Know by System of a Down Lyrics Meaning – Decoding the Fervent Rebellion Against Conformity

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for System of a Down's Know at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Cursed Earth
Cursed Earth
Cursed Earth
Cursed Earth

I’ll never feed off the evergreen luster of your heart
All because we all live in the valley of the walls
When they speak we can peak from the windows of their mouths
To see the land the women chant as they fly up to the sun

You never think you know why
Know, you never think you know why
Know, ever think you know why
Don’t know, don’t

Books all say different things while people flap their yellow wings
Trying to soar, being a whore, life and almost everything
Sheep that ran off from the herd, may be dead, now’s a bird
Able to fly, able to die, able to fuck your mother’s Earth

You never think you know why
Know, you never think you know why
Know, ever think you know why
Know

On the other side
The other side
The other side

Do you ever try to fly?
Do you ever try to fly?
Have you ever wanted to die?
Have you ever wanted to die?

Don’t ever try to fly, don’t ever try to fly
Don’t ever try to fly, unless you leave your body on the other side
Never try to die, did you ever try to die?

Know, you never think you know why
Know, you never think you know why
Know, you never think you know why
Know, ever think you know why
Know

In the landscape of metal, few bands have managed to blend the erratic eruptions of sound with labyrinthine lyricism quite like System of a Down. ‘Know,’ a track off their self-titled debut album, dives headlong into the raw tumult of societal and existential critique, flinging the listener into a realm where vivid imagery collides with the piercing thrash of instrumentation.

As we dissect the dense tapestry of ‘Know,’ there’s a sense of urgent messaging that transcends the cacophony of chords. System of a Down has always been a band to deliver their music with a subtext, a cryptic dance between the lines of poetry and the politics of the human condition. Let us unravel the layers of this enigmatic song and unearth the profound contemplations it harbors.

The Evergreen Luster and the Valley of Walls: Confronting Societal Confinement

The opening lines of ‘Know’ speak of an ‘evergreen luster,’ a symbol of vitality and perpetual life, unattainable by the individual. It sets a tone of inherent disconnect between one’s inner vitality and the external reality imposed upon us by society – the ‘valley of the walls.’ These walls speak to the barriers that culture and societal norms erect, affecting our ability to access true freedom and self-realization.

The song suggests that to comprehend the world, one needs to ‘peak from the windows of their mouths’ – a powerful metaphor for seeking truth beyond appearances and norms. System of a Down calls into question the authenticity of societal narratives, likening them to a choreographed chant that may not resonate with personal essence.

A Chaotic Symphony of Existence: The Fragmented Echoes in Lyricism

The verse ‘Books all say different things while people flap their yellow wings’ articulates a scene of confusion, diverse opinions, and the struggle for individual ascendancy in a world saturated with conflicting information. It’s the chaotic cacophony where everyone wishes to soar yet somehow becomes a ‘whore,’ selling out the core of their being in the hustle of life.

Flight and transformation resurface throughout ‘Know,’ where the sheep – a common symbol for conformity – becomes a bird, suggesting an escape from herd mentality. And yet, there’s a darker undertone; in this liberation, there’s a severance from the roots, metaphorically ‘fucking’ the Earth, raising questions about the cost of such freedom.

The Visceral Cry for Escape: Does Liberation Lead to Annihilation?

The climax of ‘Know’ unsettles with the recurring query, ‘Do you ever try to fly? Have you ever wanted to die?’ It taps into a profound human longing for escape and the existential weight of living. System of a Down dares the listener to consider the gravity of liberation, its ties to mortality, and the temerity to defy the natural order.

There’s an ominous warning against illusory attempts at escape—’Don’t ever try to fly, unless you leave your body on the other side.’ It perhaps suggests that true transcendence is not of this world, hinting at the spiritual or the fatal price paid for attempting to breach the constraints of our reality.

A Question Without Answers: The Mantra of ‘Know’ and Its Ignition of Doubt

The relentless chorus, ‘Know, you never think you know why’ reverberates like a mantra. It’s a nod to the human predicament of seeking knowledge yet facing the enigma of never truly understanding. The song doesn’t offer solutions but revels in the uncomfortability of this doubt, pushing the audience into contemplation.

By repeating ‘Know’ in various intonations, the band communicates a multitude of messages. From the frustration of ignorance and the industry of assumed truths to the sense of urgency in questioning—every iteration bites with a different intensity but circles the same all-consuming enigma.

Unleashing Memories: The Most Memorable Lines That Define Rebellion

The track is laced with potent statements, but few are as biting as ‘Sheep that ran off from the herd, may be dead, now’s a bird.’ It conveys the stark reality of rebellion—the metamorphosis from a mere follower to an entity that’s free but faces the perils that such freedom entails.

Each phrase in ‘Know’ thrums with an insurgent beat. The ‘Cursed Earth’ intro sets the stage for the subsequent explosion of defiance against the very ground we walk on—the foundation of our established realities. The lyrics insinuate that to know is not just to understand, but to challenge and perhaps, in that rebellion, to find the truest expression of self.