AN ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE REFLECTED
IN THE THREE LYRICS OF
SYSTEM OF A DOWN
Roki Rivo Mamoto Yan Ardian
English Department, Faculty of Letters, Universitas Pamulang
ABSTRACT
This research will analyze three songs lyrics of System of a Down the aim is to reveal the figurative language to comprehend more of the songs and get the real meaning that the songwriter tries to pictured. The five songs are “Chop Suey”, “Toxicity”, and “B.Y.O.B.” The writer highlight two problems in the research, those are: 1) what kind of figurative language that reveal in each song lyric and 2) what is the possible meaning of the lyrics. The method used in this study is descriptive. In the analysis, the writer uses the theory of lyric poetry and figurative language from Robert DiYanni, Frank Madden, Mario Kllarer and Zaenudin Fananie. After completing this research and put it in written form, the writer come to a conclusion that the figurative languages and its possible meanings from System of a Down are used as a medium of protests and critics, especially to US government.
Key words: Literature, lyric poetry, figurative languages
REVIEW OF LITERATURES
In this subchapter the writer is going to display definitions, theories, and concepts about a
lyric, a figurative language and its meaning. They are as follows.
LYRIC POETRY
A genre of poetry is often subdivided into the two major categories of narrative and lyric
poetry. Narrative poetry includes genres such as the epic long poem, the romance, and the
ballad, which tell stories with clearly developed, structured plots. The shorter lyric poetry, the
focus of the following comments, is mainly concerned with one event, impression, or idea.
Klarer (2004: 142) terms lyric poetry as a variety of short poetic forms such as the sonnet,
the ode, and the elegy. In contrast to the more complex and longer narrative poetry, it usually
Madden (2002: 76) state that lyric poetry is the most popular form of poetry written today. Lyric poems are characterized by the expressions of the speaker’s innermost feelings, thoughts, and imagination. The word lyric is taken from a stringed musical instrument called
the lyre, which was used in classical and medieval times to accompany a singer. In addition
to the very subjective stance of the speaker, lyric poems are melodic a melody not derived
from a lyre but from words and their arrangement.
Differing from the statements above DiYanni (2002: 411) proposes that lyric poetry is
typically characterized by brevity, melody, and emotional intensity. The music of lyrics
makes them memorable and their brevity contributes to the intensity of their emotional
expressions and is originally designed to be sung to a musical accompaniment. Lyrics have
been the predominant type of poetry in the west for several hundred years. The tones, moods,
and voices of lyric poems are as variable and as complexly intertwined as human feeling,
though, and imagination allow. Generally considered the most compressed poetic type, the
lyric poem typically expresses much in little.
The writer thinks that each one of the theory above has a power and weaknesses. For
example the theories from Klarer are more abstract and are restricted only to the literary
aspects instead Madden and DiYanni elaborate theory that is more subjective and connects to
the human feelings.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
Figurative language is often characterized by the use of figures of speech, elaborate
expressions and sound devices (Fananie, 2002). Furthermore he describes, to obtain the desired
effects; figurative languages are grouped into comparison and similarities directly or indirectly. There
are fifteen types of figurative language, and they are as follow.
Simile
Figures of speech compare the same thing with another. These comparisons are explicit
and are stated by using a word such as as, like, alike. I exemplifies as follows
a. His teeth is white as a pearl
b. His presence in this group is just like a thorn in our flesh.
In simile the comparison mentioned explicit, that is directly expressing the similar
comparison between one object and another. This comparison has to be specific and needs
the sign posting words between two kinds of ideas or objects.
Metaphor
Figurative style contains an expression that compares two things directly, usually a short form. That’s why in metaphor it is not use words such, as, like, alike, etc. I exemplifies as follows.
That girl is like a blossom flower-the girl is a blossom flower He is slick like a snake-he is a snake
Metaphor and simile are both terms that describe a comparison things that are essentially
unlike; the only difference between a metaphor and a simile is that a simile makes the
comparison explicit by using some words or phrase such as like similar to or seems while in
metaphor the identity asserts without such connective.
Personification
Personification often called prosopopuia, a form of figurative style that is shown to treat inanimate objects as if it has the characteristics of human being.
Now the sand and water sleeps into the silent of the night
In the definition above, the figurative terms of the comparison is a human being, wheatear
in its behaviors feelings or other human attributes. In personification the reader is asked to
actually visualizing the term in human forms for example, sign posting words between two
kinds of ideas or objects.
Allusion
Figurative style that is trying to suggests parallels between place, people or events. I
exemplifies as follows.
