P.L.U.C.K. by System of a Down Lyrics Meaning – Dissecting the Call for Recognition and Resistance
Lyrics
Elimination
Elimination
Die
Why?
Walk down
Walk down
A whole race genocide
Taken away all of our pride
A whole race genocide
Taken away
Watch them all fall down
Revolution, the only solution
The armed response of an entire nation
Revolution, the only solution
We’ve taken all their shit, now it’s time for restitution
Recognition, restoration
Reparation
Recognition, restoration
Reparation
Watch them all fall down
Revolution, the only solution
The armed response of an entire nation
Revolution, the only solution
We’ve taken all their shit, now it’s time for restitution
The plan was mastered and called genocide (never want to see you ’round)
Took all the children and then we died (never want to see you ’round)
The few that remained were never found (never want to see you ’round)
All in a system
Down
Down
Down
Down
Walk down
Walk down
Watch them all fall down
Revolution, the only solution
The armed response of an entire nation
Revolution, the only solution
We’ve taken all their shit, now it’s time for restitution
The plan was mastered and called genocide (never want to see you ’round)
Took all the children and then we died (never want to see you ’round)
The few that remained were never found (never want to see you ’round)
All in a system
Down
Amidst a landscape of nu-metal and hard rock, System of a Down stands out not only for their unique blend of music but also for their unabashed political commentary. ‘P.L.U.C.K.’, an acronym standing for ‘Politically Lying, Unholy, Cowardly Killers’, serves as a potent protest song from their eponymous 1998 debut album.
Diving into the song’s aggressive riffage and passionate vocal delivery, one finds a raw narrative of historical injustice and a clarion call to action. ‘P.L.U.C.K.’ confronts its listeners with an unfiltered account of the Armenian Genocide, an event which the band members, being of Armenian descent, hold close to their hearts.
The Scream Against Erasure: ‘A Whole Race Genocide’
From the opening lines, ‘P.L.U.C.K.’ voices the anguish and rage of a people witnessing the systematic erasure of their identity. System of a Down crafts a narrative that transcends time, anchoring the weight of historical atrocities within the contemporary framework of the song.
The repeated line ‘a whole race genocide’ functions as a haunting reminder not just of the Armenian Genocide, but of similar tragedies throughout history. Each repetition acts as an act of reclamation, a refusal to let the obliteration of culture and pride fade into obscurity.
A Call to Arms: Revolution as the Only Solution
System of a Down infuses their work with urgency, and ‘P.L.U.C.K.’ manifests this through the mantra ‘Revolution, the only solution’. As the song progresses, this becomes more than a catchphrase—it’s a rallying cry for collective action against oppressors.
By framing the response as ‘the armed response of an entire nation’, the band pulls no punches in advocating for resistance. It’s a powerful suggestion that when faced with annihilation, a people must respond with equal force to claim restitution for their suffering.
Hidden Meaning Behind ‘All in a system Down’
It may be easy to overlook within the intensity of the song, but the phrase ‘All in a system’ followed by the titular ‘Down’ offers a deeper insight. It resonates as an indictment of the systems that facilitate and even endorse genocide.
This phrase is the linchpin of the song, illustrating that the perpetration of such crimes against humanity is not just by the hands of individual villains but is often supported by an entire systemic structure which requires dismantlement.
The Elegy Within the Rage: Mourning the Loss
Beneath the surface of ‘P.L.U.C.K.’ is an elegy mourning the immeasurable loss of life and culture. The stark imagery of ‘Took all the children and then we died’ evokes a sense of complete devastation left in the wake of the genocide.
As these lines reverberate, they resonate with the sorrow that underscores the anger in the song—giving a voice to those whose lives were brutally cut short, and whose stories might otherwise be untold.
Lingering Echoes: The Memorable Lines That Resonate
Among the raw power of ‘P.L.U.C.K.’, certain lines linger long after the song has ended. The uncompromising finality of ‘watch them all fall down’ serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of unchecked evil.
These memorable moments within the song are deliberate provocations, designed to remain with the listener, to encourage remembrance, and to inspire the pursuit of justice—ensuring that the past horrors are not repeated.
