Lonely Day by System Of A Down

Album: Hypnotize (2005)

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Songfacts®:

"Lonely Day" was written by System Of A Down guitarist Daron Malakian, who also sings lead on the track. The song seems to be about a particularly difficult day in his life. The line, "It's a day I'm glad I survived" indicates there is some event he is trying to forget. >>
Suggestion credit:
Mike - Petersham, MA
This song got a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance, but lost to Wolfmother's "Woman."
The lyrics contain a double superlative that would make an English teacher shiver: "The most loneliest" is incorrect grammar - the correct form is simply "The loneliest."
The opening guitar is based on the song "The House Of The Rising Sun." >>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France, for above 3
"Lonely Day" ended up being the last System Of A Down single until 2020. It was issued in April 2006 as the last single from their fifth album, Hypnotize. After touring for the album, the band went on a hiatus that lasted until 2010. They went that entire decade without releasing any new material, but in 2020, motivated by the plight of their fellow Armenians, they released the songs "Protect The Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz."
The song appears in Disturbia, a 2006 movie starring Shia LeBeouf about a kid who stays on house arrest and watches his neighbors to pass the time. The song is used in a sequence where Shia's character tries to find ways of keeping himself from dying of boredom. >>
Suggestion credit:
Logan - Troy, MT
The song got a surge of interest after it was used in the 2023 "Such Inward Secret Creatures" episode of the Netflix series Beef. Most of the music on the show is culled from the '90s and '00s, introducing a younger audience to songs like "Lonely Day," "The Reason" by Hoobastank, and "Mayonaise" by Smashing Pumpkins.

Comments: 20

Txfirewoman from DfwI heard this song right after holding my husband while he passed away. From then on, this song became my feelings over that day. I had begged him to take me with him when he died, but he said I had to stay here to take care of our child. It just resonated with my situation and still brings tears to my eyes today. Idk what the original meaning of the song is, but to me it’s the literal the worst day of my life. The day my soulmate left this world and just how bad my heart and soul in every cell of my body screamed to go with him.
Millie from Somewhere, UkI think it’s about loneliness and how it goes wherever you go.
Emi from AustraliaI think the song means trying to get out of the depression cycle and stopping themself from ending it all.
Ebud from Oregoni think this song is a birthday song when someone has been abandoned by their birth mother
Anonymoushi can anyone tell me what is the song's beat called?
Michelle from UsaWELL for me personally which it's really all about...how you relate to it...I makes me feel like it's about depression and how everyday really feels like the more loneliest day of your life over and over again when dealing with depression but then at the end of the day you're still glad you survived. But, the truth lies with this link so click it. :) https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/the_story_behind_lonely_day_by_system_of_a_down-75235
Foster from Sydney, AustraliaTotally cool song when you are feeling down...
Don't know about the "House of the Rising Sun" comments from previous posters. Check the relative time signatures (music stuff)...
Regardless, it's not important. The song hits and lifts you (eventually) at the same time. As with all SOAD
Zack from Noblesville, InThis song is perfect for those of us who feel like we don't belong no where and have very few good days where we have people around that care.
Esperanza from Glendale, AzYou can really hear the house of the rising sun thats awesome
Tyler from Salem, OrThis song is about Daron Malkian's cousin who died in a fire and his struggle with it.
Jorrik from North Hollywood, Armeniaapparently Daron's brother died in a fire, and that's why in the video there is fire everywhere. and i think Daron was there, therefore he's glad he survived.
Ben from West Bend, Afghanistani definatly agree with hunter
Megan from Kansas, Ksin ks for me its awesome!
Hunter from South West, MiCome on people this song is about the armenian genocide (holocaust)
Corey from Richmond, VaGreat song love the solo on the guitar. Song says a lot at "And if you go I want to go with you, and if you die I want to die with you."
Megan from Seminary, Msi like this song because it shows how everyone has "those" days when everything goes wrong but you know it could be worse, you could be dead
Joshua from Parsons, KsThey lost to Mother that is BS
Taylor from Las Vegas, NeI totally thought that the guitar was from House of the Rising Sun.
Aki from Sunrise, FlAnybody who listens to this and cannot see Daron as being beautiful in at least one way needs help.
Jacob from Somewhere, United StatesI think the line, "It's a day I'm glad I survived" is suppose to mean that Daron is happy to be alive so he don't have to deal with of people since he is alone.

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