Pigs on the Wing question

[dswain81]

What does the term "pigs on the wing" actually mean or stand for? Does it have something to do with pig's flying (as in "when pigs fly")?

I've always wondered and it is probably real obvious, but, I am just not getting it.

Thanks

[David Smith]

I think it just generally means the nasty side of society and that's why it's relevant that the character finds someone else to relate to in order to be sheltered from it, use human relationships as a shelter from society's bad ends is th overall message

[Stilgar]

Yep. The pigs are the rulers fo society, the powerful ones, the dogs are the guards of the Pigs, the strike-force (police or army) and the sheep are the rest of us, the ones who works silently for the pigs.

The "flying pigs" stuff, I guess, comes because the powerful ones (the pigs) can see and hear EVERYTHING, so, you must be careful with what you say or do, because they're always watching you... they can fly... they're over your head...

[Flame-Sky Diver]

Hmm, menacing. Never thought about this song that way...

[Meddler]

I always thought of flying pigs. In the literal since. On the wing meaning they are flying with airplanes. Or could be metaphorical... but then you can go all sorts of ways.

[Stilgar]

Hmm, menacing. Never thought about this song that way...

I undestand the song that way because I've heard that Roger inspired on a book named "The Animals Farm" (or something like that) to write the lyrics. In that book the human society was metaphorical divided in 3 classes: the Pigs (the ones who rule), the dogs (the guards of the pigs) and the sheep (the silent workers, never complaining).

And when I think... well, the great corporations or governments have the means to watch us all the time... the pigs (government) send the dogs (military, police) to put satellites in the sky to watch our (sheep) movements... yeah... Pigs on the Wing... scary...

[syd67ro]

The book you are refering to is called "Animal Farm" and it is written by George Orwell.It's a book about the communist society.Indeed,the pigs are the powerful ones,but the book contains other characters,besides the sheep and the dogs.I believe that roger wanted to show that things are not very differrent in the capitalist society,and that there will always be dogs,pigs and sheep.

What I don't understand in this album is the sheep revolution and who/what is Jordan ?Have you heard the news,the dogs are dead ?I don't get it.

[Stilgar]

Jordan is a river in Middle East. It crosses Siria, Israel and Jordania, and ends on the Dead Sea. I guess it had to do with Roger's constant looking to Middle East 'cause of the wars out there. And maybe it had to do with some biblical stuff, as he included a Psalm (don't remember the number) in the song, too.

I understand the verses "Bleating and babbling we fell on his neck with a scream/Wave upon wave of demented avengers/March cheerful out of obscurity into the dream/Have you heard the news?, the dogs are dead/You better stay home and do as you're told/Get out of the road if you want to grow old" this way: the sheep made a revolution, killed the dogs and march to do the same to the pigs, but, as they do that, they take the place of the pigs, and become pigs and dogs, and call to the other sheep, the ones who stayed in home watching the revolution from outside, to keep working as silent sheep, and if they don't like it, they'll probably die... It's like the good-old sheeps became tyrants, as the old pigs and dogs, because of power. To me it represents the conversion from a capitalist system to a communist one. The workers that take power keep opressing the other workers, the powerless ones.

[Flame-Sky Diver]

Hmm, menacing. Never thought about this song that way...

I undestand the song that way because I've heard that Roger inspired on a book named "The Animals Farm".

Yeah, I've read that too, amazing book, love Orwell. But I never thought about the Pigs on the Wing as about an elite-group above the actual pigs. I thought it was just a song about Roger's relationship with his wife titled this way to keep in line with the album's theme.

I agree with your view of the lyrics of Sheep.

[syd67ro]

And other lyrics that I really have a problem understanding them are :
"Bus stop rat bag, ha ha charade you are.
You facked up old hag, ha ha charade you are.
You radiate cold shafts of broken glass"
Another problem that I have is that I don't always understand the point of view of the singer (Roger mostly).The same problem I have in Final Cut.It is obvious that the singer doesn't express his own thoughts.Eg:"If I had my way I'll have all of you shut" is the thought of a mad Pink,not the true Roger.But in the Wall ,things are simpler.Maybe you can clarify a little.

[BobFloyd]

Roger is Roger. What can we say? He's got a mind of his own.

[Parpa]

[quote="Stilgar"]Jordan is a river in Middle East. It crosses Siria, Israel and Jordania, and ends on the Dead Sea. I guess it had to do with Roger's constant looking to Middle East 'cause of the wars out there. And maybe it had to do with some biblical stuff, as he included a Psalm (don't remember the number) in the song, too.

I understand the verses [b]"Bleating and babbling we fell on his neck with a scream/Wave upon wave of demented avengers/March cheerful out of obscurity into the dream/Have you heard the news?, the dogs are dead/You better stay home and do as you're told/Get out of the road if you want to grow old"[/b] this way: the sheep made a revolution, killed the dogs and march to do the same to the pigs, but, as they do that, they take the place of the pigs, and become pigs and dogs, and call to the other sheep, the ones who stayed in home watching the revolution from outside, to keep working as silent sheep, and if they don't like it, they'll probably die... It's like the good-old sheeps became tyrants, as the old pigs and dogs, because of power. To me it represents the conversion from a capitalist system to a communist one. The workers that take power keep opressing the other workers, the powerless ones.[/quote]



Stilgar...amazing answer and further description/interpretation!! I was fairly blown away reading it - - and I bascially understood/understand the concepts and illusions that make up the album (Animals). But sure, you took us down real deep there...bringing the narrative full-circle (the perpetual "too much rope" syndrome we all enjoy as humans). Never quite connected the themes to the extent I now do...thank you! Capitalism...communism...socialism.....Roger found an interesting balance between religion/faith and politics on this LP and by its end he brought it all back down to an individual level with the "shelter from the storm" depiction in Pigs On The Wing pt. II. How love "provides" and the warmth one can still find in relationships. I'm moved all over again. I'll be putting Animals in my cd player for the train-ride to work in the morning. Thanks all...Time to get some sleep here in Chicago.

-Klahye

[dswain81]

I live in the Chicago area too. Right now I live in Gurnee, north of Chicago. I just moved here from Georgia to go to school and am enjoying the stay.

Go Bears!

[BobFloyd]

There are definitely some extremely smart people here in this forum.

Roger's idea of putting politics in music worked pretty well for Animals. The CD gives us Floyd fans more hours on end to figure out the figurative meaning and allusions used in each one of Floyd's works. That's another reason why I love Pink Floyd is because there's hidden meanings in their work and certain people that pay attention to phrases they understand and trying to relate them to things. Some of my friends like Pink Floyd but the only ones who like them as much as I do are the ones who understand their figurative meanings.

[Stilgar]

Stilgar...amazing answer and further description/interpretation!!

Thanks!! ... to me Animals is a great social-concept album, that describes society in a great way, and in only 5 songs. One of the greatest works by Roger in the lyrics camp, IMO.