Although Daron Malakian said in some shows that “Aerials” doesn’t mean anything, the overall theme of the song is our mistaken views of ourselves as being individual and isolated from the rest and how we actually are a tiny part of something greater, from which we come when we are born, and to which we go when we die. It speaks of clinging to life and not accepting death, because we see death as an ending, not as another step of existence. When we die, our matter is decomposed and is transferred to things like worms that feed on us, to the atmosphere in the form of gas, and to the ground and plants that feed on him. We are always moving through the circle of existence, there is no stillness, only movement, and transformation.
On many CD issues, “Aerials” is listed as a single track with a length of 6:11. In reality, “Aerials” itself ends at around 3:54, while the rest of the length is taken up by a hidden track unofficially named “Arto.”
Aerials
System of a Down Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're one in the river
And one again after the fall
Swimming through the void, we hear the word
We lose ourselves, but we find it all
'Cause we are the ones that want to play
And we are the ones that want to choose
Always want to play but you never want to lose
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind, you free your life
Life is a waterfall
We drink from the river
Then we turn around and put up our walls
Swimming through the void, we hear the word
We lose ourselves, but we find it all
'Cause we are the ones that want to play
Always want to go, but you never want to stay
And we are the ones that want to choose
Always want to play but you never want to lose
Oh
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind, you free your life
Aerials, so up high
When you free your eyes, eternal prize
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind, you free your life
Aerials, so up high
When you free your eyes, eternal prize
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
The lyrics of System of a Down's song "Aerials" are open to interpretation on many levels. At the most fundamental level, the song seems to touch upon the notion of freedom and liberation. The lyrics suggest that life is like a waterfall, an ever-flowing force that we ride like a river. The imagery gets even more interesting as the song speaks of falling and swimming through the void. The notion of losing oneself in this void appears to suggest the contrasting feeling of total liberation against a realization of true self. The lines "We lose ourselves, but we find it all" hint toward the possibility of transformation through experience and introspection.
The chorus of the song captures the central point of this message, stating that "Aerials in the sky, when you lose small mind, you free your life." The idea of "small mind" implies mental constraints, a limitation in perspective, or an unwillingness to take risks. By accepting vulnerability and breaking the walls of our mental captivity, we, according to the song lyrics, open up vast possibilities in life.
Overall, "Aerials" seems to convey the message of how we can move beyond preconceived notions of the world by engaging in life's freedoms and taking risks. The lyrics suggest that true liberation is possible when we embrace the chaos and move beyond the limitations of our small minds.
Line by Line Meaning
Life is a waterfall
Life flows continuously like a waterfall
We're one in the river
We are a part of the flow of life
And one again after the fall
Even after facing the obstacles in life, we still remain a part of the continuous flow
Swimming through the void, we hear the word
In navigating the unknowns of life, we sometimes discover greater truths
We lose ourselves, but we find it all
Sometimes we have to lose our sense of self to find a more complete understanding of the world
'Cause we are the ones that want to play
We seek adventure and excitement in life
Always want to go, but you never want to stay
We crave new experiences, but we are afraid of commitment or getting stuck in one place
And we are the ones that want to choose
We value our freedom to make our own choices
Always want to play but you never want to lose
We want to take risks and have fun, but we fear failure or losing
Aerials in the sky
Looking up for inspiration and perspective
When you lose small mind, you free your life
Breaking free from narrow thinking and expanding our worldview can bring greater freedom in life
We drink from the river
We take what we need from life to survive
Then we turn around and put up our walls
After experiencing hurt or disappointment, we often close ourselves off to protect ourselves
Aerials, so up high
Looking beyond our immediate surroundings for inspiration and perspective
When you free your eyes, eternal prize
Opening our minds and hearts to new experiences and perspectives can lead to greater rewards in life
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
@rufexgohard
Life is a waterfall
We're one in the river
And one again after the fall
Swimming through the void, we hear the word
We lose ourselves, but we find it all
'Cause we are the ones that want to play
Always want to go, but you never want to stay
And we are the ones that want to choose
Always want to play but you never want to lose
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind, you free your life
Life is a waterfall
We drink from the river
Then we turn around and put up our walls
Swimming through the void, we hear the word
We lose ourselves, but we find it all
'Cause we are the ones that want to play
Always want to go, but you never want to stay
And we are the ones that want to choose
Always want to play but you never want to lose
Oh
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind, you free your life
Aerials, so up high
When you free your eyes, eternal prize
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind, you free your life
Aerials, so up high
When you free your eyes, eternal prize
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
@t.j.1234
I recommend you listen to these by System of a Down
Spiders
Sugar
War
Suitpee
Suggestions
Prison Song
Toxcicity
Forrest
Science
Chop Suey
Highway Song
ADD
IEAIAO
And all of mesmerize and hypnotize 😂
I missed a lot of great songs but honestly you can listen to everyone of there albums and you won’t find one bad song there an amazing band ✊🏽👌🏽
@nosaj3938
System of a Down - Aerials lyrics
______________________________
Life is a waterfall
We're one in the river
And one again after the fall
Swimming through the void
We hear the word
We lose ourselves
But we find it all
Cause we are the ones that wanna play
Always wanna go
But you never wanna stay
We are the ones that wanna choose
Always wanna play
But you never wanna lose
Aerials, in the sky
When you lose small mind
You free your life
Life is a waterfall
We drink from the river
Then we turn around, put up our walls
Swimming through the void
We hear the word
We loose ourselves
But we find it all
Cause we are the ones that wanna play
Always wanna go
But you never wanna stay
We are the ones that wanna choose
Always wanna play
But you never wanna lose
Aerials, in the sky
When you lose small mind
You free your life
Aerials, so up high
When you free your eyes
Eternal prize
Aerials, in the sky
When you loose small mind
You free your life
Aerials, so up high
When you free your eyes
Eternal prize
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
{EDIT} : Thanks for likes guys <3
@undeadtigerlily
I was abused all my childhood and early adult life.
