After the commercial success of Bat Out of Hell and Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell, and earning a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for the song "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)", Meat Loaf nevertheless experienced some difficulty establishing a steady career within the United States. The key to this success was his popularity in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom and Ireland. He received the 1994 Brit Award in the United Kingdom for best-selling album and single. He appeared in the 1997 film Spice World and he ranked 23rd for the number of weeks spent on the UK charts in 2006. He ranks 96th on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock". Meat Loaf appeared in over 50 films and television shows, sometimes as himself or as characters resembling his stage persona. His film roles include Eddie in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and Robert Paulsen in Fight Club (1999). His early stage work included dual roles in the original Broadway cast of The Rocky Horror Show. He also appeared in the musical Hair, both on and Off-Broadway.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_Loaf
Studio albums
Bat Out of Hell (1977)
Dead Ringer (1981)
Midnight at the Lost and Found (1983)
Bad Attitude (1984)
Blind Before I Stop (1986)
Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell (1993)
Welcome to the Neighbourhood (1995)
Couldn't Have Said It Better (2003)
Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose (2006)
Hang Cool Teddy Bear (2010)
Hell in a Handbasket (2011)
Braver Than We Are (2016)
In the Land of the Pig the Butcher Is King
Meat Loaf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What do they want?
And what do they do now?
Nothing at all!
What do they know?
What do they think?
And who do they tell?
Lives are truly meaningless
And we are busy being blessed
With that we can take and pocket
No one needs to know
We're is the plug and they're the socket
Give us the juice and we'll go
Can't you hear the choir now?
Listen to the animals sing!
Can't you hear the slaughterhouse bells?
In the land of the pigs the butcher is king!
In the land of the pigs the butcher is king!
How do they sleep?
Their lives are so tart
Bring me the trash collectors
'Cause they're nothing but trash
What do you expect?
They've got no standards
So we lower the bar
'Cause they're waiting for us
We'll open up Pandora's Box
Pandora gave her keys and locks
They're the big dogs waiting for their mother
Come to the confessional
So I can tell you all to bugger off
There's no time like now!
Can't you hear the choir now?
Listen to the animals sing!
Can't you hear the slaughterhouse bells?
In the land of the pigs the butcher is king!
Can't you hear the choir now?
Listen to the market-place sing!
Can't you hear the slaughterhouse bells?
In the land of the pigs the butcher is king!
In the land of the pigs the butcher is king...
And we'll do it our way
It's our time to play
We know what to say
They stand in our way
Don't stand in our way
No time like today
Can't you hear the choir now?
Listen to the anthems we sing!
Can't you hear the slaughterhouse bells?
In the land of the pigs the butcher is king!
Can't you hear the choir now?
Listen to the animals sing!
Can't you hear the slaughterhouse bells?
In the land of the pigs the butcher is king!
Can't you hear the choir now?
Listen to the chosen ones sing!
Can't you hear the slaughterhouse bells?
In the land of the pigs the butcher is king!
In the land of the pigs the butcher is king!
In the land of the pigs the butcher is king!
In the land of the pigs the butcher is king!
"In the Land of the Pig the Butcher Is King" is a song about the ruthless capitalist society where the rich and powerful exploit the poor and weak for their own benefit. The lyrics are critical of those who sit on top of society with no regard for the consequences of their actions. The opening lines ("Look at them now, what do they want? And what do they do now? Nothing at all! What do they know? What do they think? And who do they tell? Well, no one at all!") express a sense of disillusionment with society and the people who run it.
The song suggests that the lives of people who are not part of the elite are considered meaningless and are taken advantage of for the sake of profit. The lyrics ("Lives are truly meaningless, and we are busy being blessed. With that we can take and pocket, no one needs to know. We're the plug and they're the socket, give us the juice and we'll go.") suggest that the wealthy are only interested in amassing more wealth and power, regardless of who gets hurt in the process.
The chorus of the song ("Can't you hear the choir now? Listen to the animals sing! Can't you hear the slaughterhouse bells? In the land of the pigs the butcher is king!") is a powerful statement about the state of modern society. The imagery of animals being led to slaughter by uncaring butchers reflects the way in which the poor and vulnerable are exploited by the powerful.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at them now
Observing the people around us
What do they want?
Questioning their desires
And what do they do now?
Curious about their actions
Nothing at all!
Concluding that they are doing nothing of importance
What do they know?
Wondering about their knowledge on a subject
What do they think?
Pondering their opinions
And who do they tell?
Questioning whom they share their thoughts with
Well, no one at all!
Concluding that they don't share their thoughts with anyone
Lives are truly meaningless
Believing that life is devoid of purpose
And we are busy being blessed
Remaining occupied in our own pursuits and ignoring the meaninglessness of life
With that we can take and pocket
Taking advantage of situations for personal gain
No one needs to know
Keeping the actions a secret
We're is the plug and they're the socket
Seeing oneself in control while others are being used
Give us the juice and we'll go
Asking for favors in return for being in control
Listen to the animals sing!
Hearing the cries of the oppressed
Can't you hear the slaughterhouse bells?
Symbolizing the death of the oppressed
In the land of the pigs the butcher is king!
Describing a world where the ruthless rule over the weak
Their lives are so tart
Belittling the lives of those in a lower class
Bring me the trash collectors
Seeing those in a lower class as unworthy
'Cause they're nothing but trash
Believing that the lower class are disposable
They've got no standards
Seeing those of a lower class as lacking in morals
So we lower the bar
Lowering expectations for those in a lower class
We'll open up Pandora's Box
Conjuring the idea of releasing something dangerous
Pandora gave her keys and locks
Referencing the myth of Pandora's Box
Come to the confessional
Sarcastically inviting others to confess their sins
So I can tell you all to bugger off
Mocking the idea of confession
There's no time like now!
Encouraging action in the present
And we'll do it our way
Taking control and doing things on our own terms
It's our time to play
Believing that it is our time to take action
They stand in our way
Seeing others as obstacles
Don't stand in our way
Warning others not to interfere
Listen to the anthems we sing!
Celebrating one's own accomplishments
Can't you hear the chosen ones sing!
Believing oneself to be superior
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIM STEINMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bradb3723
One of my favorite songs to this day....rip my dude and keep on rocking.
@DlegendRC
Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people. Thank you for sharing and have a good day my friend.🙏❤️
@foolhou2e
If this song is anything to go by, the cancellation of the apparent batman musical was a crying shame
@MikieCotignola
Also, I wonder which character in the musical would have sung this song.
@Batch_boy
@@MikieCotignola it was supposed to be corrupt government officials of Gotham city
@kingrick5494
I actually think this is one of the weaker ones from the Batman musical. But yes, a damn shame indeed! 😞 I would love to make that musical with the songs Steinman left behind
@legiontheatregroup
When I first heard this song it was on the Bat Out of Hell III first day of release, and it just blew me off my feet. Meat Loaf absolutely kills it! Total home run and my favorite song on a great album.
@buttlord2223
Here cuz a man I didn't appreciate enough while he was alive recently passed.
@suzystealth
One of his best songs. RIP 😔
@DeathMetalThunder
The title of this song (and the chorus) is so true. Those with the power to destroy mankind are the ones who rule us.