Skin
Siouxsee & the Banshees Lyrics
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Smother fat women
I have a noble cause for skin
There's just too many of them
The only necessary cull
Curse the brain inside it's skull
Just a bitch in the manger to the balances of nature
There's just too many of them
Give me your skin for dancing in
Hairless and streamline
Fits like my own skin
Tattooed and sun-dyed
It's warm and it's human
There was too many of them
The animals like them
Shame about the smell but they're fine steeped in perfume.
The lyrics to Siouxsee & the Banshees' song "Skin" touch on themes of vanity, consumerism, and the exploitation of animals for their fur. The opening lines, "Mink, seal and ermine, smother fat women, I have a noble cause for skin, there's just too many of them," suggest a critique of the fashion industry's obsession with fur and the objectification of women. The mention of "fat women" could be a commentary on society's standards of beauty and the pressure to conform to unrealistic body ideals.
The following lines, "The only necessary cull, curse the brain inside its skull, just a bitch in the manger to the balances of nature," imply that the mass killing of animals for their fur is disrupting the natural balance of ecosystems. By using the term "bitch in the manger," the lyrics suggest that the industry's excessive demand for fur is selfish and detrimental to the environment.
The chorus, "Cover me with skin and accuse me of sin, but you know what I mean, there's just too many of them," questions the hypocrisy and moral ambiguity surrounding the use of fur. It highlights the irony of people judging others while participating in the consumer culture that promotes the use of animal products.
The lyrics continue to emphasize the desirability and allure of fur, using lines such as "give me your skin for dancing in." This juxtaposition of beauty and brutality further emphasizes the conflicted nature of the fur industry and the exploitation it entails.
Overall, "Skin" can be interpreted as a critique of the fashion industry's obsession with fur, the objectification of women, and the moral ambiguity surrounding the use of animal products in consumer culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Mink, seal and ermine
Luxurious and exotic materials used for clothing
Smother fat women
Suppress and suffocate overweight women
I have a noble cause for skin
I advocate for a higher purpose of utilizing skin
There's just too many of them
There is an excessive number of overweight women
The only necessary cull
The essential selective reduction
Curse the brain inside its skull
Express disdain for the mind within their heads
Just a bitch in the manger to the balances of nature
Merely a disruptive force to the harmony of nature
Cover me with skin and accuse me of sin but you know what I mean
Judging me based on appearances while understanding my true intention
Give me your skin for dancing in
Provide me with your skin to wear as a form of expression
Hairless and streamline
Smooth and sleek
Fits like my own skin
Perfectly conforms to my body
Tattooed and sun-dyed
Adorned with tattoos and tanned by the sun
It's warm and it's human
It provides comfort and a sense of humanity
There was too many of them
There was an excessive number of individuals with such characteristics
The animals like them
The creatures share similarities with them
Shame about the smell but they're fine steeped in perfume
Regrettable odor can be masked by fragrances
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management
Written by: SIOUXSIE SIOUX, STEVEN SEVERIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind