Education, fornication, in you are, go
Education, subjugation, now you're out, go
Education, fornication, in you are, go
Don't be late for school again, boy

I think me, I want a life
I think me, I want a house and a wife
I wanna shimmy-shimmy-shimmy
Through the break of dawn, yeah

Education, fornication, in you are, go
Education, subjugation, now you're out, go
Education, fornication, in you are, go
Don't be late for school again, girl

I think me, I want a life
I think me, I want a house and a wife
I wanna shimmy-shimmy-shimmy
Through the break of dawn, yeah

I think me, I want a life
I think me, I want a house and a wife
I wanna shimmy-shimmy-shimmy
Through the break of dawn, yeah

Indoctrination of a nation
Indoctrination of a nation
Subjugation of damnation
Subjugation of damna-

Don't be late for school again, boy
Don't be late for school again, girl
Don't be late for school again, boy
Don't be late for school again, you


Lyrics submitted by F4RiD

Shimmy Lyrics as written by Shavo Odadjian Daron Malakian

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Shimmy song meanings
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80 Comments

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  • +5
    General Comment

    "Education, Fornication, in you are, go." --- This is pretty straight-forward. He's referring to the school system, and the cultural force it wields. Children go to school every day, seven to eight hours a day; it is an enormous influence on their cultural development. The foundation of their ideas.

    "Don't be late for school again boy/girl." ---Children are REQUIRED to go to school. By law. Not only is school a huge social-shaper for children and minors, but it is necessary. So kids are affected by school and its mainstream culture establishment, no ifs, ands, or buts. Those kids who go to Private or Home schools are a whole different can of worms.

    "I think me, I want life; I think me, I want a house and a wife." ---This is also pretty straight-forward. It refers to the ideal that is instilled in children, through the culture they are in, via media, and most peer-influencing, at school. This ideal is: Get married, get comfortable, get a house, and get laid. A piece of the American Dream, so to speak. (SOAD talks about that particular issue quite often).

    "I wanna shimmy through the break of dawn, yeah." ---Shimmy, meaning to have sex, methinks. I have found this very opinion to be common among SOAD Interpreters. This expresses the ever-prevalent desire among youths to "get laid", especially with a life-long partner, who is, of course, culturally necessary.

    "Indoctrination of a nation" ---This is indicating that this ideal is especially deep in the cultural roots of our contemporary society. It is almost religion-like in its depth and unconsciousness.

    So, basically I feel the song is condemning this particular aspect of mainstream culture and how it is spread unnoticed throughout generation to generation via school.

    KosmicStormon June 06, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Free thinkers are dangerous...

    Fear_Of_Mole_Ratson April 27, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Well i dont think it's exactly about secure sex and shimmying til the break of down. System of a Down is kinda communistic if u all havent noitce and in this song they are mocking americans, american school system and american behavior..hence the "i think me i want a house and a wife...wanna shimmy till the break of dawn"

    clumsiest1on December 14, 2001   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The indoctrination of our youth through the public education system.

    RaVEon December 05, 2001   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    whats wrong with christian rap rock, project 86 is the shit

    tkaiser15on December 06, 2001   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    fighting flames with flames.. the beginnings of an internet war.. i'm sure that'll be productive.. (and yes.. I like system of a down, blink 182, creed, and even a couple of ICP songs)

    Mopnuggeton December 06, 2001   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's about secure sex. Education, fornication... Shimmying 'til the break of dawn.

    g0nadsANDstrifeon December 13, 2001   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree with 'clumsiest1'. I think they are talking about how American society and its institutions, namely education, leads to self-centred and generic people. People who just want the same old American Dream, of a big house, a wife, and bit of all-night loving. Come to think of it: that doesn't sound too bad. Perhaps I've been indoctrinated too....

    mycatharsison December 14, 2001   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song.... Shimmy!

    Harry Manbackon February 07, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is the shit. It really makes me just wanna..... Well...... Shimmy Shimmy Shimmy all night long if you all must know.

    RimmyJiceon March 06, 2002   Link

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