Animals is a concept album, based on the flaws of capitalism. Various castes in society are represented as different types of animals (Dogs as the businessmen, sheep as the powerless pawns, and pigs as the ruthless leaders). Although this album mainly attacks capitalism, several components are similar to George Orwell's novel "Animal Farm": In the book, various animals (mainly pigs, sheep, dogs, etc.) represent different roles assumed by individuals in a communist society.
While singer and guitarist David Gilmour are only credited for the music of one track, the epic "Dogs" (previously known as "You Gotta Be Crazy"), this song and "Raving and Drooling", a Waters song which would later become "Sheep", were created at the same time as "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", and originally destined for Wish You Were Here. Their creation process was similar to the method the band used during the late sixties and early seventies. They would adapt and expand their compositions by performing them live, and later in the studio find a more coherent form and concept for the whole album, with Waters writing the lyrics. Animals was the last Pink Floyd album created in this way, as the subsequent The Wall and The Final Cut, were primarily conceived by Waters and worked out in the studio with some input from Gilmour. Although Rick Wright admittedly did not contribute much compositionally, he had some influence on the arrangement of the songs, including solo playing on "Dogs" and "Sheep". As with "Welcome to the Machine" and "Wish You Were Here" on Wish You Were Here, Waters wrote "Pigs on the Wing" and "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" to tie together the other songs in the album's concept. His dominance in the writing credits and the discrepancy with the actual creation process are directly related to the increasing tensions within the band.
The three core songs are bookended by a pair of love songs written by Waters for his then-wife Caroline: "Pigs on the Wing, Part 1" and "Pigs on the Wing, Part 2". Both are in stark contrast to the misanthropic middle three songs and suggest that companionship can help us overcome our flaws – though the final lines suggest that the singer is or was once one of the dogs. For the 8-track cartridge release, which looped, Parts 1 and 2 were linked by a guitar bridge performed by Snowy White (subsequently available on White's 1996 album "Goldtop: Groups & Sessions"), and the 17:08 song "Dogs" was cut into two tracks.
The giant, helium-filled pig seen on the cover was actually flown over Battersea Power Station for the photoshoot (under the direction of Storm Thorgerson). On the first day of shooting, a marksman was on hand in case the pig broke free. However, according to Thorgerson, this was considered an "insurance problem", and he was not hired for the second day of the shooting. Ironically, on December 3, 1976, during the second day, a gust of wind broke the pig free of its moorings. Because there was no one to shoot the pig down, it sailed away into the morning sky. A passenger plane reported seeing the pig, causing all the flights at London Heathrow Airport to be delayed. A police helicopter was sent up to track the pig but was forced to return after following the pig to an altitude of 5,000 feet. A warning was sent out to pilots that a giant, flying pink pig was loose in the area. The CAA lost radar contact on the pig near Chatham in Kent, at a height of 18,000 feet and flying East. It finally landed in a farmer's field, without much damage. They then repaired the pig and flew it up for the third time. The resulting pictures were not deemed suitable on their own (as the clear, blue sky from day three was thought to be much less evocative), and the final image was made as a composite of the power station picture from day one and the pig from day three.
The album had custom picture labels, using drummer Nick Mason's handwriting as a typeface, as did the lyrics on the liner sleeve. Side one's label depicted a fish-eye lens view of a dog and the English countryside. Side two's was similar but featured a pig and sheep instead of the dog.
Originally released on Columbia Records in the U.S. and Harvest Records in the UK, Animals was then remastered in 1992 for its inclusion on the Shine On box set. The remaster was subsequently released on its own by EMI in 1994. In 1997, Columbia Records issued an updated remaster in the United States, Canada, Australia, South America, and Japan. Animals were again re-released in April 2000 by Capitol Records in the US, and on the EMI label in Japan, Canada, South America, and Australia again using the 1992 Shine On remaster along with the artwork from 1994 EMI Europe reissue.