As a kid I would lay on the cold basement floor of my parents house and listen to this. This music was never allowed of course in a fundamentalist household.
But I would sneak it, stay up late and listen to it and cry.
I ran away at 22 and life ate me whole. Became addicted to drugs, one bad relationship after another, raped and abused more, and ended up becoming a trafficking survivor.
This song speaks volumes to me.
The scene where the photographer is screaming reminds me so much of my childhood and posing for dirty pictures as a young woman.
I am safe now.
Thank you for listening.
Money isn’t everything yet it controls everything.
If you need out, please don’t be scared to get help. You deserve it. You are loved.
You deserve to be safe too.
@MrSighAnne
+Romeo Teixeira We are the ones that want to choose, always want to play but never want to loose.
When you loose small mind you free your life.
From another, "Mutability is a tragedy but it's also our hope: the worst of times like the best, are always passing away."
Loose small mind and see in fourspace. Fourspace is the past, present, future at once, as well as the multitudinous possibilities that did not happen in your experience but which might have happened had the butterfly flapped it's wings.... etc.
In fourspace we see that suffering is not the enemy of pleasure but rather the other side of the same sensation. Both serve to move us. They are not the destination. Man has fallen by forgetting the dual nature of all things.
While it may be desirable to move away from pain and while it may be desirable to move towards pleasure, one must understand that these forces are temporal in nature and only serve to move us in our lives. If we are to stay in pleasure, we must fight the nature of time. A loosing battle for sure.
@maxplays8185
Lyrics:
Life is a waterfall
We're one in the river
And one again after the fall
Swimming through the void
We hear the word
We lose ourselves
But we find it all?
'Cause we are the ones that want to play
Always want to go
But you never want to stay
And we are the ones that want to choose
Always want to play
But you never want to lose
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind
You free your life
Life is a waterfall
We drink from the river
Then we turn around and put up our walls
Swimming through the void
We hear the word
We lose ourselves
But we find it all?