From the definition and example above the writer conclude that allusion refers to an
explicit or implicit reference to well-known events, characters or places, mythology or
literature, by using it conviction that the reader or the hearer is familiar with the things
spoken about.
Eponym
Figurative style in which a person's name in use to connect with certain traits so the name
can be use to express certain traits is called eponym.
Tarzan is used to express primitive behavior Samson, Hercules etc.
The writer personally thinks that Eponym is a figurative language that stressed on Names
as the basic principle and uses certain names to express something which perhaps includes
place, tribe and era.
Epithet
The style of language describes or defines a person's name or description of things that
contain one special characteristic is called epithet.
Lion or The king of the jungle Roaster for morning bells
The characteristic carried by those words has a strong effect on the interpretations itself.
Allegory
Allegory is a picture metaphorically about an abstract notion or also described such a
metaphor but as a symbol of expression only.
Poetry boat, describes about a person life full with struggle and obstacle before reaches the destination.
The name and event in allegory maybe abstract but the purpose is always clear. The
meaning of allegory should be drawn up to the surface in understanding it. Although the
surface story or description may have its own interest, the songwriter major interest in the
Synecdoche
Synecdoche is the use of figurative language, pars pro toto, the style of expression that
uses a part of something to declare the whole thing.
To watch the spectacle, costs Rp.100, 00 per head He always lend me a hand
Totem pro parte, is the style of language that uses a whole to express a part of something.
In the provision Olympics, Indonesia got knock down 4-0 by South Korea
Metonymy
Figurative style is used to reveal a word to express something else because there is a close
affinity. These relationships can be the name finder, its findings, due to causes and vice versa,
to declare the contents of the skin, etc.
He/she is studying the law of Newton He has push his strength to the limit
Metonymy and synecdoche are alike in that both substitute some significant detail or
aspect of an experience for the experience itself.
Hipalase
A style of language where a certain word used to describe a word that should be put on
other word is hipalase.
Every day he boarded the boat that was tired,
The true meaning of the sentence is the person who is tired not the board. In Hipalase the
word are selective and only can be use to replace the whole meaning of the context.
Irony, Cynicism and Sarcasm
Irony is the same sense of style with cynicism and sarcasm, which is a satire that is not
appropriate to the circumstances that are expected. Cynicism sarcasms are rougher and
I know that you are very smart (irony, cynicism) Your behavior disgust me
The words which employ irony are not to be taken literary because they are saying one
thing that means another. Irony has meanings that extend beyond its use merely has figure of
speech.
Innuendo
Style of language which contains allusions to minimize the actual reality is called
Innuendo. It can also be a critique with suggestions that do not directly.
He always has a party with his fortune that he gets from his small Corruption.
His wife ask for divorce because he rarely beats her
Innuendo almost has the same identical meaning with Irony only in Innuendo the word
used is indirect remark about somebody or something, usually suggesting something bad,
mean or rude.
Antiphrasis
That style of language that shows the opposite meanings.
You are the smartest person on earth You are so attractive
Paronomasia
The style of figurative language that uses the slope of the sound can also be a game of
words by using sounds, but both the word has different meanings.
You’re a super……super idiot! Hello there sweet….sweet monkey
In other word Paronomasia as a sentence or utterance in which "two different sets of ideas
Euphemism
Style of language that is use to refine a phrase and to replace the phrase that might seem
rude to insult or offend
Ever since his wife left her, he became a slow thinker
Euphemism also substitutes a description of something or someone to avoid revealing
secret, holy, or sacred names to the uninitiated, or to obscure the identity of the subject of a
conversation from potential eavesdroppers. Some euphemisms are intended to amuse.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE AND MEANING
Connotation
Connotation is the additional meaning that a word or phrase beyond its central meaning.
Furthermore Richards (2000:108) said that these meanings show people’s emotions and attitudes towards what the word or phrase refers to. For instance,” child” could be defined as “a young human being” but there are many other characteristics which different people associate with “child”, e.g., affectionate, amusing, lovable, sweet, mischievous, noisy, irritating, and grubby.
Some connotations may be shared by a group of people of the same cultural or social
background, sex, or age; others may be restricted to one or several individuals and depend on
their personal experience.
Denotation
Richards (2000:148) states that denotation is that part of meaning of a word or phrase that
relates it to phenomena in the real world or in a fictional or possible world. For example, the
denotation of the English word bird is a two-legged, winged, egg-laying, warm-blooded
creature with a beak. Another example, the denotation of the English word “elephant” is the
largest four-footed animal now living, with curved ivory and a long trunk.
