| Atmosphere – If I Was Santa Claus Lyrics | 5 years ago |
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So I love this song, it's one of my all time favourites, it also seems to give a very direct symbolism to what it is. So some of my interpretation is going to be obvious. It's the idea of an ideal, an impossible ideal at that, but it being Santa Claus it's one that many people want to emulate. Santa Claus doesn't exist but we can say what are the things about Santa Claus that we would like to be. One thing is very clear that this song is also about the gift of giving. That's what all the characters are, he points out how being rich and smart can be seen as ideal, but can in excess have downsides, being rich doesn't give you an appreciation of what's of value or real, outside of wealth. Having someone who's too smart is stifling in that it leaves you without command of your own life. Being a driver is how everyone in their life is in charge once they become an adult but he doesn't believe some people can be trusted with that charge and he has to keep himself safe. Nourishing children is knowing that he can put aside the worries of an ideal because having raised children is (the biggest) accomplishment. If he was honest he would explain what all the confusion and interpretation of life is through the music the music he makes. But that level of honesty would make him break down before the day even started. He immediately follows this with to not even listen but to live instead. His next line is how if he was hurt maybe it would save him to have someone he could put his own faith in. Finally to have wisdom and knowledge of the world to help others reach what they can't themselves. Then he stops, and pauses, and you hear him breathing in the background, he's done listing what it would be to be Santa Claus. He's done setting the ideals of Santa Claus (always with a flip side of how even if he was the impossible it wouldn't be enough) now he goes into listing what his message is through it all. "And if I did have a choice I'd never want to live forever Just let me have a voice so I can make my points I can't imagine running a race with no finish line Just let me keep my pace and make to most of my time I love giving but I'm bad at receiving The truth is, I'd prefer to be the one bleeding But I'm a paranoid that stays between play and work Cautious and aware, 'cause I'm afraid of being hurt Which brings me to the issue And that would be this: How often must I ask myself why I exist? I feel like a freak, this world is a circus Just trying to find myself as well as my purpose" This is how even as Santa, he has issues, he doesn't want to run forever, he's paranoid of being hurt, he doesn't even think as an ideal he'll have found himself or his purpose. "And if I was Santa Claus, I'd fight for the cause Wouldn't expect nothing in return I'd give you everything you want, I'd be everything you need So you can take my hand and I can take the lead" If he was the impossible, he'd live to be that ideal, a superhero. Only giving, not expecting, someone who could take the lead. I got nothing but gifts Keep it up in my wits Got me drunk on the fifth (this and the next line are about how he fails quickly) And now we're stuck in a ditch And as dumb as it gets I'mma run you some feebs (?) I wanna touch your lips I wanna rub your hips Put a glove on the fist (I think this is about politics tbh) For the love that exists We'll keep bumping the hits To get my bucket of chips From the Bloods and the Crips To the skateboarding chicks Put the Atmosphere on your Christmas wishlist I think the message you take away is that he isn't the ideal, but even if he was the ideal, he'd have so many problems himself, and in some of the things people might wish for it but there's things they lose. There is no perfect, it's both impossible to be anyones idea of perfect and it would be a contradiction to be so. He seems to suggest we need to lead our own lives, even with the dirt, the apathy, the other fools, all the problems before the first chorus, all the self doubt, contradictions, all the hurt after the first chorus. Bittersweet, but I keep listening to this song cause damn, if all that ain't true. |
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