The song is divided into two parts, which are the first and last tracks of the album. Both are in stark contrast to the album's middle three songs. Without the inclusion of this track on Animals, Waters thought the album "would have just been a kind of scream of rage."
According to Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, and confirmed by Waters, it is a love song directed towards Waters' new wife at the time, Carolyne. She was really the only one of Waters' friends Mason had ever met who could hold her own in an argument with Waters. According to Mason, someone had to be very good with semantics to win an argument against Waters. Waters wrote the song because that is what he had been looking for all along: someone who could stand up to him, an equal.
The songs are constructed simply and feature no instrumentation besides a strummed acoustic guitar played by Waters.
A special version of the song was made for the 8-track cartridge release. This version of the song links Part 1 and Part 2 with a guitar solo, performed by Snowy White, who would later play the guitar solo in live performances on the 1977 In the Flesh Tour. The complete version of the song, including the instrumental bridge, was re-released on White's Goldtop compilation album in 1995.
The title comes from an expression used by British pilots during World War II to describe enemy fighters in a plane's blindspot.
In a review for Animals, Brice Ezell of Consequence of Sound described "Pigs on the Wing (Part One)" as "a brief acoustic framing device. Its major key signature is a clear contrast to the frequently sinister riffs that form the landscape of 'Dogs,' 'Pigs (Three Different Ones)' and 'Sheep.'" He described "Part Two" as "a reminder that humans find ways to stick together even amidst the turmoil of a cravenly capitalist world."
Pigs on the Wing 1
Pink Floyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What happened to me
And I didn't care
For you
We would
Zig-zag our way
Through the boredom and pain
Wondering which of the buggers to blame
And watching
For pigs on the wing
The lyrics of Pink Floyd's song Pigs on the Wing Part One depict a relationship that is built on mutual care and concern. The opening lines suggest that if the two persons in the relationship didn't care about each other, they would navigate through the hardships of life with a casual disregard for each other's well-being. However, the lyrics are ultimately hopeful in that the couple is presented as being there for each other and looking out for each other's safety, as they watch for "pigs on the wing," a metaphor for any unforeseen problems that may arise.
The line "Occasionally glancing up through the rain/Wondering which of the buggers to blame" suggests that the couple is not immune to disagreements or conflicts, but instead, they share in each other's struggles and try to support each other through it. This shows that the song is not just a love song, but it is also about the importance of having someone to lean on when times are tough, emphasizing that love and care are crucial human needs.
Overall, Pink Floyd's Pigs on the Wing Part One is a beautiful, heartfelt song that captures the importance of genuine care, love, and mutual support in any meaningful relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
If you didn't care
In the case that you did not possess any concern
What happened to me
Regarding the events that occurred to me
And I didn't care
Similarly, if I did not hold any interest
For you
In regard to your well-being
We would
As a consequence of this lack of caring on both sides, we would proceed
Zig-zag our way
We would navigate through life unpredictably, without a clear path
Through the boredom and pain
Dealing with tedium and hardship along the way
Occasionally glancing up through the rain
Every so often, peering through the precipitation falling from the sky
Wondering which of the buggers to blame
Questioning who or what was responsible for the negative circumstances faced
And watching
Continuously observing
For pigs on the wing
Keeping an eye out for any signs of deceitful individuals who may interfere with our journey
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: George Waters
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-yu1yz6qk1g
If you didn't care what happened to me,
Si tu n'en n'avais rien à faire de ce qui m'arrivait
And I didn't care for you,
Et que je ne m'inquiétais pas pour toi
We would zig zag our way through the boredom and pain
Nous aurions zigzaguer sur notre route pour traverser l'ennui et la douleur
Occasionally glancing up through the rain.
Occasionnellement, en jetant un coup d’œil à travers la pluie
Wondering which of the buggars to blame
En se demandant lequel de ces insectes est à blâmer
And watching for pigs on the wing
Et en faisant attention aux cochons volants
@donnabaxter6261
I first heard this album in 1976 best thing ever for me. I'm now 60 years old and it's still my favourite
@DeuceMFPollock
I bet your cool as beans. No joke
@thumbchicken
Right. Intellectualaly and musically probably the best album ever.
@colonelangus3157
An EPIC album. GREAT memories of my youth .
@dnmcfall
Dewey Fredjke, my beloved uncle, requested this song to be played at his funeral.
@OneBadComic
R.I.P
@surfpunk3378
If there was a love button I would have pressed it!!
@raykirkus5570
Venus
@stoneangel9943
Doug M
4 years ago
Dewey Fredjke, may he long RIP and quickly return to the energy that is us all.
@Pvilcinski
Dewey Fredjke, walking to the light.