Chop Suey

Song meaning of Chop Suey by System Of A Down, and what it is about

In an interview, the guitarist, Daron Malakian, explained, "The song is about how we are regarded differently depending on how we pass. Everyone deserves to die. Like, if I were now to die from drug abuse, they might say I deserved it because I abused dangerous drugs. Hence the line, 'I cry when angels deserve to die.'".

The singer, Serj Tankian, was at a loss for words, so he randomly selected the lyrics for the middle portion ("Father into your hands I commend my spirit"...) from producer Rick Rubin's book collection. The sentences are derived from Mark 15:34 and Luke 23:46, which are quotes from the sayings of Jesus on the cross, though it is unclear whose book they were taken from.

Columbia Records reportedly pushed back against the initial title of the song, which was modified from "Child Suicide" (as reported by Rubin). Odadjian claims that there is wordplay in the song title: "Suey" is a pun on "suicide" and "chopped" in half. The track begins with a faint mention of "we're rolling 'Suicide'" by singer Serj Tankian, followed by the drummer John Dolmayan counting the band in.

Chop Suey lyrics by System Of A Down

We're rolling suicide

Wake up (wake up)

Grab a brush and put a little make-up

Hide the scars to fade away the shake-up (hide the scars to fade away the...)

Why'd you leave the keys upon the table?

Here you go create another fable

You wanted to

Grab a brush and put a little makeup

You wanted to

Hide the scars to fade away the shake-up

You wanted to

Why'd you leave the keys upon the table?

You wanted to

I don't think you trust

In my self-righteous suicide

I cry when angels deserve to

Die

Wake up (wake up)

Grab a brush and put a little make-up

Hide the scars to fade away the shake-up (hide the scars to fade away the...)

Why'd you leave the keys upon the table?

Here you go create another fable

You wanted to

Grab a brush and put a little make-up

You wanted to

Hide the scars to fade away the shake-up

You wanted to

Why'd you leave the keys upon the table?

You wanted to

I don't think you trust

In my self-righteous suicide

I cry when angels deserve to die

In my self-righteous suicide

I cry when angels deserve to die

Father, father, father, father

Father, into your hands I commend my spirit

Father, into your hands

Why have you forsaken me?

In your eyes forsaken me

In your thoughts forsaken me

In your heart forsaken me, oh

Trust in my self-righteous suicide

I cry when angels deserve to die

In my self-righteous suicide