Arto by System of a Down Lyrics Meaning – The Profound Commentary on Liberation and Existence
Lyrics
We won in the river and won again after the fall
Swimming through the void we hear the Word
We lose ourselves but we gain it all
We are the ones that want to play
Always want to go but you never want to stay
We are the ones that want to choose
Always want to play but you never want to lose
Areas, In the sky
When you lose small minds you free your life
Life is a waterfall
We drink from the river then we turn around put up our wall
Swimming through the void we hear the Word
We lose ourselves but we find it all
We are the ones that want to play
Always want to go but you never want to stay
We are the ones that want to choose
Always want to play but you never want to lose
Areas, In the sky
When you lose small minds you free your life
Areas, In the sky
When you free your eye’s eternal prize
Areas, In the sky
When you lose small minds you free your life
Areas, so up high
When you free your eye’s eternal prize
At first glance, ‘Arto’ by System of a Down may come across as a cryptic and enigmatic piece of art. Hidden beneath the thunderous riffs and serpentine melodies typical of the band, there lies a thought-provoking commentary that penetrates the clouds of our understanding of freedom and existence.
Dissecting the lyrical depth of this profound track, the song unfurls itself not merely as a medley of compelling sounds but as a tapestry woven with cogent reflections on life, choice, and the human condition. Let’s dive into the depths of ‘Arto’ and unearth the semantic treasures housed within its verses.
The Majestic Metaphor of Waterfalls and Rivers
System of a Down masterfully uses the imagery of waterfalls and rivers as an allegory for life’s unending cycle and the human quest for meaning. The lyrics evoke a sense that life, much like a waterfall, is both a force of nurture and a barrier to be confronted.
The notion of winning ‘in the river and again after the fall’ sets a tone of perseverance and cycles of triumph that mimic our own existential victories after we face the falls, or failures, that life presents to us.
The Paradox of Play: A Dualistic Interpretation
The repetitive lines ‘We are the ones that want to play / Always want to go but you never want to stay’ points to a paradox within human nature – the innate desire to explore and experience juxtaposed with the fear of commitment and change.
This duality evokes an understanding of how individuals often grapple with their cravings for both adventure and stability, an eternal tug-of-war that is both exhilarating and distressing.
Liberation from Small Minds: The Hidden Meaning Revealed
Perhaps the most profound message within ‘Arto’ is the repeated line ‘When you lose small minds you free your life’. This can be interpreted as an enlightenment of sorts, a call to break free from the constricted thinking that often holds back the human spirit.
The emancipation from these metaphorical ‘small minds’ suggests a transformation, an evolution that elevates one’s consciousness and fundamentally changes how we perceive the ‘Areas, in the sky’, which could symbolize the limitless potential of the human soul.
The Wall of Reality: Finding and Losing Ourselves
Within ‘Arto’, there’s a striking allusion to building walls after drinking from the river of life. These ‘walls’ are emblematic of the barriers we erect around ourselves – socially, emotionally, and mentally – that may offer protection but also isolation.
The journey described in the song is cyclical; ‘we lose ourselves but we find it all,’ implying that in the process of self-protection and detachment, there is an odd, yet profound, self-discovery that redefines personal identity and realizations about the world.
The Eternal Prize: Memorable Lines That Linger
‘When you free your eye’s eternal prize’ strikes a chord with listeners, suggesting that there is something infinitely valuable in altering our perception. The ‘eternal prize’ alludes to a timeless, invaluable reward that comes from releasing our vision from the mundane to focus on the sublime.
In the world of System of a Down, this ‘prize’ seems to be closely tied to personal liberation and enlightenment, where the freeing of our ‘eyes’ – our understanding and perspective – might ultimately lead us to a transcendence that is the true ‘prize’ of life’s enigmatic journey.
