The first verse refers to no one in particular, but rather businessmen in general. The second verse indirectly refers to the opposition leader at that time, Margaret Thatcher, although her name or title is never mentioned. The lyrics' offensiveness to Thatcher is subtle, stating that she is "good fun with a hand gun;" better-defined obscenities are prevalent when it refers to her as a "bus-stop rat bag" and "fucked-up old hag".
The third mentions Mary Whitehouse by name, painting her as a prudish, sexually repressed "house-proud town mouse." This contributed to Whitehouse's negative image of Pink Floyd, who she thought were immorally promoting sex and drugs.
Halfway through the song, David Gilmour uses a Heil talk box on the guitar solo to mimic the sound of pigs. This is the first use of a talk box by Pink Floyd.
In some cassette tape versions of the album in the US, this song was divided into two parts after the first verse, in order to minimize the total length of tape.
Pigs
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
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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