Needles
System Of A Down/System Of A Down/System Of A Down Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I cannot disguise
All the stomach pains and the walking of the canes
When you do come out
And you whisper up to me in your life of tragedy

But I cannot grow
'Til you eat the last of me, oh, when will I be free?
And you, a parasite
Just find another host, just another fool to roast

'Cause you
My tapeworm tells me what to do
You
My tapeworm tells me where to go

Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey

I cannot deny
All the evil traits and the filling of the crates
When you (you) do come out (out)
And you slither up to me in your pimpin' majesty

But I cannot grow
'Til you eat the last of me, oh, when will I be free?
And you (you) a parasite (-site)
Just find another host just another stool to post

'Cause you
My tapeworm tells me what to do
You
My tapeworm tells me where to go

Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of me

Out of me

I'm sitting in my room
With a needle in my hand
Just waiting for the tomb
Of some old dying man

Sitting in my room
With a needle in my hand
Just waiting for the tomb
Of some old dying man

You
My tapeworm tells me what to do
You
My tapeworm tells me where to go

Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey

Hey
Hey




Hey
Fuck me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to System of a Down’s song ‘Needles’ depict the relationship between the singer and their tapeworm, which they compare to a parasite that controls their actions and thoughts. The imagery used throughout the verses, with mentions of stomach pains, walking canes, evil traits and filling of crates, paints a dark and unsettling picture of the singer’s physical and mental state. The tapeworm is portrayed as a controlling force, dictating the singer’s actions and leading them to feel trapped and unable to grow without being rid of it. The repeated chorus of ‘Pull the tapeworm out of your ass’ serves as a call to action, a desire to be free from the parasitic hold on their life.


At its core, ‘Needles’ is a commentary on addiction and the destructive power it can have on an individual’s life. The needle references made throughout the song can be interpreted as a metaphor for drug use, with the singer feeling trapped and controlled by their addiction. The mention of waiting for the tomb of an old dying man in the final verses serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of addiction, with the singer suggesting that they are waiting for their own eventual demise.


Ultimately, ‘Needles’ is a powerful and thought-provoking song that touches on themes of control, addiction and self-destruction. The use of dark and unsettling imagery creates a sense of unease in the listener, effectively conveying the singer’s feelings of being trapped and controlled.


Line by Line Meaning

I cannot disguise
I can't hide my pain


All the stomach pains and the walking of the canes
I suffer from physical pain and need to use a cane to move


When you do come out
When you reveal yourself to me


And you whisper up to me in your life of tragedy
You confide in me and tell me about your tragic life


But I cannot grow
I can't progress or develop


'Til you eat the last of me, oh, when will I be free?
Until you consume all of me, when will I be liberated?


And you, a parasite
You are like a parasite


Just find another host, just another fool to roast
Just move on to another victim to exploit


'Cause you
Because you


My tapeworm tells me what to do
I feel like a puppet, controlled by my inner demons


You
You


My tapeworm tells me where to go
I feel directionless and aimless, like my inner demons are leading me astray


Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Get rid of your inner demons, remove your negative thoughts and feelings


I cannot deny
I can't ignore


All the evil traits and the filling of the crates
All the negative aspects of myself and the accumulation of my wrongdoings


When you (you) do come out (out)
When you (your true self) reveal yourself to me


And you slither up to me in your pimpin' majesty
And you approach me in your manipulative, dominant demeanor


Just find another host just another stool to post
Just move on to another victim to exploit


Out of me
Get rid of my inner demons


I'm sitting in my room
I'm alone, isolated


With a needle in my hand
I'm using drugs to cope with my pain and demons


Just waiting for the tomb
Just waiting for death


Of some old dying man
To rid myself of my pain and demons by dying


Fuck me
A swear word expressing frustration and despair




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Serj Tankian, Daron V. Malakian, Shavo Odajian, John Dolmayan

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

More Versions