Tesla's music fit well with the blasting sounds of their 80s hair metal and glam rock contemporaries. Yet it was more bluesy and lyrics dealt with other themes than just the usual, girls, alcohol and violence. But what set them even more apart from their contemporaries was their t-shirt and jeans image, a 'street' look reminiscent of the Ramones (and other 70s punk groups) that was in strong contrast of the leather, spandex, and flashy-make type look of the time.
The band's early lifespan as City Kidd brought them considerable frustration, with them failing to break into the musical mainstream while also competing with another band with the same name. Their mutation into Tesla provided a clear shot at success. 'Mechanical Resonance', their debut that the boys released in 1986, became a commercial smash while also receiving significant critical praise. That album was certified platinum by the RIAA on October 5, 1989.
In total, the group has released six studio albums with original music, the latest of them being 2008's 'Forever More'. They have also created a a double-disc covers album, titled 'Real To Reel', as well as a number of compilations and live albums. Their sound has focused on a particularly melodic and accessible kind of hard rock with strong shades of classic heavy metal as well.
Tesla's popular 1990 remake of Signs, originally recorded by the Five Man Electrical Band (who also inspired the album which the remake came from, Five Man Acoustical Jam), is probably the most mainstream of Tesla's hits. However, many fans remember fondly Tesla's other hits such as Gettin' Better, Modern Day Cowboy, Little Suzi, Edison's Medicine and Love Song.
The band derived their name, certain album and song names (e.g. The Great Radio Controversy, Mechanical Resonance, etc), and some song content from events relating to Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer born in the 19th century in Smiljan, Austria-Hungary, modern day Croatia.
War Pigs
Tesla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerers of death's construction
In the fields the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds
Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight
They leave their role to the poor
Time will tell on their power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating people just like pawns in chess
Wait 'till their judgment day comes
Now in darkness world stops turning
Ashes where their bodies burning
No more war pigs have the power
Hand of God has struck the hour
Day of judgment God is calling
On their knees, the war pigs crawling
Begging mercy for their sins
Satan laughing spreads his wings
Oh Lord yeah!
The lyrics of Tesla's song War Pigs convey a message of political criticism and condemnation of war. The song starts by describing the gathering of leaders and generals who are plotting the destruction and death of people in the country. The song uses the metaphor of witches at black masses to indicate the evil intentions of the leaders. The lyrics also emphasize the brainwashing of people and how hatred and death are being spread to poison their minds. The phrase "war pigs" is repeatedly used to describe the leaders who make decisions to go to war and ultimately benefit from it. The singer questions the role of politicians in war and asks why they do not take up arms themselves. The lyrics suggest that the poor and middle class people are the ones who are most affected by the war, and that they are being treated like pawns in a game of chess.
The final verses of the song suggest an apocalyptic scene where there is no turning back from the effects of war. The world has stopped turning and the bodies are burning, marking the end of the war pigs who have lost their power. The singer further suggests that God has arrived to judge the leaders who have gone to war and that they are now begging for mercy for their sins while Satan laughs at their downfall. The song not only critiques the war, but also the incentives that politicians and leaders have for going to war.
Line by Line Meaning
Generals gathered in their masses
The leaders of countries have assembled their armies and are preparing for battle.
Just like witches at black masses
These generals are like sinister witches at a gathering where evil deeds are to be planned.
Evil minds that plot destruction
The leaders are having wicked thoughts about plans that will lead to destruction.
Sorcerers of death's construction
The generals are like magicians who are contriving death and destruction that they will soon unleash.
In the fields the bodies burning
On the battlefield, there are dead bodies that have been burned by explosives or other means of war.
As the war machine keeps turning
Despite the tragedy and loss of life, the armies will not stop fighting; the wheels of war continue to turn.
Death and hatred to mankind
The results of war are the destruction of human life and an increase in negative feelings among people.
Poisoning their brainwashed minds
The generals are manipulating the thoughts and ideas of their troops, causing them to act without thinking and to believe untruths.
Oh Lord yeah!
The singer is expressing his distress and asking for divine intervention to help stop the war.
Politicians hide themselves away
The leaders who started the war are not on the battlefield, but are hiding away where it is safe and secure for them.
They only started the war
The politicians are to blame for beginning the war and causing death and destruction.
Why should they go out to fight
Because the politicians started and created the war, they don't see any reason to go out and fight since they don't have anything to gain but everything to lose.
They leave their role to the poor
The politicians are leaving it up to the poor, who are already suffering, to fight in their place.
Time will tell on their power minds
The politicians will ultimately be judged based on the decisions they have made and the way they have used their power.
Making war just for fun
The politicians have waged war frivolously, as if it was all just a game.
Treating people just like pawns in chess
The politicians have been manipulating and using people like pawns in a game of chess, where ultimately their lives don't matter to them.
Wait 'till their judgment day comes
The politicians will have to answer for their actions on judgment day and face the consequences.
Now in darkness world stops turning
The world seems to be at a standstill, and everything seems to have stopped due to the intensity of the fighting and the destruction caused by it.
Ashes where their bodies burning
The aftermath of the war is burnt bodies that have turned to ash.
No more war pigs have the power
The warmongers no longer have the power; their control over the people has faded, and they are no longer in positions of power.
Hand of God has struck the hour
A time of divine retribution has come, and the godly hand has intervened and put a stop to the war.
Day of judgment God is calling
Judgment day has arrived, and God is calling to pass judgment on the leaders who started and carried out the war.
On their knees, the war pigs crawling
The once-powerful leaders who started the war are now on their knees, showing penance for what they have done.
Begging mercy for their sins
The leaders are asking for mercy for their sins and are seeking forgiveness for their role in the war through prayer.
Satan laughing spreads his wings
Satan, the personification of evil, is enjoying this moment of destruction and loss of human life.
Oh Lord yeah!
The singer repeats his plea for divine intervention to stop the war and bring peace to the world.
Contributed by Jonathan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Christopher N. Savage
on Getting' Better
A shame that you can't see the original video, but this tune has the passion and power to lift you up and brighten your day!!!!!