care?
Don't you all see how this isn't fair?
Are we all blind?
Do we not see?
Do we not bend to misery?
Of course we all know
Of course we all care
Of course we all see how this isn't fair
We are not blind, yes, we do see
It's time to end this misery
It's no mystery
It's no mystery
The lyrics to Serj Tankian's song Occupied Tears address the ongoing conflict and violence in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and Palestine. The first two lines suggest a violent incident, possibly a bombing or an attack, where the singer forgets to bring roses to honor the dead, while the next few lines discuss the cycle of violence and war that has made this kind of incident so common in the area. The chorus asks why people allow these atrocities to happen and why they aren't doing something to stop it.
The second verse speaks to the human cost of the violence, with images of lost limbs and mines everywhere. The phrase "Great Fear" in reference to the Holocaust is a nod to the trauma and pain that people in this region have experienced (Jews and Palestinians alike), and implies that the cycle of violence and trauma has been going on for too long. The third verse echoes the chorus, insisting that people do care and do see what's going on, and that it's time to end the misery.
The repeated phrase "Occupied Tears" is a powerful metaphor for the pain and suffering that comes from being caught in the middle of a conflict that you didn't choose, but have to deal with every day. The singer is asking for action, for change, and for an end to the violence, in a powerful plea for empathy and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
I forgot to bring you roses
When you hit the floor
Your nouveau poses
Asking for war
I failed to show you appreciation when you were hurt. Your attempts to be modern and trendy are just fueling conflict.
Have you forgot the wall?
I've foreseen it all
We've foreseen it all
Haven't you considered the barrier that divides us? I anticipated all of this, we all did.
Holocaust, you tasted great fear
How can you just occupy another child's tear?
The horrors of genocide have affected you deeply. How can you continue to inflict pain on innocent children?
Don't you all know?
Don't you all care?
Don't you all see how this isn't fair?
Are we all blind?
Do we not see?
Do we not bleed?
Why don't you understand the injustice that's going on? Are you oblivious to the suffering of others? Can't you see the harm this is causing? Don't we all have the same capacity to feel pain?
The faint cries of lost limbs
Mimes surrounded by mines
Without warning signs
of the great sacrifice
We can hear the faint cries of amputees who have lost limbs. Innocent people are surrounded by danger, with no signs to warn them of the risks.
Of course we all know
Of course we all care
Of course we all see how this isn't fair
We are not blind, yes, we do see
It's time to end this misery
We all acknowledge the pain and suffering that's happening. We aren't ignorant, we do see. It's time to put an end to all this misery.
It's time to go up to bed
No more sipping on our regret
Tuck the kids in without worry
No more running out in a hurry
No more bombs falling over head
No more sirens predicting death
Yes, it's the two state solution
No more glaring through oblivion
It's time to move on and focus on peace. We can't keep living in regret and fear. We need to ensure the safety of our children and live without the constant threat of violence. We need a two-state solution to create a lasting peace.
It's no mystery
The solution to all of this is clear and straightforward.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Serj Tankian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheAkaboyboy
My paternal grandparents were Armenian Genocide orphans who were forced from their homes in 1915. They had to march from their homes in Aintab (modern-day Gaziantep, Turkey) to Damascus, Syria. From Damascus, Syria they marched to Irbid, Jordan. And from Irbid, Jordan they marched to Haifa, then British Palestine. They were placed in an orphanage in Haifa. In 1952 they were evicted from their home in Haifa. Israeli Defense Forces came to their door and told them to give them their keys and leave, claiming that they will be allowed to return once the conflict was over. They lost everything and started their lives over again in Beirut, Lebanon. In 1976 a year after the Lebanese Civil War began between Muslims and Christians they fled to Los Angeles, California. I was born and raised here and the stories of these three horrific events from my paternal history never leave my ears.
"Occupied Tears" by Serj Tankian
I forgot to bring you roses
When you hit the floor
You knew the poses
Asking for war
Have you forgot the wall?
I've foreseen it all
We've foreseen it all
Holocaust, you taste the great fear
How can you just occupy another child's tear?
Don't you all know?
Don't you all care?
Don't you all see how this isn't fair?
Are we all blind? Do we not see?
Do we not bleed?
The faint cries of lost limbs.
Mimes surrounded by mines.
Without warning signs of the great sacrifice.
Holocaust, you taste the great fear
How can you just occupy another child's tear?
Don't you all know?
Don't you all care?
Don't you all see how this isn't fair?
Are we all blind? Do we not see?
Do we not bend to misery?
