Pictures

System Of A Down's song 'Pictures' is a complex tapestry of surreal imagery and existential musings. The lyrics are filled with abstract and often cryptic phrases that challenge the listener to delve deeper into their meaning. The repeated line 'I got pictures on my mind' suggests a preoccupation with memories or thoughts that are vivid and perhaps troubling. This repetition emphasizes the persistence of these mental images, hinting at an internal struggle or a fixation on certain ideas or experiences.

The song opens with the lines 'Flaunt your will at every wheel / Parachute your chocolate soul,' which can be interpreted as a call to assert one's individuality and navigate life's challenges with a sense of resilience and creativity. The mention of 'cobblestones under your wheels' evokes a sense of journey and movement, possibly symbolizing the rough and uneven path one must travel in life. The surreal nature of these images creates a dreamlike quality, blurring the lines between reality and imagination.

As the song progresses, it touches on themes of ego and authenticity with lines like 'Circumvent your thick ego / Wooden farts, they're on the go.' This could be seen as a critique of superficiality and the false personas people often adopt. The mention of 'fear' and 'gold dust' in the later verses introduces a sense of impermanence and the fleeting nature of life. The imagery of 'fear waits for us' and 'then turns to rust' suggests that fear is a constant presence, but it can be overcome or rendered insignificant over time. The song's closing lines, 'Can't you look at my shaved ass / Ounce is gone, and god is once,' continue the theme of challenging societal norms and questioning reality, leaving the listener with a sense of unresolved tension and contemplation.