Denotation is obviously easy to identify because unlike connotation which use emotions
Explication
Madden (2002: 75) said that an explication involves a line-by-line analysis of a text. Most poems are relatively brief and by their nature “packed with meaning.” So they present a good opportunity for a very close reading and examination –an opportunity to look closely at
sounds, words, images, lines, and how they all work together to deliver the poems meaning.
An explication is not just a summary or translation of the poet’s language into your own; it is
a detailed interpretation of how and what you believe the poem means.
Theme
Theme is an abstraction or generalization drawn from the details of literary work and
theme refers to an idea or intellectually apprehensible meaning inherent and implicit in a
work as stated by DiYanni (2001: 482).
DiYanni (2004) also stated that the definitions of theme and meaning are rather
ambiguous. DiYanni distinguishes theme as the meaning of a text from its mere subject or
topic. He defines theme as "an idea or intellectually apprehensible meaning inherent and implicit in a work" (p. 608), and/or as something that "we abstract" (p. 86) from a text and which can be summarized in a statement (p. 609), and/or as our aesthetic experience of
literature (p. 935).
Both definitions of theme by DiYanni showed that inherent and implicit are the core of the main idea in a work.
RESEARCH METHOD
In this research the writer is going to use the qualitative study, which according to Ogawa and Malens (1991) has eight steps in regarding to literary dissertation these steps are as
follows:
Step 1: Create an audit trail. In this step, the reviewer carefully documents all of the steps that are taken. The audit trail serves as documentation to make clear the evidence that
supports each finding, where that evidence can be found, and how that evidence was
interpreted.
Step 2: Define the focus of the review. The problem formation stage mentioned earlier is similar to this step. In this stage the constructs of the review are defined and, thereby, it is
Step 3: Search for relevant literature. In addition to qualitative research reports, no research reports such as memos, newspaper articles, or meeting minutes should also be
included in the review and not necessarily regarded as having less value than qualitative
research reports.
Step 4: Classify the documents. In this step the reviewer classifies the documents according to the types of data they represent. For example, some documents might be
first-hand reports of qualitative research, others may be policy statements about the issue in
question, and still other types of data might describe projects surrounding the issue.
Step 5: Create summary databases. This step is similar to the data evaluation stage. In this stage the reviewer develops coding schemes and attempts to reduce the information in the
relevant documents.
Step 6: Identify constructs and hypothesized causal linkages. After summary databases have been created, the task is to identify the essential themes of the documents and create
hypotheses about the relationships between the themes. The goal here, unlike meta-analysis,
is to increase the understanding of the phenomena being investigated, not to integrate
outcomes and identify factors that ovary with outcomes.
Step 7: Search for contrary findings and rival interpretations. In the tradition of primary qualitative research, it is necessary to actively search for contrary findings and rival
interpretations. One might, for example, reread the documents at this point to search for
contrary evidence.
Step 8: Use colleagues or informants to corroborate findings. Corroborating findings also parallels primary qualitative research. In this step, one shares a draft of the report with
colleagues and informants, such as the authors of the documents included in the review,
requesting that they critically analyze the review. In this way, based on the extent of
agreement among the informants, the reviewer can confirm the degree to which the review’s
conclusions are sound.
The main instruments in collecting the data for this research is the writer himself,
through many ways such as reading, findings, identifying and giving other important notes
from the data source.
Here the writer uses the descriptive analysis, in which by using a few steps. The first
step describes data collected for the use of research. Within this phase of research, lyrics on
the song are exposed along with their background. While the sentences that contains
of a down. The next step is analysis the data. The writer divides the analyzing phase into
types of figurative language and figurative language possible meaning and/or message.
FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS
1st Lyric: Chop Suey
Wakeup 1
Grab a brush and put a little (makeup) Grab a brush and put a little
Hide the scars to fade away the (shakeup)
Hide the scars to fade away the, 5
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table? Here you go create another fable
You wanted to,
Grab a brush and put a little makeup,
You wanted to, 10
Hide the scars to fade away the shakeup, You wanted to,
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table? You wanted to,
I don't think you trust, in, my, self righteous suicide, 15
I, cry, when angels deserve to die, die,
Wake up,
Grab a brush and put a little (makeup), Grab a brush and put a little,
Hide the scars to fade away the (shakeup) 20
Hide the scars to fade away the,
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table? Here you go create another fable
You wanted to,
Grab a brush and put a little makeup, 25
You wanted to,
Hide the scars to fade away the shakeup, You wanted to,
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table?
