Prison Song
Syste.m Of A Down Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison

Following the rights movements you clamped on with your iron fists
Drugs became conveniently available for all the kids
Following the rights movements you clamped on with your iron fists
Drugs became conveniently available for all the kids
I buy my crack, I smack my bitch
Right here in Hollywood

Nearly two million Americans are incarcerated
In the prison system, prison system of the U.S.

They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
For you and me to live in
Another prison system
Another prison system
Another prison system
For you and me

Minor drug offenders fill your prisons, you don't even flinch
All our taxes paying for your wars against the new non-rich
Minor drug offenders fill your prisons, you don't even flinch
All our taxes paying for your wars against the new non-rich

I buy my crack, I smack my bitch
Right here in Hollywood

The percentage of Americans in the prison system
Prison system has doubled since 1985

They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
For you and me to live in
Another prison system
Another prison system
Another prison system
For you and me

They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
For you and me
Oh baby, you and me

All research and successful drug policies show
that treatment should be increased
And law enforcement decreased while abolishing
mandatory minimum sentences
All research and successful drug policies show
That treatment should be increased
And law enforcement decreased while abolishing
Mandatory minimum sentences

Utilizing drugs to pay for
Secret wars around the world
Drugs are now your global policy
Now you police the globe

I buy my crack, I smack my bitch
Right here in Hollywood

Drug money is used to rig elections
And train brutal corporate sponsored
Dictators around the world

They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
For you and me to live in
Another prison system
Another prison system
Another prison system
For you and me

They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison




For you and me
Oh baby, you and me

Overall Meaning

In "Prison Song," System Of A Down uses powerful lyrics to criticize the U.S. prison system and the country's attitude towards drugs. The song starts with the chorus, "They're trying to build a prison" repeated four times while the lyrics discuss how the American government is building a prison system for everyone to live in due to the rise in incarceration numbers. The following stanzas address the way that the government has turned a blind eye to drugs while also using drug money to support wars and dictatorships. The song suggests that law enforcement should be decreased while treatment is increased to deal with drug use.


The repeated stanza "I buy my crack, I smack my bitch right here in Hollywood" is a reference to how drugs are readily available, even in the affluent areas of Los Angeles. The use of these harsh words is meant to shock and prove a point. Another reference is made to the fact that the percentage of Americans locked up in prison has doubled since 1985, with most of those sentenced for non-violent drug offenses.


"Prison Song" was not released as an official single but was a staple of System of a Down's live performances. The song was written and recorded during the making of the band's album, Toxicity. The lyrics of the song were written by the band's frontman, Serj Tankian, and the music was composed by the band's guitarist, Daron Malakian. The song is played in the key of D and follows a time signature of 4/4.


Line by Line Meaning

They're trying to build a prison
The government is attempting to construct confinement facilities


They're trying to build a prison
The government is trying to build more correctional facilities


Following the rights movements you clamped on with your iron fists
After the progression of civil rights movements, the government instilled strict control


Drugs became conveniently available for all the kids
Substances became widely accessible to young individuals


Following the rights movements you clamped on with your iron fists
After the progression of civil rights movements, the government instilled strict control


Drugs became conveniently available for all the kids
It became effortless for children to access illicit drugs


I buy my crack, I smack my bitch
Personally purchasing drugs and mistreating women is done in Hollywood


Right here in Hollywood
The said actions occur within the location of Hollywood


Nearly two million Americans are incarcerated
Approximately two million citizens of America are held captive


In the prison system, prison system of the U.S.
Individuals are held captive in the prison system of the United States


They're trying to build a prison
The government is endeavoring to institute additional penitentiaries


They're trying to build a prison
Efforts are being made by the authorities to establish more confinement facilities


They're trying to build a prison
Construction of penitentiaries is aimed for by the government


They're trying to build a prison
The authority is making an attempt to construct more lockdown centers


For you and me to live in
The penitentiaries are destined for the public, you and I


Another prison system
Another correctional facility structure


Another prison system
Another method of imprisonment


Another prison system
Another system of confinement


For you and me
For us, the public


Minor drug offenders fill your prisons, you don't even flinch
Trivial drug convicts congest jails without any remorse from the government


All our taxes paying for your wars against the new non-rich
All citizens' expenses are used to fund the government's attacks on impoverished people


The percentage of Americans in the prison system
The amount of individuals under confinement in America


