War? by System of a Down Lyrics Meaning – A Dissection of Anti-War Sentiments and Historical Reflections
Lyrics
With all your prayers, incantations
Running away, a trivial day
Of judgment and deliverance
To whom was sold, this bounty soul
A gentile or a priest?
Who victored over, the Seljuks
When the Holy Land was taken
We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens
Was it the riches of the land
Powers of bright darkness
That lead the noble to the East
To fight the heathens?
We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens
Yeah, we will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens
Yeah, we will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens
We must call upon our bright darkness
Beliefs, they’re the bullets of the wicked
One was written on the sword
For you must enter a room to destroy, destroy, destroy
Now international security
No call of the righteous man
Needs a reason to kill man
History teaches us so
The reason he must attain
Must be approved by his God
His child, partisan brother of war
Of war
We don’t speak anymore of war
We don’t speak anymore of war
We don’t speak anymore of war
We don’t speak anymore of war
We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens
Yeah, we will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens
Yeah, we will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens
With a discography steeped in politically charged anthems and activist fervor, System of a Down’s ‘War?’ resonates as a potent critique of conflict, weaving historical allusions and a stark commentary on the motives behind warfare. This song, like much of the band’s work, challenges listeners to look beyond the surface and question the ethos that leads to such human calamities.
As we delve into the lyrics, the track emerges not just as a juxtaposition of ‘dark’ and ‘light,’ but as a complex examination of faith, ideology, and the often manipulative nature of historical narratives that justify war. Each verse and chorus contributes to a mosaic that portrays the tragic cycle of violence fueled by dogma and desire.
A Call to Arms or a Cynical Chorus?
The recurrent chant of ‘We will fight the heathens’ serves not as a genuine battle cry, but as a scathing satire of the simplicity with which war is often justified. This seemingly straightforward statement is an ironic nod to the rallying slogans that have echoed throughout history, inciting violence in the name of religion, land, or ideology.
System of a Down employs this chant to underscore a grim reality: that often the masses are spurred into violence by catchphrases that mask the greed and power plays at the root of many conflicts. It is a critique of the binary good-versus-evil narrative that makes enemies out of ‘others’ based on belief systems.
The Irony of ‘Bright Darkness’ and Misused Faith
‘We must call upon our bright darkness,’ invites an analysis of the dichotomy between ostensibly noble intentions and their devastating consequences. The song suggests that what is often presented as a righteous cause may, in reality, be cloaked in moral ambiguity—or ‘bright darkness.’
By evoking ‘beliefs’ as ‘the bullets of the wicked,’ the band condemns the perversion of faith as a tool for justifying violence. Whether emblazoned on a sword or a modern weapon, the misappropriation of religious or moral certitude to endorse war remains a timeless critique that ‘War?’ sharply amplifies.
The Echoes of History in Modern Conflict
Historical references, such as the victory over the Seljuks and the conquest of the Holy Land, are not mere backdrop but a reminder of the cyclical nature of war. System of a Down implies that the same motifs and excuses that fueled the Crusades continue to reverberate in the fabric of contemporary warfare.
By bringing these moments to the forefront, ‘War?’ draws a parallel that suggests history is not only a reflection but a predictor of how and why humans will opt for destruction in the future, unless we actively break the cycle.
Hidden in Plain Sight: The Subversion of ‘War?’
What may seem on the surface to be an aggressive rock song is, in fact, a subversive anti-anthem. The title itself, ‘War?’ with the question mark, prompts listeners to ponder the legitimacy and inevitability of conflict as a human endeavor.
The relentlessness of the refrain invoking war inevitably leads to a haunting silence—a deliberate decision by the band to signify the end of discourse. ‘We don’t speak anymore of war’ is a grim acknowledgment of the normalization and resignation that can follow prolonged exposure to conflict.
Memorable Lines: The Sword, the Security, and the Silent Child
‘One was written on the sword / For you must enter a room to destroy, destroy, destroy’ is particularly resonant, encapsulating the physical and psychological penetration of war into the sanctums of human lives. These lines also allude to the calculated strategies that dismantle opposition, leaving behind only silent witnesses.
‘His child, partisan brother of war’ hauntingly evokes the inheritance of conflict, where the next generation becomes both a victim and a carrier of the war-torn legacy. In short, these memorable lines embody System of a Down’s testament to the reverberations of war throughout time and its imprints on human souls.