Of course we all know
Of course we all care
Of course we all see how this isn't fair
We are not blind, yes, we do see
It's time to end this misery
It's time to go up to bed
No more sipping on our regret
Tuck the kids in without worry
No more running out in a hurry
No more bombs falling over head
No more sirens predicting death
Yes, it's good to state solution
No more glaring through oblivion
Asking for war
Have you forgot the wall?
I've foreseen it all
We've foreseen it all
Holocaust, you taste the great fear
How can you just occupy another child's tear?
Don't you all know?
Don't you all care?
Don't you all see how this isn't fair?
Are we all blind?
Do we not see?
Do we not bend to misery?
Of course we all know
Of course we all care
Of course we all see how this isn't fair
We are not blind, yes, we do see
It's time to end this misery
It's no mystery...
It's no mystery...
#israel #palestine #armenia #turkey #syria #jordan #haifa #armeniangenocide #lebanon #beirut #damascus #gaziantep #irbid
@yuumetal2363
I forgot to bring you roses
When you hit the floor
Your nouveau poses
Asking for war
Have you forgot the wall?
I've foreseen it all
We've foreseen it all
[Pre-Chorus]
Holocaust, you tasted great fear
How could you just occupy another child's tear?
[Chorus 1]
Don't you all know?
Don't you all care?
Don't you all see how this isn't fair?
Are we all blind?
Do we not see?
Do we not bleed?
[Verse 2]
Faint cries of lost limbs
Mimes surrounded by mines
Without warning signs
Of the great sacrifice
[Pre-Chorus]
Holocaust, you tasted great fear
How could you just occupy another child's tear?
[Chorus 1]
Don't you all know?
Don't you all care?
Don't you all see how this isn't fair?
Are we all blind?
Do we not see?
Do we not bend to misery?
[Chorus 2]
Of course, we all know
Of course, we all care
Of course, we all see how this isn't fair
We are not blind
Yes, we do see
It's time to end this misery
[Bridge]
It's time to go up to bed
No more sipping on our regret
Tuck the kids in without worry
No more running out in a hurry
No more bombs falling over our heads
No more sirens predicting death
Yes, it's the two-state solution
No more glaring through oblivion
[Verse 3]
Asking for war
Have you forgot the wall?
I've foreseen it all
We've foreseen it all
[Pre-Chorus]
Holocaust, you tasted the great fear
How could you just occupy another child's tear?
[Chorus 1]
Don't you all know?
Don't you all care?
Don't you all see how this isn't fair?
Are we all blind?
Do we not see?
Do we not bend to misery?
[Chorus 2]
Of course, we all know
Of course, we all care
Of course, we all see how this isn't fair
We are not blind
Yes, we do see
It's time to end this misery
[Outro]
It's no mystery...
It's no mystery...
@BJORNtobeWILD
We are blinded by greed.
Over-consuming the selfish needs.
The noise of society is making me bleed.
We all have history, but why do we forget so fast?
Self centered misery, we should learn from our past.
It's in our own strength, and our duty as a human to change lives.
It's in our own faith, that we will found salvation that strives.
We should stop watching, and start doing
@kauemv2
One of the most underrated songs in entire Serj's career.
@drsarko2064
And all of rock n metal
@javierperez3437
Free Palestine from zionist assasins!
@theoutcast3082
The amount of wars this music already covered is the most sad shit that we as human can see we fail as humanity. Serj's Art still brings me confort and rebellion at the same time.
@theoutcast3082
From the river to the sea 🇵🇸
@brucestack1658
@theoutcast3082 how can people back this phrase? I get that we dont want innocent Palestinians to die, Hamas is an evil, and Israel is exacting violence on the populace....but they are all humans. You suggest Israel be completely eradicated. Are you blind, do you not care?
@a.k.963
@@brucestack1658 Israel is an intrinsically colonial political project born of ethnic cleansing and land theft. Promoting a free Palestine from sea to river means campaigning for the abolition of the colonial institutions that have kept the Palestinians in a position of subalternity for the last 75 years and that have authorised the genocidal sequence we have been witnessing for the last +2 months. Do you legitimately fail to understand that fighting oppressive institutions is not the same as slaughtering those who benefit from them, or are you just pretending so that you don't have to question the legitimity of your favourite ethnostate?
@user-mb5gw9yb3k
one day I hope Serj's music becomes irrelevant and is relegated to a history book but sadly today is not that day. Keep making music dude we still need it.
@Mattalaska
rage bait
@williamhowell7854
how? @@Mattalaska serj's music will always be phenomenal, but it's heartbreaking that its relevant today. after october 7th, the genocide of palestinians by israeli forces has become more publically prevalent and recognized. this song is about the occupation of palestine by israel