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
Wipe My Ass
Clawfinger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's been hundreds of years of diabolical dung
So much prejudice piss has been trickling down
And I can smell the shit coming from miles around
You're so full of shit you're out of your mind
What the fuck is wrong don't waste my time
Waste my time
I'm not white I'm pink but the colour of my face
White power bullshit I'll wipe my pink fucking ass
With your swastika flag 'cause it belongs to the past
You want me to believe that dark skin is a sin
Well wake up it's 95 where the fuck have you been
What are you trying to achieve with your racist crap
That shit's coming out the crack from the bottom of your back
You're so full of shit you're out of your mind
What the fuck is wrong don't waste my time
Waste my time
You are making me sick with your pathetic tricks
You try to tell me different colours don't mix
You tell us so many lies that you believe them yourself
You spend your whole life blaming everyone else
You're so full of shit you're out of your mind
What the fuck is wrong don't waste my time
You're so full of shit you're out of you mind
What the fuck is wrong don't waste my time
Waste my time
The lyrics of Clawfinger's "Wipe My Ass" are a powerful social commentary on racism and prejudice. The song presents a scathing criticism of the white supremacist mindset, and highlights the hypocrisy and ignorance that fuels such prejudices.
The opening lines of the song speaks volumes about the historical and systemic nature of racism, and how it has been perpetuated through generations. The "white man's mouth and the white man's tongue" has spoken "hundreds of years of diabolical dung", which has resulted in a "prejudice piss...trickling down". This imagery paints a vivid picture of how deeply ingrained these biases are in society, and how they continue to affect the lives of people of color.
The song also takes aim at the idea of a superior race, dismissing it as a "fucking farce". The reference to the swastika flag belonging to the past is a direct challenge to the white supremacist agenda, which tries to justify its actions by invoking historical and racial myths.
Further, Clawfinger exposes the flaws in the logic of racial discrimination by highlighting the sheer absurdity of such arguments. The line "You want me to believe that dark skin is a sin" is a powerful reflection of how irrational and illogical such beliefs are. The song is a call to action against racism and prejudice and urges people to stand up against it.
Overall, "Wipe My Ass" is a masterful articulation of the destructive power of prejudice and its long-lasting effects on individuals and communities.
Line by Line Meaning
From the white mans mouth and the white mans tongue
The words and actions of privileged white people have been filled with harmful and offensive behavior.
There's been hundreds of years of diabolical dung
For centuries, white people have perpetuated damaging beliefs and practices towards people of color.
So much prejudice piss has been trickling down
The hatred and bigotry from white people has spread and influenced many others, causing lasting harm.
And I can smell the shit coming from miles around
The pervasive negativity and malice espoused by white people is easily detected and difficult to ignore.
You're so full of shit you're out of your mind
Your rhetoric is so flawed and nonsensical that it defies logic or reason.
What the fuck is wrong don't waste my time
I'm not interested in hearing any more of your vitriol, so please stop now.
I'm not white I'm pink but the colour of my face
I may look white, but that doesn't make me inherently superior or entitled.
Represents a fucking farce called the superior race
The idea that one race is superior to all others is a complete and utter falsehood.
White power bullshit I'll wipe my pink fucking ass
The idea of white power is ridiculous and laughable, and I will have no part of it.
With your swastika flag 'cause it belongs to the past
The symbol of the swastika is associated with the atrocities of the past, and has no place in modern society.
You want me to believe that dark skin is a sin
The idea that people of color are somehow morally inferior or wrong is entirely unfounded and untrue.
Well wake up it's 95 where the fuck have you been
It's time to acknowledge the progress we've made as a society in terms of diversity and inclusivity.
What are you trying to achieve with your racist crap
Your racist rhetoric is doing nothing but spreading hate and divisiveness, and serves no positive purpose.
That shit's coming out the crack from the bottom of your back
The negative beliefs and attitudes you spout are deeply ingrained and difficult to eradicate.
You are making me sick with your pathetic tricks
Your attempts to instill fear and hatred in others are having the opposite effect on me, and making me feel physically ill.
You try to tell me different colours don't mix
Your racist beliefs are based on ignorant and outdated attitudes about how people of different races should interact.
You tell us so many lies that you believe them yourself
Your prejudices have become so entrenched that you are no longer capable of seeing the truth.
You spend your whole life blaming everyone else
You refuse to take responsibility for your own prejudices and instead blame others for the problems you perceive.
Waste my time
I refuse to engage with your hateful rhetoric any longer, as it is a waste of my time and energy.
You're so full of shit you're out of your mind
Your negative attitudes and beliefs are so pervasive and harmful that they have driven you to insanity.
What the fuck is wrong don't waste my time
I refuse to engage with your hatred and bigotry any further, as I don't see any value in continuing this conversation.
You're so full of shit you're out of you mind
Your behavior is so reprehensible and harmful that it defies all sense and reason.
Waste my time
I will not continue to engage with you and your hateful rhetoric, as it is not productive or beneficial in any way.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BARD SVERRE TORSTENSEN, ERLEND OTTEM, JOCKE SKOG, ZAK NIKOLAS TELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind