Animals

1977 | Rock

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“Big man, pig man ha, ha, charade you are. -- You well heeled big wheel ha, ha, charade you are. -- And when your hand is on your heart you're nearly a good laugh. -- Almost a joker with your head down in the pig bin."

Trivia

• In the album's three parts, "Dogs", "Pigs" and "Sheep", pigs represent the people whom Roger Waters considers to be at the top of the social ladder, the ones with wealth and power; they also manipulate the rest of society and encourage them to be viciously competitive and cut-throat, so the pigs can remain powerful.
• The third verse clearly identifies its subject as being morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse, who is described as a "house proud town mouse" who has to "keep it all on the inside."
• Halfway through the song, David Gilmour uses a Heil talk box on the guitar solo to mimic the sound of pigs. This is the first use of a talk box by Pink Floyd.

THE HOT TAKES

Luke Tatum

Fun! Allusions to "Animal Farm," insulting the rulers of the world...this is my kind of song for sure. Perhaps the most amusing bit is this: "And when your hand is on your heart; You're nearly a good laugh, almost a joker." If you live off the money taxed from the public, the burden of proof is on you to show you can lead. Campaign promises are worth nothing, and I'll see all of D.C. in "pig-o-vision" unless they can make real sacrifices to prove their allegiance to the cause of human freedom. This scorecard is rather abysmal these days, so politics can remain a pig bin.

Nicky P

I keep telling myself I'm going to research the actual British history this song references but I never do. Animals is without a doubt my favorite Pink Floyd album and a great nod toward the book Animal Farm. The album attempts to break down the stratification of British society into a few classes based on their roles in society. Pigs in particular is both my favorite song and what is considered the most obvious call out. The song depicts politicians as greedy pigs trying to rob society of it's wealth through hook and crook. They put on a pretty face and say what they need to for a vote but the end result is always more of your wealth transfered to them from you.