You wanted to, 30
I don't think you trust, in, my, self righteous suicide, I, cry, when angels deserve to die
In my, self righteous suicide, I, cry, when angels deserve to die
Father, Father, Father, Father, 35
Father/ into your hands/I/commend my spirit, Father, into your hands,
Why have you forsaken me, in your eyes forsaken me, in your thoughts Forsaken me in your heart forsaken, me oh,
Types of Figurative Language
The writer found four (4) types of figurative language in system of a down Chop suey
lyric, they are; Euphemism, synecdoche, allegory and Irony. The figurative languages found
are described per line with their possible meaning as follows.
Euphemism (5)
1) Why’d you LEAVE THE KEYS upon the table? (Line 6)
2)Grab a brush and put a little (MAKEUP), (Line2)
3) Hide the scars to fade away the (SHAKEUP) (Line4)
4) Here you go create another FABLE (Line7)
5) I, cry, when ANGELS deserve to DIE (Line16)
Synecdoche (1)
1) YOU wanted to, (Line 8)
Irony (3)
1) I don't think you TRUST, in, my, self RIGHTEOUS SUICIDE (Line 15)
2) FATHER into your hands I commend my spirit (Line 36)
3) Why have you forsaken me, in your eyes forsaken me, in your thoughts forsaken me in your heart
forsaken, me oh (Line 38-39)
Allegory
1) The lyric title “Chop Suey”
Possible Meaning
The figurative languages found in the song are those of Euphemism, Synecdoche,
Allegory and Irony. The figurative languages found are described per line with their possible
meaning as follows.
Why'd you leave the KEYS upon the table?(Euphemism)
In this sentence the writer found that the author is trying to deliver a message of
something important by using the word KEYS which is the core of this line. The songwriter
uses the KEY to substitute TRUTH. The songwriter choose that word for its closely related to
what the song writer actually meant which is the TRUTH means people such Government of
the United States keeps ignored and discourse the fact and the truth about their intervention in the Armenian genocide massacre.
The song writer stress on the word makeup which is generally known as a tool that help cover up something to make it better. The songwriter uses the word makeup to hide the true
meaning though these sentences are intended for the United States government. Here the
songwriter uses the word makeup to convey a message about the efforts of government of the United States who tried to cover up the truth about their intervention in the massacre of the
Armenian genocide.
Hide the SCARS to fade away the SHAKEUP (Euphemism)
Related with the previous sentence in this sentence the song writer also tries to send the
message to the reader and listener about the United states government cover up, but in this
sentence the song writer uses different word like scars and shakeup, which probably in a literary term meaning they the United states government already know about their mistakes or scars in the past and feel ashamed about that but they try to hide it from the people of U.S and the world.
Here you go create another FABLE (Euphemism)
According to Oxford FABLE (2003:147)“is a short story, especially as animal as the main character that teaches a lesson”. In this sentence the song writer uses the word fable
which is a more polite interpretation of what the United States government or the main
character itself or the animal. Again with their Effort to covers up the truth by creating a fake stories Fable and off course there are no moral lessons at all.
I, cry, when angels deserve to die (Euphemism)
As defined in Oxford (2003:14) Angels is a “beautiful or a very kind person” in general people often interprets angel as nice or good things. The song writer who is personally
descendents of the Armenian genocides victims tries to convinced the hearers that he feel sad
I cry to see Angels mean good people such as the victims of the Armenian genocide who never committed any sins have to suffer and die.
YOU wanted to, (Synecdoche - pars pro toto)
Inthis sentence the word you is expressed to represent the government of the U.S and all
I don’t think you TRUST, in, my, SELF RIGHTEOUS SUICIDE,(Irony)
In this sentence once again the song writer secretly convey a message of truth means that
many people even the U.S people itself believe even some of them are suspicious about the
United States involved in the Armenian genocide massacre.
In, my, SELF RIGHTEOUS SUICIDE, means that the victims of the Armenian genocide
is indeed committed a self righteous suicide ironically it means that they are murdered and
killed with no reason at all.
