System of a Down: Holy Mountain Meaning

Holy Mountain Lyrics

Ahhh ahhh ahhh...

Can you feel their haunting presence?
Can you feel their haunting presence?

Liar, Killer, Demon
Back to the river Aras

Someone's blank stare deemed it warfare

Liar, Killer, Demon
Back to the river Aras

Freedom,...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   BlackIllithid90

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   Feb 23rd 2006 !⃝

   I agree with the armenian-turk interpretation. But the one thing you all have off is what the "Holy Mountains" and the "River Aras" actually are. Looked them up on wikipedia and the River Aras is a border between the Turkish and the Armenians. This river is also possibly the Gihon river mentioned in the second chapter of the Bible. The Holy Mountain does refer to Mount Ararat though, which is the national symbol of Armenia

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Jul 3rd 2008 !⃝

   I think, Some people are just plain dumb. I also think, that some people only have a small idea on what this song is really about.
   
   Can you feel their haunting presence?
   
   I think this is about when the Turks began the Genocide on the Armenians.
   
   Liar, Killer, Demon
   Back to the river Aras
   
   This is about how the Turks Lied about their status in the goverment, Killer, Because of all the Armenians they killed, And Demon, Because what Angel would do something like that?
   
   Can you hear the holy mountains?
   
   I Think this is about how The Ararat Mountains, the holy mountains, used to belong to the Armenians, And now it belongs to the Turks.
   
   Someone's mouth said paint them all red
   
   I think this is talking about the Turk leader who decided that the Armenians needed to go.
   
   They have returned
   Resting on the mountainside
   
   I think this talks about the Armenians when the genocide was over.
   
   We have learned that you have no
   Honor, Murderer, Sodomizer
   Back to the river Aras
   
   I think this talks about the Turks, And the after interpretation that they had left on people. Everyone thought that they were good until they realized what they were actually doing.
   
   So We LEARNED That the Turks are assholes and shouldn't be trusted.
   
   This is only what I think, But maybe it can help you put the pieces together.

3. 3TOP RATED

   #3 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   May 31st 2007 !⃝

   First of all, the name of the song is Holy Mountains. Secondly, this song is about how the Turkish government (Talaat Pasha) commanded the Armenians dead in a genocide, known as the Armenian Genocide. This happened from 1915-1923. Still today, the government will not admit it. Also, the holy mountains are that of Aratat. And the river Aras is the one that separates the Turks from the Armenians. Hence why they yell, "Back to the River Aras!" System Of A Down are one of the only bands who try to make people recognize this. Genocide is evil, life is precious. If you can't respect that, then you deserve to die. This song was made to reach out to those who are ignorant of the issue. Serj Tankian's grandfather told him stories of this massacre; that is why he is affected by it so much. I hope the Turks realize and repent of the sins they committed. That is the message of System Of A Down - Holy Mountains.
4. anonymous

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   Mar 21st 2019 !⃝

   Firstly, I belong to no religion and have no bias in my assessment of this song, and have myself been called the antichrist by the "followers of christ" , however, i think this song is referring to the return of the Christian Zionsits version of what they call "Messiah" and how he will return to judge from the mountain or on a "Hill" of the remains of those who have been murdered and piled "in a mount"... "across a river" is a reference to the place of judgement called "New Jerusalem" which will "come down from from the clouds"... most metaphorically speaking of a place destroyed by hyperinflation of currency resulting from the nationalisation of drugs. (spokane, wa). In gematria, the values of Spokane WA and New Jerusalem are correlating, furthermore, spokane means "children of the sun" .. the sun god is RA, Lumiel, or Lucifer". This man will supposedly judge for those who have been judged and in doing so will assume a position of "man god". His recruits and his followers "paint" their faces "red" with the with the "blood of the lamb" which is actually his self riotousness, hubris, and hate.. or "evil", meaning he angers them with obvious worldly conclusions of the human experience. He tells them they will "live"(evil) eternally .. This man god groomed by evil will promise eternal life to his army for their services, and they will choose to kill those without the red mark of anger and hatred, and will do so with claims of "god is on our side" . The word "Aras" ... if you notice the letter "A" as a mountain, and in the occult most things are backwards or cryptic, a reference to discord. Aras means Ra's A .. or RAs mountain, hence, "holy mountain", which is most likely a reference to the "New Jerusalem" prophecy, and this man is actually the "green horseman" or "livid horseman". In Sumerian, Jer means place of rising .. and El means death.... "House of the Rising Sun" or place where death rises. Also "Mountain" contains "I" "T" "No" Man" .. In the occult the letter T symbolises sacrifice or self sacrifice ... "I sacrifice no man". The true, false Messiah of the Christian Zionists builds an army which kills those without faces painted red with an "el even" as they now are also man gods thru their extra jurisdictional judgement of men, however they are tricked into their own spiritual-self genocide in assuming God's role as Judge. "Judge not, or thou shalt be Judged." ... (Drops mic .. walks off).

