We Are the Pigs
Suede Lyrics
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Police cars on fire
And as they call you to the eye of the storm
All the people say "Stay at home tonight"
I say we are the pigs we are the swine
We are the stars of the firing line
And as the smack cracks at your window
Oh let the nuclear wind blow away my sins
And I'll stay at home in my house
I say we are the pigs
We are the swine
We are the stars of the firing line
But deceit can't save you so
We will watch them burn
The lyrics of Suede's song We Are The Pigs are a commentary on the corrupt and oppressive nature of authority figures and institutions. The church bells calling and police cars on fire symbolize the chaos and unrest caused by those in power. As the people are advised to stay at home, the singer of the song, who identifies himself as part of the swine, stays in his house to avoid the violence outside. The use of the word swine is likely a reference to the derogatory term used to describe police officers.
The refrain, "We are the pigs, we are the swine, we are the stars of the firing line," emphasizes the belief that those in power view the common people as expendable and insignificant. The line, "And as the smack cracks at your window, you wake up with a gun in your mouth," suggests that authority abuses its power even at the personal level. The singer implies that a nuclear war might be preferable to the oppressive regime he is living in now.
The final line, "But deceit can't save you so we will watch them burn," suggests that the singer and others like him will not be fooled by the lies and manipulations of those in power. In fact, they will actively rebel against and overthrow them.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the church bells are calling
The world seems to be in chaos and danger with the ominous sound of the church bells ringing
Police cars on fire
The situation is so dire that even law enforcement vehicles are burning
And as they call you to the eye of the storm
Despite the danger, there are forces that are trying to pull you towards the center of the commotion and chaos
All the people say 'Stay at home tonight'
The sane choice would be to stay indoors and not venture out into the chaos outside
I say we are the pigs we are the swine
The artist acknowledges that they are part of the societal flaws that led to such chaotic times, and compares humans to unclean animals
We are the stars of the firing line
The singer believes that society has branded them as the targets, the ones who deserve to be punished or eliminated
And as the smack cracks at your window
The danger is now at your doorstep and cannot be ignored
You wake up with a gun in your mouth
The threat is so extreme that waking up and finding a gun in your mouth is not an absurd scenario
Oh let the nuclear wind blow away my sins
The artist hopes that a catastrophic event like a nuclear explosion would cleanse them of their wrongdoings
And I'll stay at home in my house
Despite the hope for salvation, the artist resigns to their fate and decides to stay indoors
But deceit can't save you so
The singer suggests that pretending or deceiving oneself won't protect them from the consequences of their actions
We will watch them burn
The artist believes that those responsible for the chaos will be held accountable and punished or eliminated, and they will watch it happen
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRETT ANDERSON, BERNARD BUTLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NLabzin
My god, the guitar work is absolute brilliance.
@underworldxxxxx
This is a great song from a great band and I don't understand why they're not recognized in all their glory. Suede was and stil are a fenomenous band!!!
@rajnirvan3336
The most unique and respected band of the 90s
@joseluispena7757
the best
@carringtonct
The best band of the 90s!
@communityEsc
I disagree but ok
@victoriacullen3792
Raj Nirvan: but oh, so underrated. They were overshadowed by Oasis and Blur etc and consequently never reached the heights they deserved.
@alexwilliams7530
Wrong on both counts, great band tho
@psycadelic91
What a guitar! Butler is unique!
@andrewbrown8396
Orwellian overtones with such an aria of its time. I still get chills watching and listening to this, a great opener to an amazing album, accompanied by powerful visuals, even today. No nostalgia, no halcyon days, just powerful, meaningful art made in a beautiful way. Thank you Suede.