FATHER into your hands I commend my spirit - Why have you forsaken me, in your eyes forsaken
me, in your thoughts forsaken me, in your heart forsaken, me (Irony)
These words are two of seven last words of Jesus Christ in the cross according to Christian’s beliefs. Even though there are religious message expressed in this song as many of system of a down songs, but the word “I“in the contextis not referred to Jesus Christ the
song writer tries to send another message about the fact that among the victims of the
Armenian genocide there were also numerous “Protestant missionary” compounds
established in Armenian-populated regions, these Protestant missionary has strong beliefs on
God or in this lyric refers to Father and these missionaries give their sanctuary into your hands I commend my spirit means they trust their salvation only to God. Ironicallyinfactthe word Father or god in this song is converted to the Ottoman Empire as the executioner of the
Armenian genocide massacre. Acting like they were God himself taking life of humans.
Chop suey (Allegory)
Chop Suey in general means a kind of Chinese dish consist of all kinds of meats.
Allegory is an interpretations of something into a symbolize meaning in this song the song
writer allegorize of Chop suey as a dish filled with a mix of all the leftovers meaning the leftovers of stories of the actual events of the Armenian genocide that people never heard or
exposed to public.
2nd Lyric: Toxicity
Conversion, software version 7.0, 1
Looking at life through the eyes of a tire hub Eating seeds as a past time activity
New, what do you own the world? How do you own disorder, disorder? 5 Now, somewhere between the sacred silence, sacred silence and sleep
Somewhere, between the sacred silence and sleep Disorder, disorder, disorder
More wood for their fires, loud neighbors
Flashlight reveries caught in the headlights of a truck 10
Eating seeds as a past time activity The toxicity of our city, of our city
New, what do you own the world? How do you own disorder, disorder?
Now, somewhere between the sacred silence, Sacred silence and sleep 15 Somewhere, between the sacred silence and sleep
Disorder, disorder, disorder
Disorder, disorder, disorder…
When I became the sun, I shone life into the man's hearts
When I became the sun, I shone life into the man's hearts 20
Types of Figurative Language
The writer found four (4) types of figurative language in system of a down toxicity lyric,
they are; Personification, Synecdoche, Euphemism and Allegory. The figurative languages
found are described per line with their possible meaning as follows.
Personification (1)
1) Looking at life through the eyes of a tire hub (Line 2)
Synecdoche (1)
1) Conversion, software version 7.0 (Line 1)
Euphemism (5)
1) Flashlight reveries caught in the headlights of a truck (Line 10)
2) Eating seeds as a past time activity (Line 3)
3) New, what do you own the world? How do you own disorder, disorder? (Line 5)
4) Now, somewhere between the sacred silence (Line 6)
5) When I became the sun, I shone life into the man's hearts (19)
Allegory (2)
1) Toxicity
2) More wood for their fires, loud neighbors (9)
Possible Meaning
The figurative languages found in the song are those of personification, synecdoche,
Looking at life through the eyes of a tire hub (Personification)
The song writer uses the word tire hub and determined that as if it has eyes. Though the
song writer correct interpretation of this sentence is a point of view if you’re looking out from
a tire and it obvious that all you can see is the street flashing by so fast and spokes. Means all you care about is how fast you’re going, but you never notice what you’re passing. You only saw what in front of you all the good and nice thing in front of you but you never looked
around for details you never knew or even care about the poor society and the dying
environment.
Conversion, software version 7.0 (Synecdoche - pars pro toto)
In this line the song writer is obviously mocking the entire computers corporation. The
song writer uses the word “Software” as a replacement of all the American Computers company and furthermore give a message to all the reader and listener that computers
produced by multinational company around the globe is polluting the mind of society
especially teenagers with their visual addiction that makes our minds hypnotized hard to
separate what is fantasy and reality sometimes in many cases also became a trigger for a
person in committing crime such as blackmail, Freud and sexual crime and eventually in the
end giving it causes permanent addiction.
Flashlight reveries caught in the headlights of a truck (Euphemism)
The song writer convey the message in this line as people who lives in a world were all
their needs and activities are depends on technology means computers. they do what
technology told them to do and work with technology as their best friends, accompanied them
in their daily lives but in the end these people will discover that their own mind is being
polluted by technology or being caught in the headlights of a truck though it is to late for them to realize it.
Eating seeds as a past time activity (Euphemism)
The word seeds carries context of the whole meaning of the song which is the real interpretation of Pollution. Seeds are product of nature and by kept stealing or eating it from nature it is no other than environment killing, in fact people sometimes just do it for fun or
Toxicity (Allegory)
Toxicity stands for two words Toxic-City, these two words include the main theme of the song, the song writer allegorizes toxicity as polluted society and polluted environment or
pollution caused by human with their inventions Furthermore the song writer purposes this
song to protest the government, rich greed people, and company owner for their lack of
ignorance about poor society and environment.
