Pigs On The Wing
Pink Floyd Lyrics

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.