B.Y.O.B.

About this song

B.Y.O.B. is the first single released from System of a Down's fourth album, Mezmerize. Like the band's earlier song Boom!, it was written in protest against the Iraq War. The song made it onto numerous Top 40 playlists around the globe, including in Germany, New Zealand, Australia and the United States, and occasionally reached number one on other music shows.

What it's about

The title stands for Bring Your Own Bombs rather than the common reading Bring Your Own Booze. It casts the Iraq War as a big party for the United States, where instead of Jägerbombs, real bombs are dropped.

Fun facts

• Samples “Molotov by Bukshot”.
• Sampled in 12 other songs, like “NAMORADA VEGANA by Biffe”.
• Covered 2 times, including “B.Y.O.B. by Robyn Adele Anderson”.
• Written by Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian and Casey Chaos.
• Produced by Daron Malakian and Rick Rubin.