More wood for their fires, loud neighbors (Allegory)
The word loud neighbors contain allegory in the sense that it symbolizes poor people means poor in education, material, and who obviously is being tricked by those people with
power. People with power feeds those poor people with fake dreams and false promises
giving them pleasure in the beginning but eventually caused suffer in the end.
New, what do you own the world? How do you own disorder, disorder?(Euphemism)
In this sentence the song writer intended the word new to represent the new government of the U.S, because this song was released on 2001 only a year from the new government of
U.S with George W. Bush as the new president.
The song writer pictured the message so clear about government which often times act like
they do own the world and here the song writer want to deliver a message that government don’t own anything.Because you can’t own disorder means you can’t control Society.
Now, somewhere between the sacred silence(Euphemism)
The song writer uses more polite words such as sacred silence to substitute’s the word
prison. As describe in the previous line when government can’t control the society or disordergovernment than uses their law systems as a shield they then create a conspiracy to bring innocent people such as activists to prison. Next the song writer added the word sleep
which is a more sarcastic intention meaning death.
When I became the sun, I shone life into the man's hearts. (Euphemism)
enslave the society by giving them false promises and fake dreams I shone life into the man's hearts.
3rd Lyric: B.Y.O.B
WHY DO THEY ALWAYS SEND THE POOR! 1
Barbarisms by Barbaras With pointed heels
Victorious, victories kneel for brand new spankin' deals Marching forward hypocritic and hypnotic computers
You depend on our protection yet you feed us lies from the table cloth 5 La la la la la la la la la
Everybody’s going to the party have a real good time Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine
Kneeling roses disappearing, Into Moses’ dry mouth
Breaking into Fort Knox, Stealing our intentions 10
Hangars sitting dripped in oil,Crying FREEDOM!
Handed to obsoletion, Still you feed us lies from the table cloth. La la la la la la la la la,
Everybody’s going to the party have a real good time
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine 15
Everybody’s going to the party have a real good time
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine
Blast off, it's party time, and we don't live in a fascist nation, Blast off, it's party time, And where the fuck are you?
Where the fuck are you? 20
Where the fuck are you?
Why don’t presidents fight the war? Why do they always send the poor?
Why don’t presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor? 25
Why do they always send the poor? Why do they always send the poor? Why do they always send the poor?
Kneeling roses disappearing, Into Moses’ dry mouth
Breaking into Fort Knox, Stealing our intentions 30
Hangars sitting dripped in oil, Crying FREEDOM!
Handed to absolution, still you feed us lies from the tablecloth La la la la la la la la la,
Everybody’s going to the party have a real good time 35
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine.
Everybody’s going to the party have a real good time
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine
Why do they always send the poor? 45 Why do they always send the poor?
Why, do, they always send the poor
Why, do, they always send the poor Why, do, they always send the poor
They only send the poor 50
They only send the poor
Types of Figurative Language
The writer found seven (7) types of figurative language in system of a down Toxicity
lyric, they are; Irony, Antiphrasis, Allusion, Allegory, Synecdoche, Personification and
Metonymy. The figurative languages found are described per line with their possible meaning
as follows.
Synecdoche (1)
1) WHY DO THEY ALWAYS SEND THE POOR! (Line 1)
Irony (4)
1) Barbarisms by Barbaras With pointed heels (Line 2)
2) You depend on our protection yet you feed us lies from the table cloth (Line 5)
3) Why don’t presidents fight the war? (Line 22)
4)Handed to obsoletion, still you feed us lies from the table cloth (Line 12)
Antiphrasis (1)
1) Everybody’s going to the party have a real good time (Line 14)
Allusion (3)
1) Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine (Line 8)
2) Breaking into Fort Knox, Stealing our intentions (Line 10)
3) Hangars sitting dripped in oil, Crying FREEDOM! (Line 31)
Allegory (2)
1) Kneeling roses disappearing, Into Moses’ dry mouth (Line 9)
2) B.Y.O.B
Metonymy (1)
1) Victorious, victories kneel for brand new spankin' deals (Line 3)
Personification (1)
1) Marching forward hypo critic and hypnotic computers
Possible Meaning
The figurative languages found in the song are those of Irony, Antiphrasis, Allusion,
Allegory, Synecdoche, Personification and Metonymy. The figurative languages found are
WHY DO THEY ALWAYS SEND THE POOR! (Synecdoche- pars pro toto)
Synecdoche is the use of figurative language that uses a part of something to declare the
whole thing. In this sentence the songwriter uses the word poor to declare many things as
explained above about synecdoche which is a word that uses to a part of something to declare
the whole. The songwriter uses the word poor to declare poor of judgment, poor of
understanding, poor of intention and poor of purposes
The meaning of these words described by the songwriter as soldier of the U.S military
force who has a lack of experience in a real combat field, If we look in the statistics taken
from newsflash (CNN: 2003) it described how the casualties of the U.S troops gain every
month with a minor casualties on the Iraq people the condition itself is caused by the heavy
territory of the dessert of Iraq and the lack of communication and cooperation from the native
people it also says that many of these U.S soldiers are still young, they often act reckless and
kill innocent people including children and women and sometime even risk their own life.