The album proved a success in the United Kingdom, where it reached #2 in the era of punk music. It was also a success in the U.S., reaching #3 on the Billboard album charts (#1 and #2 were Hotel California by The Eagles, and the soundtrack to the Barbara Streisand film A Star Is Born). However, it was on the American charts for only six months even though it has continued to sell solidly, to the extent of its having gone quadruple platinum, according to the RIAA.
In the UK, the British Phonographic Industry awarded the album Gold (100,000 units) in 1977. It has yet to achieve Platinum.
In an April 2020 interview, Waters said he had pushed for the release of a remixed and remastered vinyl of Animals by James Guthrie, but that it had been rejected by Gilmour and Mason. In June 2021, Waters released a statement announcing a new release with stereo and 5.1 surround mixes. Waters cited a dispute between himself and Gilmour over a set of liner notes written by Mark Blake as the reason for the delay, and posted the rejected liner notes on his website. The remix of the album is expected to be released on September 16, 2022, on Vinyl, CD, & Blu-ray; also a limited edition deluxe gatefold package containing Vinyl, CD, Blu-ray, DVD and a 32-page book will be released on October 7, 2022. A Hybrid Multichannel SACD of the stereo and surround remixes will be released exclusively through Acoustic Sounds on September 16, 2022, as well. The band released the 2018 remix of "Dogs" as a digital single on July 22, 2022.
Pigs On The Wing
Pink Floyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What happens to you
And I know that you care
For me too
So I don't feel alone
Or the weight of the stone
Now that I've found somewhere safe
To bury my bone
And any fool knows a dog needs a home
A shelter from pigs on the wing
In Pink Floyd's song "Pigs on the Wing," the lyrics convey a sense of care and concern between two individuals. The opening lines, "You know that I care, what happens to you, and I know that you care, for me too" express a mutual understanding and a sense of shared empathy. The next lines, "So I don't feel alone, or the weight of the stone, Now that I've found somewhere safe, To bury my bone" expand on this idea of finding comfort and security in the presence of another person. The final lines, "And any fool knows a dog needs a home, A shelter from pigs on the wing," use a metaphor of a dog needing a home to convey the need for protection and safety from negative influences. The "pigs on the wing" represents those negative influences and threats against those in need of shelter.
This song showcases Roger Waters' more sentimental side, and this song was written about his wife at the time, Carolyn Christie. The song is, in fact, two different tracks, Pigs on the Wing 1 and Pigs on the Wing 2, and bookend the three-song stretch that covers the entirety of Pink Floyd's 1977 album "Animals." The song served as a bridge for the album's two epic tracks, "Dogs" and "Pigs (Three Different Ones)." One of the notable aspects of the song is that it is very short, running only a few minutes in length. It serves as an acoustic counterbalance to the much lengthier and more complex tracks on the rest of the album.
The song demonstrates Pink Floyd's ability to create depth through simplicity. The lyrics may appear straightforward, but they contain subtle nuances and references that reward careful listening. Similarly, the acoustic guitar riff is simple, but it is a memorable hook that anchors the song. Interestingly, the song wasn't played live until 2011 when Waters began to include more of his solo material in his performances. In conclusion, "Pigs on the Wing" is a heartfelt and melodic song that provides a moment of contemplation in the middle of a concept album about society's ills.
Line by Line Meaning
You know that I care
I want you to know that I'm concerned about your well-being.
What happens to you
I care about what happens to you in life, both good and bad.
And I know that you care
I understand that you also are concerned about my happiness and safety.
For me too
You also want to ensure that I'm taken care of and looked after.
So I don't feel alone
Knowing that you care about me makes me feel comforted and less lonely.
Or the weight of the stone
I no longer feel burdened by my problems and worries.
Now that I've found somewhere safe
I have discovered a place where I can feel secure and at ease.
To bury my bone
I have a safe and secure place to keep my most treasured possessions.
And any fool knows a dog needs a home
It's obvious that anyone, even a dog, needs a place to call home.
A shelter from pigs on the wing
This home provides protection from any harm that may come from outside influences, like 'pigs on the wing', or negative forces in life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Written by: George Waters
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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