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
5. anonymous

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   Feb 2nd 2018 !⃝

   to the anonymous that said Turks had to cause the Armenian genocide because the Armenians attacked first,
   haha, no. Have you read any history at all outside your school's propaganda? The cause was clearly economical. The armenians and the greeks had the control of Ottoman Empire's trade and generally the economy of it, so the Turks decided to just kill them all and send them away. Of course the Germans were in on that, because they wanted to take control of Turkey's economy, and by helping them they pretty much would. Now I don't want anyone getting all defensive. Facts are facts. I'm pretty ashamed of shit my country did and does, but I don't deny it. You have to acknowledge history because it's the truth. And not just the one given in school books, the government will obviously spread the propaganda. We can't move on unless we understand the past. It all revolves around economy and saying 'the turks didn't have a choice' or whatever, is honestly ignorant and plainly unhonorable and shameful to yourself.
6. anonymous

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   Nov 21st 2014 !⃝

   It's a beautiful song, and definitely reflects on the horrifying feeling of genoside and has an extremely powerful message. But it would be unjust to blame all Turkish people for what the Ottomans did in the past. This song reflects on the past, not the present.
7. anonymous

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   Jun 27th 2011 !⃝

   Personally, I think, that this song is not only about Armenian genocide, or Ararat.
   Look at Turks and Armenians relationships. They're hating each other.
   Most of Turkish people deny genocide. Most of Armenians think, that all of Turks are treaters. So, they claim each other "Liar, Killer, Demon".
   Then, governments of both countries warm up this hatred for their own interests, "someone's mouth said paint them all red".
   Governments sponsor propaganda: "We have learned that you have no honor".
8. anonymous

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   May 7th 2011 !⃝

   When I first heard it, I thought it was in reference to when Melkor stole the light of the Two Trees from the Valar in the Silmarillion. They speak about the Holy Mountain, and the other lyrics (Liar, demon, etc.) fit into it pretty well.
9. anonymous

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   May 2nd 2011 !⃝

   I'm Armenian by the way.
   This song is about the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.It's also about other things also.It's about the Ararat moutains turks took from us.When Serj sings LIAR,KILLER,DEMON it's talat pasha.
   I think the goverment should recognize the Armenian Genocide!
10. anonymous

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    May 2nd 2011 !⃝

    I'm Armenian by the way.
    This song is about the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.It's also about other things also.It's about the Ararat moutains turks took from us.When Serj sings LIAR,KILLER,DEMON it's talat pasha.
    I think the goverment should recognize the Armenian Genocide!
11. anonymous

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    May 2nd 2011 !⃝

    I'm Armenian by the way.
    This song is about the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.It's also about other things also.It's about the Ararat moutains turks took from us.When Serj sings LIAR,KILLER,DEMON it's talat pasha.
    I think the goverment should recognize the Armenian Genocide!
12. anonymous

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    May 2nd 2011 !⃝

    I'm Armenian by the way.
    This song is about the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.It's also about other things also.It's about the Ararat moutains turks took from us.When Serj sings LIAR,KILLER,DEMON it's talat pasha.
    I think the goverment should recognize the Armenian Genocide!
13. anonymous

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    Dec 18th 2010 !⃝

    This Song refers to the turks committing the armenian genocide. They were ordered to kill all armenians (except 1 to keep it in the national musuem as an armenian). Here SOAD's message is that we (armenians) have survived and miraculously had pushed the turks away and gained their independence. After all this the turkish goverment denies the armenian genocide. That's why serj calls him a LIAR MURDERER and DEMON.
14. anonymous

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    Feb 20th 2010 !⃝

    @Cabose
    The song is actually about Mt. Ararat where Noah's Ark was said to stop. Mt. Ararat is on the Armenian coat of arms and I think the meaning of this song is simple: This mountain was taken by the Turks in 1915, when the genocide was unleashed and the Armenians were sodomized, beaten, murdered and they see the Turks (Turkish government) as Liers, Killers, Demons, Murderers, etc...
    I could be 100% wrong on this interpretation but then again I could be 100% right. In the end, who gives a SH*T? It's just a song with a STRONG political message. It's a good song. It was meant for you to understand and enjoy, not for people to get into conflicts over the meaning.
    
