The band's origin dates back to the summer of 1989 when Zak Tell and Jocke Skog met while working together at the Rosenlund Hospital somewhere in the vicinity of Stockholm. In 1990 they were joined by the Norwegian guitarists Bård Torstensen and Erlend Ottem who were also working at the same hospital. Soon the four realized their similar interests in music. Bård and Erlend previously played in a band called Theo in their hometown Arendal back in Norway. Their free time was invested in exploring the musical world, composing and writing songs while evolving into a band.
Their original demo comprising three tracks (Waste of Time, Nigger and Profit Preacher) quickly secured them local radio airplay and consequently brought them to the attention of the MVG label. "Nigger" is an anti-racism statement that caused quite a stir and was a massive success; it was also released as a single. By the beginning of the 1990s, Clawfinger self-released their debut Deaf Dumb Blind. This sold in over 600,000 copies worldwide and was critically acclaimed in Swedish press. With the addition of André Skaug and drummer Morten Skaug, Clawfinger went on tour and played at countless European festivals including major support slots with Anthrax and Alice in Chains.
The band received many awards, including two home Grammies at the Swedish Grammy Awards in 1994 for best hard rock band and best music video. After touring, they went straight back in the studio to record their second album, Use Your Brain. After the release of this album they went on yet another touring campaign, most notably participating at Ozzy Osbourne's Monsters of Rock Festival in Brazil and Chile, rocking alongside American metal counterparts like Megadeth, Faith No More, and Alice Cooper. Back in Europe they continued their touring campaign by participating at festivals and countless gigs.
Their self-titled album Clawfinger was released in 1997. The first song on the album is Two Sides, which expanded the band's reach by using female choir vocals and a Middle Eastern sound. The rest of the album continues with the band's typical aggressive voice and socio-political lyrics.
A Whole Lot of Nothing was the fourth album released on 23 July 2001. The music showcases the same aggressive guitars, with more distortion effects and sounds, adding a whole new level of diversification. As for the synthesizers, on this particular album they're more present than on any other of Clawfinger's works.
Zeros & Heroes was released in 2003 and it caused controversy in America because the song Step Aside did not sit well with most American audiences due to the fact it slams George W. Bush and the post 9/11 (and not only) military politics of the US. It offers yet another style change for the ears of the listener. The electronic sound and synthesizers from A Whole Lot of Nothing are gone and replaced by a more complex and melodic guitar riffing.
Hate Yourself With Style was released in 2005. The album continued the path entered on Zeros & Heroes and is characterized by hardrock style melodic speedy guitar riffs. The keyboards which particularly characterized A Whole Lot of Nothing have completely disappeared.
Life Will Kill You was released in 2007. It has spawned three singles: Prisoners, The Price We Pay, and Little Baby.
The band officially disbanded in 23 August 2013.
Current members:
Zak Tell — vocals
Jocke Skog — keyboards
Bard Torstensen — guitar
Henka Johansson — drums
Andre Skaug — bass
I Don't Care
Clawfinger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With your triple K complexion screaming keep our country clean
With your triple K superior picknick and your burning cross parade
You're all dressed up in white boys you're real American made
Hypocrite that's the name you wear
But I really don't care what you say
No bullshit you're so full of it
It comes out of your mouth everyday
You want to be somebody special so you take it to the extreme
Waste a Jew a black or two and wipe their race out clean
You practice on a target but your guns still full of lead
You hunt them down ten on one and you aim to hit the head
Repulsive you really make me hate all the things you deny and you fake
Primitive you show no respect for all the lives you take and forsake
I don't care.....
Your mouths are so enormous and your dicks are just so small
You're just to dumb to realize you ain't got no brains at all
There ain't nothing in your deadheads that I could ever even understand
And you've still got the guts to tell us all that we should join the klan
I truly believe you're deaf dumb and blind
I believe you're unable to look
I truly believe you're really out of your mind take a look in the history book
I don't care.....