'Cause we are the ones that want to play
Always want to go
But you never want to stay
And we are the ones that want to choose
Always want to play
But you never want to lose
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind
You free your life
Aerials so up high
When you free your eyes
Eternal prize
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind
You free your life
Aerials so up high
When you free your eyes
Eternal prize
@roastie3284
This song fucked my shit up man, here is my interpretation of the song for those who care (below):
Life is a waterfall -Life is a never ending journey
We're one in the river, -One before we find ourselves
And one again after the fall.-one after we find ourselves
Swimming through the void -going through life
We hear the word,-We hear our calling
We lose ourselves;-We forget our close minded way of thinking
But we find it all? -We find ourselves (peace within)
Cause we are the ones that wanna play, -As humans we want to do as we please
Always wanna go, -Always want to do
But you never wanna stay, -Never want to face the reality (consequences)
And we are the ones that wanna choose, -Choose what to believe and what rules to go by
Always wanna play, -always want to do
But you never wanna lose. -never want to face the reality (consequences)
Aerials, in the sky, -Lost people, looking for a cause. Bending what they think is right and wrong in life
When you lose small mind, -when you open your mind
You free your life. -you find yourself
Life is a waterfall,-Life is a never ending journey
We drink from the river, -We obey what we are told
Then we turn around and put up our walls.-Then we defend what we are made to believe
Swimming through the void-going through life
We hear the word, -we hear our calling (find our purpose)
We lose ourselves, -forgetting our close minded way of thinking
But we find it all? - We find ourselves (peace within)
Cause we are the ones that wanna play,-As humans we want to do as we please
Always wanna go,-Always want to do
But you never wanna stay; -Never want to face the reality (consequences)
And we are the ones that wanna choose,-Choose what to believe and then pick and choose what rules we want to go by in that belief
Always wanna play, -Always want to do
But you never wanna lose. -Never want to face reality
Aerials, in the sky, -lost ones (the close minded)
When you lose small mind, -When you open your mind
You free your life. -you find peace (find yourself)
Aerials, so up high, -lost ones (close minded)
When you free your eyes, -when you see life for what it is
Eternal prize. -you are granted the best gift one can have (happiness)
Aerials, in the sky,-lost ones (the close minded)
When you lose small mind,-when you open your mind
You free your life.-you find yourself
Aerials, so up high, -lost ones (the close minded)
When you free your eyes,-when you see life for what it is
Eternal prize. -you are granted the best gift one can have (happiness)
Tell me what you think about it (and maybe make your own ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) )
@birdperson6294
Life is a waterfall
We're one in the river
And one again after the fall
Swimming through the void, we hear the word
We lose ourselves, but we find it all
[Pre Chorus]
'Cause we are the ones that want to play
Always want to go but you never want to stay
And we are the ones that want to choose
Always want to play but you never want to lose
[Chorus]
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind
You free your life
[Verse 2]
Life is a waterfall
We drink from the river
Then we turn around and put up our walls
Swimming through the void, we hear the word
We lose ourselves, but we find it all
[Pre Chorus]
'Cause we are the ones that want to play
Always want to go but you never want to stay
And we are the ones that want to choose
Always want to play, but you never want to lose
Oh
[Chorus]
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind
You free your life
Aerials, so up high
When you free your eyes
Eternal prize
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind
You free your life
Aerials so up high
When you free your eyes
Eternal prize
[Outro]
Ahh, ahh, ahhh
Ahh, ahh, ahhh
Ahh, ahh, ahh-ahh, ah ah, ah-ah-ahhh
Ahh, ahh, ahhh
Ahh, ahh, ahhh
Ahh, ahh, ahh-ahh, ah ah, ah-ah, om
@larrychuchua6287
❤❤❤❤❤❤
Psalm 133
New International Version
Psalm 133
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
@InstintoCast
Liryc song
.
.
.
.
Life is a waterfall
We're one in the river
And one again after the fall
Swimming through the void, we hear the word
We lose ourselves, but we find it all
'Cause we are the ones that want to play
Always want to go, but you never want to stay
And we are the ones that want to choose
Always want to play but you never want to lose
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind, you free your life
Life is a waterfall
We drink from the river
Then we turn around and put up our walls
Swimming through the void, we hear the word
We lose ourselves, but we find it all
'Cause we are the ones that want to play
Always want to go, but you never want to stay
And we are the ones that want to choose
Always want to play but you never want to lose
Oh
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind, you free your life
Aerials, so up high
When you free your eyes, eternal prize
Aerials in the sky
When you lose small mind, you free your life
Aerials, so up high
When you free your eyes, eternal prize
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
@rnrtruestories
Here after watching machine gun kelly's cover. Needed to rinse my ears out. Feel much better now
@ohjordyn8312
The whole sort by newest section is so funny we’re ALLLLL here for the same reason 😂
@ChrisHoopes1
Yep, thanks Machine Gun Kelly.
@jaropickles7826
This is exactly why I’m here lmao
@whiteknight2907
Literally LOL
@kimwassilus6696
My first time hearing this song by both System and MGK. I’ve been an MGK fan for years but I gotta say, K butchered the ever loving soul of this song. Please don’t do it again K. Lawdy
@AlfredosMovieFactory
This video is actually very profound. For those that don't understand the music video, it's the story of the circus freak that looks up to the aerials performers. He closes his eyes and imagines a world where he is wealthy and powerful, however, his limited knowledge of real life frustrates him even in his imagination, like when he is questioned by the other kid.
This goes in hand to the lines "When you loose small mind you free your life / when you fee your life eternal prize"
What that basically means is that our limited perception, like that kid's, holds us captive. If we are able to confront our perceptions of life we'll get the eternal prize, which is happiness.
@christian-rv2pv
Thanks cap
@GypsyFairy85
How do you know this? Did you work with the makers of the video.
@AlfredosMovieFactory
+GypsyFairy85 it's very explicitly told in the video if you follow it's story.