Chakal is a Brazilian thrash metal band from the label Cogumelo Records. Th… Read Full Bio ↴Chakal is a Brazilian thrash metal band from the label Cogumelo Records. They formed in 1986, and appeared on the first “Warfare Noise” thrash metal compilation with two tracks. The following year they released their debut album “Abominable Anno Domini”. Following the release of their "Living With the Pigs" EP in 1988, singer Vladimir Korg left the band to sing for Mayhem, who subsequently changed their name to The Mist with his arrival. He recorded two albums with them before later reuniting with Chakal for their 2003 album Deadland. During his absence Chakal released two further albums fronted by Marcelo L. As of today, the band are still on Cogumelo Records.

Santa Claus Has Got Skin Cancer
Chakal Lyrics

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Red cheeks exposed
Travelling over the poles
Under ozone holes
Acquired skin tumors

Santa Claus has got
Has got skin cancer
Old December flyer

Great capital amasser

Poor children are free
From anguishing ads they see
No delusion to believe
And await him on Christmas Eve

Old reindeer retired
Xmas commercial end
No exploit next years
No gifts, no socks, no fears

Church was your creator
Capitalism made you fat

You aren't tricking anybody else
You're lost... Motherfucker!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Chakal's Santa Claus Has Got Skin Cancer are an incredibly potent critique of capitalism and consumerism using the figure of Santa Claus as a symbol for the widespread destruction wrought by these forces. The song depicts Santa as a tragic figure who has fallen victim to the very system he represents, with "red cheeks exposed" and "acquired skin tumors" as a result of his travels "under ozone holes" caused by industrial pollution. Although he is a "great capital amasser," Santa is ultimately powerless in the face of the rampant exploitation he has helped to create, and is left with nothing but illness and despair.

At the same time, however, the song offers a glimmer of hope by highlighting the true meaning of Christmas: the joy and love of family and friends, and the celebration of goodwill towards others. By suggesting that "poor children are free / from anguishing ads they see / no delusion to believe / and await him on Christmas Eve," Chakal offers a counterpoint to the materialistic frenzy of the holiday season and suggests that a return to more authentic values is possible.

In the final lines of the song, Chakal further emphasizes the point that the corrupting influence of capitalism can only lead to destruction and nihilism: "Church was your creator / capitalism made you fat / you aren't tricking anybody else / you're lost... Motherfucker!" These lines suggest that the only hope for a better future lies in rejecting the false promises of consumerism and returning to a more meaningful and authentic life. Overall, Santa Claus Has Got Skin Cancer is a powerful critique of a broken system and a passionate call for change.

Line by Line Meaning

Red cheeks exposed
Santa's rosy cheeks are exposed to harmful UV rays.

Travelling over the poles
Santa flies over the polar regions on his annual journey to deliver presents.

Under ozone holes
Santa is exposed to areas where the ozone layer has weakened and UV radiation is more intense.

Acquired skin tumors
As a result of unprotected exposure to UV radiation, Santa has developed skin cancer.

Santa Claus has got
Santa has developed.

Has got skin cancer
The skin cancer is a serious condition that is affecting Santa's health.

Old December flyer
Santa has been flying across the world delivering presents for many years.

Great capital amasser
Santa's image has been used to generate significant amounts of money for businesses worldwide.

Poor children are free
Children who cannot afford consumer goods are spared from the harmful effects of materialism and consumption culture.

From anguishing ads they see
Children are not subjected to the stress of seeing ads for expensive toys they cannot have.

No delusion to believe
Children do not need to hold onto a deluded belief in Santa to have a happy holiday season.

And await him on Christmas Eve
Children still enjoy the excitement of anticipating gifts on Christmas Eve without needing Santa to deliver them.

Old reindeer retired
Santa's reindeer have aged and are no longer able to fly him around the world.

Xmas commercial end
The commercialization of Christmas has come to an end as a result of Santa's illness.

No exploit next years
Marketers will no longer be able to exploit the image of Santa Claus to sell products.

No gifts, no socks, no fears
The end of Christmas consumer culture means no more gifts, stockings, or concerns related to materialism.

Church was your creator
Santa's image evolved from old Christian traditions surrounding the holiday.

Capitalism made you fat
Santa's image became bloated and commercialized as a result of the rampant consumer culture of capitalism.

You aren't tricking anybody else
Santa's image no longer has the power to delude anyone, especially children.

You're lost... Motherfucker!
Chakal feels that Santa's image is meaningless and irrelevant in the face of more pressing global issues, and accuses Santa of being misguided.

Contributed by Madelyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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