This song and "The River" are my favourite two Atmosphere songs. I think that this song is one that can apply to anyone, it's the classic example of when someone feels as though they could really be a saviour for someone else but they're powerless to do so (much like the way jabberwockysuperfly feels right now), whether it be down to social groups, race, class etc.
Santa Claus is a metaphor for being at the top of the food chain, for having influence, for being famous, for having the ability to do things that normal people can't do.
In terms of Slug, I think that he is directing this towards women, society and Hip-Hop, or basically, the whole world.
This line here: "And if I was a better cook" reminds me of a line in the song "The Ocean": "If I could cook half as good as you look, I'd trade my headphones and my notebook for all the time you took up to shine". The "if" clause (no pun intended) appears many times throughout Atmosphere songs, notably in "The River".
This is probably my favourite verse out of all of the music, let alone Atmosphere, I have ever heard:
"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"
It speaks for itself, but for want of a definition, he's basically explaining why he is unable to carry out all of the actions that he spoke of before, which is why the beat slows down. Slug uses "if" to signify that he is lacking in these qualities that he speaks of and this verse, or to be specific, the middle part of the verse, explains why he lacks in those qualities:
"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"
He then explains why he wants to be Santa Claus:
"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".
I can't explain the final stanza since I don't really know what Slug is talking about.
This song and "The River" are my favourite two Atmosphere songs. I think that this song is one that can apply to anyone, it's the classic example of when someone feels as though they could really be a saviour for someone else but they're powerless to do so (much like the way jabberwockysuperfly feels right now), whether it be down to social groups, race, class etc.
Santa Claus is a metaphor for being at the top of the food chain, for having influence, for being famous, for having the ability to do things that normal people can't do.
In terms of Slug, I think that he is directing this towards women, society and Hip-Hop, or basically, the whole world.
This line here: "And if I was a better cook" reminds me of a line in the song "The Ocean": "If I could cook half as good as you look, I'd trade my headphones and my notebook for all the time you took up to shine". The "if" clause (no pun intended) appears many times throughout Atmosphere songs, notably in "The River".
This is probably my favourite verse out of all of the music, let alone Atmosphere, I have ever heard:
"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"
It speaks for itself, but for want of a definition, he's basically explaining why he is unable to carry out all of the actions that he spoke of before, which is why the beat slows down. Slug uses "if" to signify that he is lacking in these qualities that he speaks of and this verse, or to be specific, the middle part of the verse, explains why he lacks in those qualities:
"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"
He then explains why he wants to be Santa Claus:
"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".
I can't explain the final stanza since I don't really know what Slug is talking about.