    Thanks, I hope I cleared that up for you.
15. anonymous

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    Feb 17th 2010 !⃝

    Common guy .. one question for uu to understand what happened in world war one. and also you say turks must be sorry about the genocide of armenian . Here comes explanation for u.İf your grand dad kills someone who tries to kill your grand dad and if your grand dad is power and kills that man . and one day comes that death man grand sons comes and ask to you ' say sorry as your grand dad killed my grand dad , so will you say sorry for that . ofcourse not. and also . for centuries armenians lived in ottomon rule . ottomon called armenians ' the loyal race'. ottomon gave them some privilages such as no tax , tax no army mission.. open your archievs . you will see . So when ottomon had a war with france , russia, england, italy, all turks went to army. only armenians stayed in their homes.ANd you shouldnot be angery with turks.u should be angery with your some leaders who provokes your nation.without information they just provoked innocent armenian.they said turks will kill you as we are christian.infact that herald was baseless.Cuz it was only a game of french.France was about to loose clicia and france tried to take power of some etnichs so armenians was on target.france said to your leaders . leaders said innocent people. and they began to killed weak people because armenian beleived ottomon will loose and they will be on the side of winner. but they failt. Turks won and they began to turk their home. So I ask you if you see someone who killed your family. why will you do.. will you kill red rose. of course they killed that leaders.Further more loyal race turned to be inloyal race. They didnot kill .just exile.Open russian archievs and other archievs . I searched. and I know some turks sources are not objective. I opened bristol report and allign countries report. If you open these source. you will understand why ottomon chost to send armenian on syria. because . They planned to send thorough south east of turkey. but some kurd tribes attacked on armenians and they killed and adopted childreen. because kurds was cruel as turk first defiant started east. So ottomon saw that if they send from these land . all armenians can die.so they reached to armenia on syria. now in america and in other countries those armenians are the people who were adopted by kurds. red crescent took them from kurds and brought to america. So it is so normal in america Armenians says they killed . because its true. kurds attacked.but that nnumber is not so huge 1 million.u can see the number of red crescent in that period. Some Armenians say that 1 million. common guys don't be ridiculous. İn that period Ottoman total population was 16 million and 45 race live in turkey. can it be a minority 1 million and I was born in kozan / adana . old name SİS if you know history well . you can understand of sis the capital of Armenia on cilicia. Now kozans population is 70 000 . So think that 90 years ago . maybe 6 000 . and one capital is 6 000 . not all armenian live lets think 4 000 armenia . can you beleive where teh other armenians 996 000.if you search more you will understand. Yes genocide possible . but not turks on armenia. remember asala... guys governments play game to make the public powerful by trick . by infusing hate to other. Turkey does teh same. armenia too. and others too. and your diasporas trick is that . your archives baseless. and turkey called many time to armenia to cover all archives. but never armenia came. because they know if they come one public will loose their hate on turkey that makes armenians weak. That is political game and trick. Sad but truee. If you feel better by this way , go on guys. but turkey will not accept baseless thing . only if Armenia decides on to work with historians about genocide and open archives. If you have other questions . I am here to answerr. but don't be easy people... because we were not in that period....
16. anonymous

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    Aug 23rd 2009 !⃝

    For the Turkish that said Armenians don't like him simply because he's turkish: it's because of people who wrote bullshit after your comment that I don't like ignorant people. Thus all you can do is to stop your friends saying things they don't know about, so it won't be representative of your country. The guy is talking about being agains fascism and he is a representative of nazi of the worst kind.
17. anonymous

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    Aug 23rd 2009 !⃝

    Oh, of course it wasn't a genocide...it was just by "accident" that 1,5 million Armenians were brutally killed and tortured by the turks...it was an "accident" that women and children were raped and left to die of thirst and hunger in the Syrian desert...of course...this happens everyday, right?
    
    I can imagine why the Turkish government doesn't admit the genocide, but it's absolutely ignorant that the Turkish CIVILIANS don't admit the genocide. This is so sad.
    
    The Ottoman military uprooted Armenians from their homes and forced them to march for hundreds of miles, depriving them of food and water, to the desert of what is now Syria. Massacres were indiscriminate of age or gender, with rape and other sexual abuse commonplace.
    The premeditated destruction of objects of Armenian cultural, religious, historical and communal heritage was yet another key purpose of both the genocide itself and the post-genocidal campaign of denial. Armenian churches and monasteries were destroyed, Armenian cemeteries flattened, and, in several cities, Armenian quarters were demolished.
    
    And by the way, as a response to the continuing denial of the Armenian Genocide by the Turkish State, many activists among Armenian Diaspora communities have pushed for formal recognition of the Armenian genocide from various governments around the world. 21 countries and 42 U.S. States have adopted resolutions acknowledging the Armenian Genocide as a bona fide historical event.
    
    All I can do is ask for you, the turks, to study and read about your History before saying bullshit you don't know about on the internet.
    If you don't know about something, stay quiet.
18. anonymous

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    Dec 27th 2008 !⃝

    just understand that when you are in war you have to take actions against the family you are making accusations and some of even don t know the geographical places the incident happened. did you now that armenians attacked from behind during the independence war of turks and armenians were armed with the help of russians. are you that naive to believe that armenians hided in a stupid mountain during a war why do you think that turks decided to move armenians away becauses they were slaughtering the turkish villages but this act of armenians can not be classified as a genocide because in a war there are no good and bad everybody fights for thier own rights so the act of turks is not a genocide either it is something to have an opinian on a subject but don t you try to distort the history and reveal your level. !

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