Stealing Society

Album: Hypnotize (2005)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song deals with the degradation of society, and how drug abuse and gang violence contribute to the decline. Growing up in Hollywood, System Of A Down saw their share of junkies. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Kimimaro - Boulder, CO
  • "Stealing Society" was written by the SOAD's creative engine: guitarist Daron Malakian and lead singer Serj Tankian. Rick Rubin, who was also their label boss, produced it with Malakian.
  • This is part of the Hypnotize album, which was released in November 2005 just six months after their previous album, Mezmerize. Both album were million-sellers in America and went to #1, but the band needed a break and took one the following year. When they returned in 2010, they toured, but efforts to record proved futile. They didn't release any new material until 2020, when they issued the singles "Genocidal Humanoidz" and "Protect The Land" in support of their fellow Armenians.

Comments: 4

  • Stupid M from EarthI'm totally they guy there singing about. I think it's more like using drugs to escape society
  • Breanna from San Antonio, Txthis song is amazing. to me it holds many different meanings.
  • Carrie from Where I Am, --This is a good song. I think it's about drug abusers from the line "I'm looking for a mother that will get me high, just a stupid mutherf*cker if I die, I die."
  • Hannah from Statesville, NcThis song is amazing !
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

Mike Love of The Beach Boys

Mike Love of The Beach BoysSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist of The Beach Boys talks about coming up with the words for "Good Vibrations," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Kokomo" and other classic songs.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top Proverb

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top ProverbSong Writing

How a country weeper and a blues number made "rolling stone" the most popular phrase in rock.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.