The lyrics of "I Don't Care" by Clawfinger are a powerful commentary on racism, bigotry and hate. The verses describe a group of white supremacists who champion their cause with aggression and hostility and demand for a "clean" country. The song criticizes the hypocrisy of the supremacist mindset, which claims superiority while indulging in violence against groups it deems inferior. The chorus, with its repeated assertion of "I don't care what you say," is a defiant challenge to this kind of hate-fueled ideology.
The song warns of the extreme violence that such hate can lead to, highlighting the dangers of practicing violence on "targets" and "wiping races clean." The lyrics call out the ignorance of the white supremacist mindset, which can't see past its own racism and prejudices. The vocalist mocks their mentality and suggests that their aggression is fueled by a lack of brains, likening the size of their brains to the size of their genitalia.
In sum, Clawfinger's "I Don't Care" is an unapologetic and bold critique of hate-fueled ideologies and the lack of intelligence and empathy that such ideologies represent. It highlights the dangers of such beliefs, which lead to discrimination, violence and division.
Line by Line Meaning
You're all so fucking hostile you're all so fucking mean
You are incredibly aggressive and unkind
With your triple K complexion screaming keep our country clean
You support the Ku Klux Klan and are promoting racist propaganda
With your triple K superior picknick and your burning cross parade
You gather with other Klan members for events and ceremonies, including burning crosses as a symbol of hate
You're all dressed up in white boys you're real American made
You wear all white clothing as a sign of your association with the Klan, and you believe this makes you a true American
Hypocrite that's the name you wear
You are a hypocrite who says one thing but does another
But I really don't care what you say
I'm not interested in hearing your opinions or ideas
No bullshit you're so full of it
You are constantly lying and spreading false information
It comes out of your mouth everyday
You frequently say these lies and false information
I don't care what you say I don't care what you say
I am repeating that I do not care to hear what you have to say
You want to be somebody special so you take it to the extreme
You want attention or to feel important, so you go way too far with your actions
Waste a Jew a black or two and wipe their race out clean
You advocate for violence against Jews and black people, wanting to eliminate them entirely
You practice on a target but your guns still full of lead
You practice shooting at targets, but you still have real bullets in your gun
You hunt them down ten on one and you aim to hit the head
When you attack, you do so as a large group and with the intention of killing the person
Repulsive you really make me hate all the things you deny and you fake
You are disgusting, and I cannot stand the way you deny reality and pretend to be something you're not
Primitive you show no respect for all the lives you take and forsake
You are acting in a way that is outdated, and you don't care about the lives you hurt or take
Your mouths are so enormous and your dicks are just so small
You talk loudly and act tough, but in reality, you are weak and insignificant
You're just too dumb to realize you ain't got no brains at all
You are too stupid to realize that you lack intelligence and critical thinking skills
There ain't nothing in your deadheads that I could ever even understand
You have no thought or depth to your ideas that I can even begin to comprehend
And you've still got the guts to tell us all that we should join the klan
You are audacious enough to still advocate for others to join your group
I truly believe you're deaf dumb and blind
I really think you are unable to hear, think, or see
I believe you're unable to look
I think you are incapable of understanding or recognizing the reality of the situation
I truly believe you're really out of your mind take a look in the history book
You are seriously insane and should look at history to see how dangerous and wrong your beliefs are
I don't care.....
Once again, I repeat that I don't care and am not interested in engaging with you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANDREA SKAUG, BARD TORTENSEN, ERLEND OTTEM, JOAKIM SKOG, MORTEN SKAUG, ZAK TELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@quietri0t
That bass-sound and esp. that bass-solo is so freakin' awesome! Partied hard to this back in the 90s and still won't stop moving.
@akselgumus5385
they invent rapcore. this album it was. everybody jumped avandgarden
@5unnybeach
Thanks for the comment. :-D
@tabonejohann
Thanks andre skaug for tell the name of this song.
@MaddGuss
fuckin badass, thanks for the upload
@bobthebrush
fucking love this song! the bass is fucking bad ass! takes me back about 20yrs!! thanks for the upload man! rock on!
\m/ {(-_-)} \m/
@5unnybeach
You're welcome. :)