"Down" in System of a Down

Question

What does the phrase "system of a down" mean exactly? It's the name of a well-known rock band but I've never quite got the actual meaning.

Whenever I hear it, the first thing that comes to mind is that the system (political, economic, social, etc.) is messed up, corrupted, etc., but the way the phrase is constructed sort of throws me off, it doesn't sound natural.

Thanks.

Kooyeen · Accepted Answer

Me neither, but I wanted to know more about it, so I tried looking on the net. The word "down" is usually an adverb, but here it's used as a noun. I heard expressions like "the ups and downs", but I'm not familiar with "down" used alone.

Longman's dictionary for learners doesn't help much in this case, because noneof the meanings it gives seems to be appropriate. Merriam Webster is probably better though, because the first meaning is "descent, depression": http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/down[5]

Here's what I found on Wikipedia:

The group took its name from a poem that Malakian had written titled “Victims of the Down."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_of_a_Down

I also found the poem:

As the century nears its formidable end, our gobal experience of universal proportions, predicted by many greats, will arrive at our solar system, to our system of a down.
Authoritarian oppression, family abuse, depression caused by conformity, and economic devastation will be neutralized by technological terrorism in times of complete chaos.
Control will never again be gained for toleration will become extinct. A husband quarreling with his wife will not think twice or regret his spent bullet. Hungry children will not spare the grocer.
Remorse in all forms will be removed from human thoughts and actions.
Freedom will only be available through revolution or death. This system of a down is unavoidable as life on this planet becomes unnecessary.
The hand has five fingers, capable and powerful, with the ability to destroy as well as create.
We have the power to stop and reverse the tides of time by making our awareness of abuse known to the powers of industry and their uncouth political arms. Only by raising the awareness and promoting personal peace within today's self-defeatist society, can we allow the planet a chance to avoid self-destruction!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090510130946AASgoY1

So I guess "System of a Down" refers to our modern "system" (that is, society) which is unstable and it's expected to "go down", become increasingly worse, and maybe come to an end. A system that is not sustainable, so it's based on something that can't improve, but can only "go down" and become worse.

This is my opinion, and I don't know if my analysis is good. I'd be interested to hear other opinions too.

"Down" in System of a Down

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