In a post via his Instagram earlier today, June 16th, System Of A Down vocalist Serj Tankian shared the lyrics to the politically outspoken band’s early demo track “Temper“. While not a setlist staple, the group dug out the track for several live performance while touring back in 2015. Speaking about the song via the aforementioned social media platform, Tankian in part offered:
“A very early @systemofadown song that was on one of our demos-lyrics below: if you love this song or play along to it and love Trump, you’re a hypocrite-just a simple fact :) “Temper“”
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He would later go on to add:
“Let me add that obviously the song was written in the 90s and refers to injustice in the US and injustice by the US via successive Democratic and Republican administrations. I just find the most current one the most repugnant.”
Tankian‘s accusations of hypocrisy arrive with some irony, given the current right-wing political beliefs held by System of A Down drummer John Dolmayan, who continues to voice his support for U.S. President Donald Trump and the current administration. Despite a seemingly large political divide within the band, Dolmayan previously stated of his and Tankian‘s relationship:
“We have differing opinions in System Of A Down. That shouldn’t be a shock to anybody, because you have four individuals — we’re not always like-minded and don’t always agree on everything. But you’d be surprised at how civil our conversations are, especially between me and Serj, who seem to have the most diverging opinions on things.
I have a lot of respect for Serj and his opinions, although I don’t agree with them very often these days. And that’s okay. We expand each other’s horizons — I like to think that he learns from me and I learn from him.”
The lyrics for “Temper” can be found below:
We want peace with
Patriot missiles,
Blown to bits are civilian targets,
Parade! Laugh! Rejoice! Sing!
We’re the victors of…nothing,
Spend more money on a war,
Your people starving, turned to whores,
Slaves of the chosen one paying millions for each bomb,
Country without a race ,
Formed from people you disgrace ,
White right conservative might ,
Killers of Kennedy’s with no fright ,
The American way!
Freedom cried the marching man,
Flags ripped out of their black hands ,
Beaten! Slain! Tortured! Killed!
Their only mistake was being born here ,
Invade countries just for oil ,
Send your troops all down to boil ,
Iraq! Grenada! Nam and Chile!
Truman doctrine our own way ,
Country without a race ,
Formed from people you disgrace ,
White right conservative might ,
Killers of Kennedy’s with no fright ,
The American way!
The Government (FBI-CIA) here can suck my balls ,
Policing the world in overalls ,
Armed rebellion minority ,
Disrespected race, color, mind ,
Crazed loonies all walk the streets ,
Missing children on milk cartons ,
Mother selling child for crack ,
Mr. President check your back ,
Country without a race ,
Formed from people you disgrace,
White right conservative might ,
Killers of Kennedy’s with no fright ,
The American way!
The American way!
The American way!
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