Pictures by System of a Down Lyrics Meaning – An Exploration of Ego and Illusion

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

Lyrics

Flaunt your will at every wheel
Perish it, your chocolate soul
Cobblestones under your wheels

I got pictures on my mind
I got pictures on my mind
I got pictures on my mind
I got pictures on my mind

Circumvent your thick ego
When in fights, they’re on the go
You can’t tell me that I’m real

I got pictures on my mind
I got pictures on my mind
I got pictures on my mind
I got pictures on my mind

Fear waits (fear waits)
For us (for us)
When the present can’t be sealed
Away (away)
Gold dust (gold dust)
Now the dishes can be cleared

Fear waits
For us (for us)
‘Til the moment is revealed (revealed)
Then turns (then turns)
To rust (to rust)
For the mighty conquered meal

Can’t you look at my shaved ass
Ounce is gone, and God is once
You can’t see me suddenly

I got pictures on my mind
I got pictures on my mind
I got pictures on my mind
I got pictures on my mind

I got pictures on my mind

System of a Down has never been a band for the faint of heart. Their explosive tracks have always been sonic pipelines through which the band conveyed complex social, political, and personal themes. ‘Pictures,’ a track from their lesser-known early work, persists as a stunning mosaic of metaphorical lyricism and frenetic energy.

Within the seemingly chaotic verses and merciless rhythms, there exists a deep scrutiny of the human condition. It’s here, amid the cacophony, that the band explores the duality of image versus reality, a struggle that resonates on a profoundly individual level while also echoing the broader societal issues.

Unwrapping the Chocolate Soul: Identity in the Modern World

The line ‘Flaunt your will at every wheel, Perish it, your chocolate soul,’ might seem mystifying at first glance. ‘Chocolate soul’ can be interpreted as a metaphor for what’s pleasing or desirable in humanity – sweet, indulged, rich in flavor. Yet, as chocolate succumbs to the elements, melting or perishing, so does the façade we present to the world when faced with life’s inexorable turns.

The song suggests a tendency of individuals to project an image, their ‘will,’ at every nexus of their lives, as if steering through society’s expectations. But the authenticity of the self – the ‘chocolate soul’ – is at risk of eroding under these external pressures.

I Got Pictures on My Mind: The Obsession with Image

The phrase ‘I got pictures on my mind’ repeats like a mantra throughout the song. It speaks to the preoccupation with the images we craft and consume – be they in our heads or in our digital profiles.

These ‘pictures’ could be anything from personal memories to societal standards; they haunt the narrator, refusing to be silenced or ignored. It’s a potent commentary on how the intangible images we hold onto can dictate our perceptions and realities.

Navigating Ego’s Cobblestones: A Fight for Authenticity

The imperative ‘Circumvent your thick ego’ serves as a warning against letting one’s self-inflation hinder their journey. The cobblestones may be literal or symbolic teeth-rattling obstacles, suggesting that the ego can trip us up, making our path harder to travel.

In this sense, System of a Down is challenging the listener to question what is real versus what is merely a product of ego – an inflated self-image that leads to ‘fights on the go’ where nothing substantial is ever real or resolved.

The Ephemeral and the Eternal: Unpacking the Most Mystifying Verses

When the song turns to ‘Fear waits’ and ‘Gold dust,’ these abstract concepts are clothed in the tangible. Fear is personified, lying in wait for the moment when our present projections can no longer be maintained. Gold dust, a symbol of impermanent value, dissipates as we confront the reality beyond our created images.

There’s a cyclicality at play – the moment of truth revealed eventually ‘turns to rust,’ suggesting that even the mightiest accomplishments are subject to decay. The ‘conquered meal’ hints at the finality of consumption or perhaps the endgame of our endeavors that, once reached, leave us unfulfilled or still hungry for meaning.

Sharp Wit and Sharper Irony: The Memorable Lines That Seal the Deal

The lighter quip ‘Can’t you look at my shaved ass’ juxtaposes the heavy themes with a jarring, almost humorous imagery. This line embodies System of a Down’s unique talent for blending satire with their messages.

The ‘shaved ass’ could symbolize our vulnerable selves that we reluctantly expose, or it could be a defiant call to observe what’s often hidden. The abrupt shift to ‘Ounce is gone, and God is once’ may allude to the transient nature of sacredness in a material world, the exhaustion of divine meaning in exchange for fleeting fixes.