Pigs (Three Different Ones)

So here's the definitive explanation of these lyrics: In 1977 the British Prime Minister was a rather corpulent, somewhat unattractive bloke called James Callaghan (left-wing) - hence "Big man pig man" - big 'cos he was big, and also PM, and pig 'cos... well... And at the time there was some sort of hoo-haa about the mining industry which I was too young to remember, hence "...head down in the pig-pen singin keep on diggin" "pig stain on your fat chin probably refers to having 'egg on his face'. The "bus stop rat bag" was of course Maggie Thatcher (The Iron Lady) waiting to get on the bus in the general elections of 1979 - a truly "FUOH" who "radiated cold shafts of broken glass" due to her icey-cold nature. "hey you Whitehouse" was indeed a direct mention of Mary Whitehouse, an advocate for censorship and utter anihilation of anything that was 'just not cricket'- sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll and pretty much anything else to do with modern society.

"Ha ha charade you are" is a play-on-words of an oh so common lyrical interjection "ha ha shawa-doowa" or however you spell it, with the double meaning of "you are a charade" i.e. false. Hope this clears up a few points. PS great site!

Three different pigs. The first are the rank and file politicians. They're just puppets, well heeled big wheels. They're just worried about staying on the gravy train. They put their hands on their hearts, as to say that they really care about the people, but in reality they only care about themselves.

   The second is about Margaret Thatcher. Roger hated her for going into the Battle of Falklands and selling off public service sectors in the much opposed switch to privatization. So, he basically said she's a cold, cruel, crazy, fucked up old hag.

   The third is about Mary Whitehouse. She was an anti-modern media conservative who pushed to censor immoral behavior of any sort on various media platforms, mainly television. Roger is saying that she's wrong to keep the feelings of the people off the street, that is to say, censor personal expression due to her selfish opinion that everyone should live up to and uphold her own moral standards. Roger says she's all tight lips and cold feet, asks if she feels abused, and tells her she has to stem the evil tide and keep it all on the inside. Basically, he's saying you have your opinion and the people have theirs, no one is forcing you to watch it or listen to it, so you're not being abused unless you choose to watch or listen. 

Haha, charade you are.. basically these people are all frauds. Frauds serving their own interests and those above them, while feigning love and support for the people.

"Animals" is a great album that doesnt get the credit it deserves. This song is about the people in society who Roger considers "Pigs". The ones who control others but don't know as much as they let on. Cool song. Actually ehard it on the radio one time. Rare for an 11 minute song.

Roger waters was raised as a socicalist so te first part of this song is about the "evil" capitalist people who will do anything to get to the top. the second verse is about the current British Prime minister Margret Thatcher. the final verse is about a british advocate for music censorship named Mary Whitehouse who always seemed to pick on the Pink Floyd for there 60's ideals of free love and drugs. I think this song is great it's got a great harder rock feel while still keeping that pink floyd sound

Mary Whitehouse was a British politician who wanted to censor sex on TV

two words: ANIMAL FARM

yeah, animals isn't based on animal farm. its just very, very similar to it.

Yeah, this album reminds me so much of George Orwell's political parody, Animal Farm. When the pigs take over the political system and treat other animals like slaves. You can really feel the anger in this song. It's a great album. This song is so political. correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe he's also somewhat aluding to the fable with the 3 little pigs. He has three pig songs. One for the left, which would be the straw house, one for the middle, which is this one, with the brick house, and the one on the right which is brick. The dog might be aluding to a wolf in fables? I don't know. But I think that the houses represent the three types of government. The right and left wings are too strict or loose (capitalism/communism). I'm not sure.

To understand any of the songs fully, you need a full understanding of what the album is about So here it is, even though some of it may be obvious.

Animals ----Capitalist nations are nations made up of sheep that are owned by pigs, and competed for by dogs

Dogs Cutthroat businessmen and always in vicious competition like dogs fighting for scraps that the masters (pigs) give them Either end up "sad old men dying of cancer" or "pulled down by the stone" All that competition actually give them no fulfillment in the long run The stone -- dirty tricks the pull and bad things they do to others to get ahead (conscious?) Probably not conscious -- more like getting caught breaking the law -- Enron or Bernie Madoff

Pigs (3 different kinds) Heads of society who pull the strings and control all the dogs and especially the sheep

1. James Callaghan - prime minister. Fat dude -- big man pig man Mining industry - keep on digging
2. Maggie thatcher Bus stop rat bag -- "a man who, beyond the age of 26, finds himself on a bus can count himself as a failure."
3. Mary whitehouse Media censorship advocate -- pirate radioesque Hey you whitehouse

Sheep Play on the bible: The Lord is my shepherd (but not primarily a religious commentary) Pigs: the "good" shepherd We are all just sheep in the flock mindlessly feeding on grass ignorant of our masters controlling our every move Dogs/wolves competing to pick off the sheep but we are ignorant until it is too late

yea they play this in my city philly sometimes during 20 song pink floyd marathons - 2 hours of heaven haha