Before forming Wand in 2013, Hanson played in a multitude of bands, contributing to more obscure outfits like Magic Mountain, Hellomynameischad, and Blackagar Boltagon, as well as some bigger names like together PANGEA, the Meatbodies, and Mikal Cronin. Before Wand, he also released three albums of abstract electronic pop under the name WHITE. Once formed, Wand took up much of Hanson's time and focus. The band recorded and released three albums, as well as a handful of singles, between 2014 and 2015. They also toured frequently, playing shows with Ty Segall and others. Segall was impressed enough to subsequently play a number of shows with Hanson as an acoustic duo. He also added Hanson and fellow Wand member Evan Burrows to his backing band the Muggers for his 2016 touring dates. Due to this, Wand was uncharacteristically quiet during 2016.
At the same time, Hanson spent the time away from the band working on a solo album. The acid folk-inspired, lushly orchestrated The Unborn Capitalist from Limbo was released by Drag City in late 2016. Wand resumed their activity for several years afterwards, and the band was Hanson's main focus until 2020, when he released a 7" single with two new collaborations with Segall. That year, he also began sharing songs from his forthcoming second solo album Pale Horse Rider, sibsquently release in April 2021. Before Pale Horse Rider was released, Hanson appeared as a guest on the song "Night Rider's Lament," one in a series of collaborative tracks released by Bill Callahan and Bonnie "Prince" Billy.
Pigs
Cory Hanson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here is the Earth spun in a web
Let′s take the train instead
Here comes the airplane
Here is my baby, oh my love
Put the tarot cards in the deck
In your arms before I go
And all the little pigs on patrol
Are going home
What are you laughing at?
If it was your ass, wouldn't it be the same?
The only difference is your name
High on Codeine
Taking up shadows in the backyard
Setting fire to the graves
Because it′s Halloween
And the town is like a gravestone
Now all the little kids dressed as pigs
Are going home
And all the little kids on patrol
Are going home
And all the little pigs on patrol
Are going home
All the little pigs on patrol
Are going home
Cory Hanson's song Pigs is a psychedelic and mysterious track that seems to make references to the surreal, the supernatural, and internal search for peace or fulfillment. In the first verse, Hanson talks about giving up the world and all its chaotic entanglements, and taking the train instead - this could signify a desire to break free from societal expectations and establish one's own journey. The second verse has a peculiar twist, "Put the tarot cards in the deck" - this could imply seeking guidance or supernatural intervention. The third stanza seems to explore the themes of identity and belonging, with the line "The only difference is your name" being an assertion that people are inherently very similar.
As the song progresses, the lyrics delve deeper into the surreal, with the line "Taking up shadows in the backyard" and the reference to Halloween - this could imply a state of limbo, a space between the real world and the imagined one. The final verse includes references to "little kids dressed as pigs" and "little pigs on patrol," which could be interpreted as a metaphor for children inheriting the same responsibilities and expectations that govern adult lives. Ultimately, the song seems to be an introspective exploration of the self, its identity, and its relationship with the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Here is your ticket
The singer presents an object to the listener as a symbol of their departure from the current situation.
Here is the Earth spun in a web
The singer describes the world as complex and interconnected.
Let's take the train instead
The singer suggests an alternative mode of transportation, possibly alluding to a desire for change or escape.
Here comes the airplane
The artist makes a lighthearted observation of their surroundings.
Here is my baby, oh my love
The artist expresses affection for a personal connection in their life.
Put the tarot cards in the deck
The singer invites the listener to participate in a mystical or spiritual practice.
If I could just stay here
The singer shares a wish to remain and delay departure from a given situation.
In your arms before I go
The artist expresses comfort in physical intimacy.
And all the little pigs on patrol
The artist is likely using a metaphor to describe a group of people responsible for control or observation.
Are going home
The artist indicates an end of a particular event or activity.
What are you laughing at?
The singer inquires about someone's reaction to a situation.
If it was your ass, wouldn't it be the same?
The artist reflects on the universality of human experience and emotions.
The only difference is your name
The singer emphasizes the idea that individuals are fundamentally similar, regardless of surface-level differences.
High on Codeine
The singer alludes to substance use, potentially to alleviate physical or emotional pain.
Taking up shadows in the backyard
The singer describes a mundane activity, perhaps as a contrast to the previous lyric.
Setting fire to the graves
The artist introduces an unconventional or subversive action, possibly with symbolic significance.
Because it's Halloween
The artist acknowledges a particular holiday, which may add meaning to the previous and upcoming lyrics.
And the town is like a gravestone
The singer offers a bleak assessment of their environment or situation.
Now all the little kids dressed as pigs
The singer returns to the use of pigs as a metaphor, possibly introducing a new angle or interpretation.
Are going home
The artist repeats the phrase to suggest finality or resolve.
And all the little kids on patrol
The artist modifies the original metaphor to add new meaning or context.
All the little pigs on patrol
The artist repeats the metaphor, perhaps as a refrain or to emphasize a point.
Are going home
The singer uses repetition as a device to create a sense of finality or closure.
Contributed by Kylie L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.