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Pigs & Pineapples
The Alter Boys Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ticker tape parades
Embalmed in napalm
A struggle for power
In the belly of the beast
Disneyland debutantes
Table dance for dollars
While Silicone soldiers wear Versace fatigues
And everyday I look I see the devil in the mirror
I′ve been blinded by illusion
Perfection can't be attained
That′s why
Ouiga we don't want to tell the future
Roast the pigs with pineapples and smiles and tenderness
Poison a chicken
And it will predict the future
Hellhounds and witches are sniffing at my door
Over the borders we've been trading human skin
And everyday I look I see the devil in the mirror
I′ve been praying to bleeding statues dining with these hungry ghosts
That′s why
Ouiga we don't want to tell the future
Roast the pigs with pineapples and smiles and tenderness
You′ve got a chip on your shoulder
There's a target on my chest
I′ve got a secret that I'm dying to confess
I′ve been blinded by the future
Present life cannot sustain
That's why
Ouiga we don't want to tell the future
Roast the pigs with pineapples and smiles and tenderness

Overall Meaning

The Alter Boys' "Pigs & Pineapples" is a dark commentary on the state of modern society. The lyrics are rife with symbolism and bleak imagery, creating a vivid picture of a world in chaos. The first verse, for example, mentions "ticker tape parades" and "embalmed in napalm," which suggests a celebration of violence and destruction. The second verse is equally unsettling, with its reference to "Silicone soldiers wear[ing] Versace fatigues" and "trading human skin over the borders." The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Ouiga we don't want to tell the future / Roast the pigs with pineapples and smiles and tenderness," seems to be a rejection of the idea that we can control our fate. Instead, the song suggests that we should find joy and comfort in small things, like roasting pigs with pineapples and smiled.


The song seems to be a critique of consumerist culture, where people are reduced to objects and corporations hold the real power. The line "Disneyland debutantes / Table dance for dollars" is particularly telling, as it suggests a world where even the most innocent and magical things are commodified and sold. The reference to "borders" and "human skin" implies a world where even the most basic rights and freedoms have been stripped away.


Overall, "Pigs & Pineapples" is a powerful indictment of a society in decline. However, it also suggests that there is still hope, as long as we can find joy and meaning in the small things in life. The song encourages us to reject the forces that seek to control and manipulate us, and to instead embrace the beauty and tenderness that can still be found in the world.


Line by Line Meaning

Ticker tape parades
Celebrations that involve the use of ticker tape, as a metaphor for superficial and empty ways of celebrating.


Embalmed in napalm
Relating to the use of napalm as a weapon of war in which an explosion of gelatinous substance is spread over an area or person, killing or severely injuring them.


A struggle for power
The competition for power among people, often marked by cunning, manipulation, and aggressiveness.


In the belly of the beast
Being stuck in a dangerous, oppressive, or risky situation that seems impossible to escape from.


Disneyland debutantes
Describing young, attractive women who cater to the fantasies of men, in a way that is reminiscent of the shallow and superficial aspects of Disneyland.


Table dance for dollars
A type of entertainment in which women dance on tables for money, often in a strip club or other adult venue.


While Silicone soldiers wear Versace fatigues
Describing a group of people who are superficial, obsessed with looks and brands, and who prioritize material possessions over everything else.


And everyday I look I see the devil in the mirror
A reflection on how individualism and societal expectations lead us to become our worst enemies, resulting in self-loathing and despair.


I′ve been blinded by illusion
Describing how illusions and superficialities have blinded us to the harsh realities of the world, and how we must see past this tendency in order to gain a clearer perspective.


Perfection can't be attained
Self-explanatory. No one can ever achieve perfection and it's a folly to try.


That′s why
Connecting the previous lines to the ones that follow, suggesting that because of these realizations about illusions and the unattainability of perfection, there are certain things we can do - as seen in the next lines.


Ouiga we don't want to tell the future
A reference to a Ouija board, a tool used in certain circles to predict the future. This line suggests that the song's writer(s) is/are skeptical of the tool's ability to predict the future and prefers to focus on other things.


Roast the pigs with pineapples and smiles and tenderness
A metaphorical suggestion that we ought to treat everyone, including those who have done wrong, with kindness and forgiveness.


Poison a chicken
A metaphor for taking advantage of people's weaknesses to extract a desired response, in a manipulative and potentially harmful way.


And it will predict the future
A continuation of the previous metaphor, noting that people who are mistreated might respond in ways that are easy to predict - perhaps even manifesting through ghostly apparitions or other supernatural events.


Hellhounds and witches are sniffing at my door
A metaphor for the many evils and bad influences in the world that can creep in and destroy our sense of safety, security, and well-being.


Over the borders we've been trading human skin
Literal and metaphorical meanings are intertwined, with this line alluding to the illegal trade of human organs and parts in the black market, as well as the desire for some to profit from other people's suffering.


I′ve been praying to bleeding statues dining with these hungry ghosts
A reference to Catholicism and the religious practice of praying to idols or saints for intercession, but in a way that is critical of the practice, suggesting that it is misguided and leads to thoughts of death and despair.


You′ve got a chip on your shoulder
A metaphor for describing someone who is always angry, defensive or overly-sensitive about something, and who is always ready to pick a fight.


There's a target on my chest
A metaphor for the sense of danger or insecurity that one feels, often as a result of real or perceived threats from others.


I′ve got a secret that I'm dying to confess
A reflection on the immense pressure and anxiety that comes from holding onto a secret, and the potential release one might feel if that secret is finally shared or released.


I′ve been blinded by the future
A continuation of the earlier metaphor of being blinded by illusions and superficialities, but now focused on the future rather than the present.


Present life cannot sustain
A recognition that the way we live in the present - with superficialities, illusions, and greed - is not sustainable for the long-term, and that we must focus more on the things that truly matter.


That's why
Another transition line, suggesting that the earlier lines of the song have led the writer(s) to a certain realization or conclusion.


Ouiga we don't want to tell the future
Repeating this earlier line once more, as a way to symbolize the persistence of the doubts and skepticism regarding the future, but now with a greater sense of hope or purpose.


Roast the pigs with pineapples and smiles and tenderness
Repeating this line once more as well, as a way to emphasize the importance of treating others with kindness and empathy, even in tough situations.




Writer(s): The Alter Boys

Contributed by Tristan R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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