Prison system has doubled since 1985
The number of individuals imprisoned has multiplied since 1985


Oh baby, you and me
Dear, you and I


All research and successful drug policies show that treatment should be increased
Studies and proven drug policies reveal that attempting rehabilitation should be the priority


And law enforcement decreased while abolishing mandatory minimum sentences
Correspondingly, law enforcement should be reduced while removing compulsory minimum prison terms


Utilizing drugs to pay for
Drugs are utilized as payment for


Secret wars around the world
Covert battles globally


Drugs are now your global policy
The government's worldwide operation is currently funded and enforced by narcotics


Now you police the globe
The administration currently controls the world


Drug money is used to rig elections
Proceeds from narcotics are employed to manipulate voting


And train brutal corporate sponsored
Additionally, barbaric business-supported


Dictators around the world
Dictatorship is established globally by the administration and corporations


For you and me to live in
The confinement centers are intended for the public, you and I


They're trying to build a prison
The authorities are attempting to establish additional confinement facilities


They're trying to build a prison
The government is endeavoring to institute more penitentiaries


They're trying to build a prison
Efforts are being made by the authorities to construct more lockdown centers


They're trying to build a prison
The administration is making an attempt to create additional confinement facilities


For you and me
For us, the public


Oh baby, you and me
Dear, you and I




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DARON MALAKIAN, SHAVO ODADJIAN, JOHN DOLMAYAN, SERJ TANKIAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@FaZe_xboys

LYRICS:

They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
Following the rights movement, you clamped on with your iron fists
Drugs became conveniently available for all the kids
Following the rights movement, you clamped on with your iron fists
Drugs became conveniently available for all the kids
I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch right here in Hollywood
(Nearly two million Americans are incarcerated in the prison system, prison system of the US)
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
(For you and me to live in)
Another prison system
Another prison system
Another prison system
(For you and me)
Minor drug offenders fill your prisons you don't even flinch
All our taxes paying for your wars against the new non-rich
Minor drug offenders fill your prisons you don't even flinch
All our taxes paying for your wars against the new non-rich
I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch right here in Hollywood
(The percentage of Americans in the prison system, prison system, has doubled since 1985)
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
(For you and me to live in)
Another prison system
Another prison system
Another prison system
(For you and me)
For you and I, you and I, you and I
You and I
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison for you and me
Oh, baby, you and me
Oh
Oh
All research and successful drug policy show that treatment should be increased (Oh)
And law enforcement decreased while abolishing mandatory minimum sentences (Oh)
All research and successful drug policy show that treatment should be increased (Oh)
And law enforcement decreased while abolishing mandatory minimum sentences
Utilising drugs to pay for secret wars around the world
Drugs are now your global policy, now you police the globe
I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch right here in Hollywood
Drug money is used to rig elections and train brutal corporate sponsored dictators around the world
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
(For you and me to live in)
Another prison system
Another prison system
Another prison system
(For you and me)
For you and I, you and I, you and I
You and me
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison
They're trying to build a prison for you and me
Oh, baby, you and me



@insaintbear5329

I remember when I was younger I misheard the lyrics as pigeon instead of prison. I remember singing along with the chorus:

THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD A PIGEON!
THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD A PIGEON!
THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD A PIGEON!

ANOTHER PIGEON SYSTEM
ANOTHER PIGEON SYSTEM
ANOTHER PIGEON SYSTEM



All comments from YouTube:

@dolphinboi-playmonsterranc9668

"Why do some artists have to be so cryptic"

SOAD: The prison industrial complex is a problem and the way we handle drug addiction is severely incorrect.

@joehogan8234

The other message is how corrupt the US is. They start and instigate wars around the world. They then spend billions of dollars on wars instead of helping their own citizens.

@amberforte94

So true! They have a knack for making plain statements sound catchy. 😊

@matiasflores4281

Boom. So right.

@Radimunto

This song is timeless, because they're still doing it.

@DGeorge94

Funny how Serj was pro Russian then, and now he blames both Russia and "the West" for the bad times we are living in his tweets...

@Radimunto

@@DGeorge94 There is no good and evil on this planet.

@noahkarpinski1824

@@DGeorge94 no one is immune to their own biases

@stevesamson3940

because it's still true

@youmakemehappy7

@@DGeorge94 this was like 2p years ago .

68 More Replies...
More Comments

More Versions