Next is the lack of understanding or knowledge about the issue of war these soldier only
hears and believe what their superiors tells them to do and discoursed all the fact. Poor of
intention means the soldier have a lack of Intention and great doubt in joining the war their
mind are feed with false doctrine and ideology caused them to follow order not their instinct
the last is the poor of purposes, with no obvious purpose and reason these soldiers are forced
against their will to fight in war those who do not know what they are doing or even more often don’t know what they are murdering for.
Barbarisms by Barbaras With pointed heels (Irony)
The word Barbarism In this sentence has the opposite contradiction with the word pointed hells an obvious statement of irony. The songwriter tries to explain that barbarian as in Oxford means people who uncivilized, wild and cruel in this sentence refers to people and land of Iraq is being taking over or ruled also by barbaras refers to the U.S militarywhich equipped with pointed hells refers to education, rank and power.
You depend on our protection yet you feed us lies from the table cloth (Irony)
The songwriter refers this sentence to citizens and the government in general. The
government depends on for i.e. the armed forces to protect their ideology and the system that
their lies as if it were food i.e. through the media, terror alerts and weapons of mass
destruction. The people of the U.S consume fear, and that makes them easier to control.
Everybody’s going to the party have a real good time (Antiphrasis)
The sentence is actually meant the party is Iraq and propaganda from the government who
makes it almost sound like a party, obviously showing us the opposite meaning. But
furthermore the government needs people to join the war because of the shortage of troops,
this is one of the many reasons the songwriter uses the word party it means that the more people join the party or war the bigger chance of their winning or have a real good time.
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine (Allusion)
Dancing in the desert, the word dessert refers to a place which is Iraq, blowing up sunshinemeans being careless and wrecks less in war. To these hypocrite Iraq is just another mine field and that soldiers and troops are just workers waiting and doing what their
superiors want them to say and do, despite all the facts that these soldiers has minor
understanding in war.
Breaking into Fort Knox, Stealing our intentions (Allusion)
Fort Knox refers to a place which is a super utility military base of the U.S as biggest
industrial and suppliers of weapon for thewar inIraq. The songwriter focused on Fort Knox as he can say to be the symbol of U.S defense power known world wide as the best in weapon
making. Furthermore the songwriter elaborate the efforts Stealing our intentions of the government of the U.S turning the basic law of the U.S military weapon to be used for
defense only to offense in the Iraq war.
Hangars sitting dripped in oil, Crying FREEDOM! (Allusion)
This sentence shows that the U.S war against Iraq is being fought for one main reason oil
and other necessities and the government cover up their horrible war with cries meaning colonialism which left nothing but suffer and that the government has taken the freedom of
Iraqi people in their own land.
The whole idea of capturing the international Terrorists is just a temporary conspiracy
giving time and space for the government of the U.S to secretly perform a strategy on how to
terrorists but it doesn’t change the fact that U.S according to the songwriter are the true terrorists.
Kneeling roses disappearing, Into Moses’ dry mouth(Allegory)
The song writer allegorizes this sentence and focused on two words kneeling roses and
Moses dry mouth. Kneeling roses according to Wikipedia refers to Golden Rose a gold
ornament, which popes of the Catholic Church have traditionally blessed annually. It is occasionally conferred as a token of reverence or affection. Recipients have included military
figures, and governments. Moses dry mouth according to the Biblical stories Moses and his people were condemned to roam the DESERTS for 40 years before being able to enter the
Promised Land. Means that even the soldiers who fought in Iraq have no choice than to live
in a dessert like Moses consider by the songwriter as a punishment for their sins. These soldiers have a great doubt and lack of intentions in their heart but because of false ideology
using the mask of religions these people the U.S government manage to convince their troops
to go fight in Iraq. In fact in many histories religion is one of the main reasons for war. These
two words and the interpretations showed us Strong religious influence as same with most of
System of down songs.
