Learn the Lyrics to Protect the Land by System of a Down

“Protect the Land” is a song recorded by Armenian-American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released as a double A-side single with “Genocidal Humanoidz” on November 6, 2020, through American Recordings and Columbia Records, to raise awareness and funds for Armenia and the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh amid the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. It is the band’s first release in 15 years since their fifth studio album Hypnotize (2005), and their first single in 14 years since “Lonely Day” (2006). The two singles have raised over $600,000 that was donated to the Armenia Fund to help those who have been affected by the war.

“Those who protect the land
Those who protect the land
Those who protect
The enemy of man is his own decay
If they’re evil now then evil they will stay
If they will try to push you far away
Would you stay and take a stand?
Would you stay with gun in hand?
They protect the land
They protect the land
They protect the land”

The music video for “Protect the Land”, directed by Ara Soudjian and Shavo Odadjian, was uploaded to the band’s YouTube channel on November 6, 2020.[10] It features footage of Armenian soldiers on the frontlines, as well as shots of the band with projections of some of the footage Odadjian shot superimposed over their faces, similar to the band’s “Toxicity” video.

While talking about the concept of the video, Odadjian said: “I brought in everyone from every age. We have babies, my two sons, the high priest of Los Angeles, doctors, cab drivers, and soldiers in the video. At the same time, we have people in Armenia in Artsakh filming on the frontlines of the war going on. So the message is, ‘I know we’re thousands of miles away, but we stand with our troops and we stand for this one common cause as Armenians.'”

The official music video currently has 13.3 million views on YouTube. Listen and watch the music video here.

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Photo Credit: TDC Photography / Shutterstock.com