The way I see it, Santa has always been some sort of judge when you are kid, although you don't necessarily think in those terms at that age. The rules are simple: every year, if you've been a "good kid", Santa brings you presents. But if you've been naughty, Santa doesn't bring you anything. And it is he who decides which category you must be in.
I think the characters and the whole situation are just a metaphor. It's a simple story to represent a common dilemma: somebody did something he/she considered "bad" and now feels guilty, but at the same time this person thinks it was necessary to do it, because nobody helped him/her, there were no more options, and the situation became unbearable. Here, Santa represents something more or less like "karma". So, fearing a punishment even worse than not having presents, this Kid tries to explain and justify his acts, asking Santa to have mercy on him.
The "killing just for fun" part could be confusing, but it remembers me the scene in Kill Bill 2, when Bill tell Beatrix their young daughter killed her goldfish pet*. This is why I think "just for fun" doesn't necessarily means a sadistic view of the killings, but an innocent and childish view of the situation.
I don't know if someone would agree with me on this interpretation of the lyrics, but I find this song rather impressive, probably one the best of The Killers as yet, because it's just so funny and thoughtful at the same time, not to mention the excellent music it has.
I like your interpretation. Sounds like Santa may not have kept it in his big red pants and he's worried about the rath of Mrs. Claus. Santa sure does worry a lot for a happy-go-lucky, merry, fat dude ;) I'd sure hate to be judged on all the stupid sh*t I've done in my past. Geesh. LOVE the band. This song is so clever it's impossible not to like it. Flowers is a god.
I like your interpretation. Sounds like Santa may not have kept it in his big red pants and he's worried about the rath of Mrs. Claus. Santa sure does worry a lot for a happy-go-lucky, merry, fat dude ;) I'd sure hate to be judged on all the stupid sh*t I've done in my past. Geesh. LOVE the band. This song is so clever it's impossible not to like it. Flowers is a god.
The way I see it, Santa has always been some sort of judge when you are kid, although you don't necessarily think in those terms at that age. The rules are simple: every year, if you've been a "good kid", Santa brings you presents. But if you've been naughty, Santa doesn't bring you anything. And it is he who decides which category you must be in.
I think the characters and the whole situation are just a metaphor. It's a simple story to represent a common dilemma: somebody did something he/she considered "bad" and now feels guilty, but at the same time this person thinks it was necessary to do it, because nobody helped him/her, there were no more options, and the situation became unbearable. Here, Santa represents something more or less like "karma". So, fearing a punishment even worse than not having presents, this Kid tries to explain and justify his acts, asking Santa to have mercy on him.
The "killing just for fun" part could be confusing, but it remembers me the scene in Kill Bill 2, when Bill tell Beatrix their young daughter killed her goldfish pet*. This is why I think "just for fun" doesn't necessarily means a sadistic view of the killings, but an innocent and childish view of the situation.
I don't know if someone would agree with me on this interpretation of the lyrics, but I find this song rather impressive, probably one the best of The Killers as yet, because it's just so funny and thoughtful at the same time, not to mention the excellent music it has.
(*) I found the scene @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldEh0cyGVm4
I like your interpretation. Sounds like Santa may not have kept it in his big red pants and he's worried about the rath of Mrs. Claus. Santa sure does worry a lot for a happy-go-lucky, merry, fat dude ;) I'd sure hate to be judged on all the stupid sh*t I've done in my past. Geesh. LOVE the band. This song is so clever it's impossible not to like it. Flowers is a god.
I like your interpretation. Sounds like Santa may not have kept it in his big red pants and he's worried about the rath of Mrs. Claus. Santa sure does worry a lot for a happy-go-lucky, merry, fat dude ;) I'd sure hate to be judged on all the stupid sh*t I've done in my past. Geesh. LOVE the band. This song is so clever it's impossible not to like it. Flowers is a god.