If you are some how offended by this article in anyway, this was not my intention. My sole intention was to show what I believed what the lyrics meant. Keep in mind, I'm an athiest so my sources for these theories and the parts of Jesus may be incorrect.
Lyrics courtesy of
System of a Down OnlineSo, I was sitting in my English class this week, and we were reading about the crucifixion in the Bible, and as we read (its a shortened version from the full context), me and my friend began to notice some similarities....
Just read the lyrics for a minute. Notice the part about "Self-righteous suicide"?
From dictionary.comSo, it says there that whoever's being crucified is sure of their own righteousness in the cause of being killed. Well, Jesus knew he was being killed because he was the son of God and he must die for "our" sins. Well, I'm sure he'd consider his suicide self-righteous if he was dying to save millions/billions of people from hell. Wouldn't you?
Next thing to note is that while on the cross Jesus is offered vinegar (sometimes called sour wine, depending on the version of the bible or what source you use). He supposedly said "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" or something to that effect. Check the lyrics.
Is that not just a modern text and deeply explained version of what is said?
Finally, he later says "It is finished; Father into Thy hands I commend my spirit" before dying. Check the lyrics again.
They both are offering up their spirit to their father and both use "into thy/your hands" and "commend". I see too many similarities here.
Now, another part I seem to see (though I'm not quite sure as its been a while since I've read the book), is the first section seems to describe Barabas on two lines.
Barabas had a scar on his cheek (or was it his eye? I can't recall.) though its never said how he got it. But its said it was hard to notice because of his beard that he wore.
This section could also be referring to the fact that Jesus was whipped before he was placed on the cross and that they covered his scars with cloth once he was removed from the cross because the sights could cause them to be mentally "shaken up" by the sights.
So basically, my theory is that the lyrics of Chop Suey by System of a Down has to do with the crucifixion. Does anyone have anything to add to this? or does anyone have anything they disagree on?
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SourcesThe Crucifixion of Jesus - I used this to get the quotes of Jesus' words because I left my book at school for the weekend.
Chop Suey Lyrics - To get the lyrics needed for the analysis.
Self-righteous definition - To be able to define it for proof/confirmation.
Last Edit: Jun 26, 2006 22:19:03 GMT by Chris