[Verse] Am Wake up E Grab a brush and put a little makeup F E Am Hide the scars to fade away the shakeup E Why’d you leave the keys upon the table? Am Here you go, create another fable, you wanna to E Grab a brush and put a little makeup, you wanna to Am Hide the scars to fade away the shakeup, you wanna to E Dm Why’d you leave the keys upon the table? [Chorus] Am I don’t think you trust Dm E Dm Am In... my... self-righteous suicide Dm E Dm Am I.... cry... when angels deserve to die [Verse] Am Wake up E Grab a brush and put a little makeup F E Am Hide the scars to fade away the shakeup E Why’d you leave the keys upon the table? Am Here you go, create another fable, you wanna to E Grab a brush and put a little makeup, you wanna to Am Hide the scars to fade away the shakeup, you wanna to E Dm Why’d you leave the keys upon the table? [Chorus] Am I don’t think you trust Dm E Dm Am In... my... self-righteous suicide Dm E Dm Am I.... cry... when angels deserve to die Dm E Dm Am In... my... self-righteous suicide Dm E Dm Am I.... cry... when angels deserve to die [Bridge] Father... Father... E C F Am Father into your hands I commend my spirit E C Am Father into your hands, why have you forsaken me? [Outro] Dm C In your eyes, forsaken me F Am In your thoughts, forsaken me Dm C In your heart, forsaken me F Am Dm C F Am Oh... trust... in... my... self-righteous suicide Dm C F G Am I.... cry... when angels deserve to die
About Chop Suey!
System Of A Down’s Chop Suey! (2001) is a defining anthem of alternative metal, known for its explosive riffs, abrupt tempo shifts, and existential themes. Waxx and Siobhan Wilson’s acoustic cover transforms that chaos into intimacy, revealing the song’s lyrical fragility through layered instrumentation and haunting vocals.
Acoustic Cover Release
Chop Suey! (Acoustic Cover) | Waxx & Siobhan Wilson (YouTube)
Released on Waxx’s official YouTube channel, the Chop Suey! performance showcases not just a stripped‑down version but a mind‑blowing display of Waxx’s creativity. Instead of limiting the arrangement to guitar and voice, Waxx orchestrates multiple instruments — acoustic guitar, piano, subtle percussion, and harmonized layers — weaving them seamlessly into a reinterpretation that feels both raw and cinematic. This inventive approach reframes the song as a contemplative meditation rather than a furious outburst.
The Voice Behind the Song
Siobhan Wilson’s ethereal voice reshapes Serj Tankian’s theatrical delivery into something delicate yet piercing. Her phrasing emphasizes vulnerability, turning defiant lines into whispered confessions. Waxx’s instrumental layering provides a steady, resonant foundation, allowing the lyrics to breathe and exposing their emotional depth.
Tempo & Rhythm: From Chaos to Contemplation
The original Chop Suey! thrives on jagged rhythms and rapid tempo changes, mirroring the unpredictability of life and mortality. In the acoustic cover, those transitions are softened. Chords linger longer, and the pacing slows, creating space for reflection. This shift makes the cover emotionally powerful but also challenging for players accustomed to the original’s tight, frantic rhythm.
Chords & Structure: Simplified Progression in Am
For convenience, the following chord shapes are presented in Am, making them accessible for standard‑tuned acoustic guitar or piano. While the original SOAD version is played in Drop C (C–G–C–F–A–D) and Waxx’s acoustic cover shifts to Em, using Am allows players to capture the harmonic feel without retuning.
Chord Progression Overview (Simplified in Am):
- Verse: Am → E → F → E → Am → Dm
- Chorus: Am → Dm → E → Dm → Am
- Bridge: E → C → F → Am
- Outro: Dm → C → F → Am (with G added at the climax)
Additional Note: The original Chop Suey! studio version emphasizes chromatic tension (oscillating between Gm and F# in Drop C), while Waxx’s Chop Suey! acoustic cover re‑harmonizes into Em. This article uses Am chord shapes for convenience, so players can follow along easily on standard‑tuned instruments while still appreciating the creative differences in Waxx’s reinterpretation.
Why It Resonates
Waxx & Siobhan Wilson’s acoustic cover demonstrates how reinterpretation can uncover new emotional layers in a familiar anthem. By juggling multiple instruments and slowing the tempo, Waxx reveals the fragility at the heart of Chop Suey! — mortality, faith, and abandonment.
Listeners are drawn to the contrast: a song once defined by chaos now reborn as a quiet meditation. It proves that even the loudest anthems can whisper, and in doing so, they can reach across genres and generations. Above all, it underlines Waxx’s mind‑blowing creativity, turning a metal classic into an acoustic masterpiece without losing its soul.