B.Y.O.B (Allegory)
B.Y.O.B is an abbreviation and it stands for Bring Your Own Bomb this is definitely the
message of the song. It means that the U.S should fight their own war with their own bombs,
themselves, and not for someone else or for no other reason.
Why don’t presidents fight the war?(Irony)
In this sentence the song writer provides the listeners with a question why don’t
presidents fight the war? It sound ironically in the sense that why do presidents as the leaders of a nation and off course as the decisions maker don’t fight the war in person but rather sends wreck less troops? In the old time presidents are consider to be the leader in war.
Troops and soldier only came and fought in war if their leader fought together with them.
Handed to obsoletion, still you feed us lies from the table cloth(Irony)
In this sentence the songwriter uses the word obsoletion means that the true intentions of
the U.S governments has changed from targeting international terrorists becoming a scene of
profit for their own self which is oil, but ironically using the force and safety guarantee from
their own people table cloth to fight for them in a war.
Victorious, victories kneel for brand new spankin' deals (Metonymy)
Victorious kneel has a close affinity with a famous American football term - In American football, according to Wikipedia Victorious kneel is when a quarterback kneel, also called
taking a knee, genuflect offense, or victory formation occurs when the quarterback
immediately kneels to the ground after receiving the snap. It is primarily used to run the clock
down in order to preserve a lead or a win.
Here the songwriter is experiments with more recognizable words, words so familiar
with the U.S people. American Football is a national sports and every people in U.S knows it
and by giving them message using their most favorite sports terms the songwriter hopes to
get a better effect. The sentence however means that soldier and troop of U.S are planning a
secret winning formation even it has to sacrifice them this entire plan is caused by the new
goals of their superior from capturing terrorists to owning Oil.
Marching forward hypo critic and hypnotic computers(Personification)
In this sentence marching forward hypo criticmeans government has a backwards view on the war, and geopolitically definitely not making any good marks. But the songwriter truly
intention for this sentence is in hypnotic computers as if computer as a technology wanted us to depend on it and hypnotizing us to use it, as for example many of new technologies like
smart bombs, rockets with radar, and highly computerized tanks which the soldiers use and
depend on it a lot in the war.
CONCLUSION
The writer concludes that using figure language can give a picture and drawn
something to the audience clearly. Furthermore, the conclusion is supported by fact that the
of figurative language concludes that System of a Down song Chop Suey, Toxicity, and
B.Y.O.B, are all about protests and critics.
Chop Suey generally tells about the songwriter disappointment and anger regarding to the United States interference in the Armenian Genocide. The theme construct within the song are those of violence and war issue and how you can’t run away from it but instead you have to deal with it. The figurative language found in the song is dominated by Euphemism and
Irony.
Toxicity is a song about the songwriter protesting poor society and polluted environments, making The U.S government as the main suspect. In this song once again the theme is about
war, a war against the conspiracy of the U.S governments and war against all kinds of
injustice whether it is human being or environment. In Toxicity the writer found 5 (five)
Euphemism which dominate the whole lyric.
B.Y.O.B pictured about war as a more reality events taken from real war story between the U.S and Iraq. In the song the songwriter are suggesting that the U.S governments continued
their war but not with Iraq instead war with the U.S itself, means a war with the hypocrite,
dictator and greed people who destroy U.S from the inside. Irony and Allusion are the most
dominant figurative language found in the song.
REFERENCES
DiYanni, Robert. 2001. Literature. Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. McGraw-Hill Companies. Singapore
Fananie, Zainuddin. 2002. Telaah sastra.Muhammadiyah University press.
Pabelan-Surakarta
Klarer, Mario. 2004. An Introduction to Literary Studies. Routledge. USA & CANADA Madden, Frank. 2002. Exploring poetry: Writing and Thinking about Poetry. Addison
Wesley Longman. U.S
Ogawa, R. T. & Malen, B. 1991. Towards rigor in reviews of multivocal literature: Applying the exploratory case method. Review of Educational Research. McCutchan Publishing Corp., Berkeley, CA.
System of a Down. 2001. Chop Suey. Taken from the Album Toxicity. Cello Studio. Hollywood California
System of a Down. 2001. Toxicity. Taken from the album Toxicity. Cello Studio. Hollywood, California
System of a Down. 2005. B.Y.O.B. Taken from the album Mezmerize. The Mansion. Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, California.
System of a Down. 2005. Radio/Video. Taken from the album Mezmerize. The Mansion. Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, California.
