Piggies

Album: The White Album (1968)
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  • Have you seen the little piggies
    Crawling in the dirt?
    And for all the little piggies
    Life is getting worse,
    Always having dirt to play around in

    Have you seen the bigger piggies
    In their starched white shirts?
    You will find the bigger piggies
    Stirring up the dirt,
    Always have clean shirts to play around in

    In their styes with all their backing
    They don't care what goes on around
    In their eyes there's something lacking
    What they need's a damn good whacking

    Everywhere there's lots of piggies
    Living piggy lives
    You can see them out for dinner
    With their piggy wives
    Clutching forks and knives to eat the bacon

    One more time Writer/s: George Harrison
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 63

  • James Tate from Orange CountyAnother multi-millionaire writing about all the bad rich people, funny. But, of course, yes, a great song. Harrison's songs on The White Album are incredible; I especially love Savoy Truffle which is far more underrated than this song. But there is a lot of hypocrisy, like no possessions by John, or success no mattering by The Stones, it always cracks me up.
  • J from Los AngelesAnother unconventional tune from The White Album. Piggies was also supposedly scrawled on the wall in blood at the site of a gruesome murder by The Manson Family.
  • Steve from Princeton, NjDuring this song's bridge---or, as the Beatles called it, "Middle Eight"---George sounds like Paul.
  • John from Uk When the White Album came out and George was asked about the meaning of the song Piggies he said it was about the politicians . Oh and his Mum helped him with the lyrics....adding whacking. Nothing to do with the police or the nick name pig , in the UK at that time they were never called pigs either.
  • Johan from Stockholm, SwedenGeorge Harrison´s "Piggies" is really a little masterpiece. It has got too little attention! Forget the lyrics and enjoy the music. Absolute one of the best songs in the "White album"! The falling melody, and when it repeats the second time, it only changes a little. Very effective and emotional. It´s wunderful. And the middle part is totally corresponding to the A-part melody.
  • Chris from York, United KingdomPiggies is basically about the English Police - (referred to by some people as 'pigs'). At the time the Police were looking to make high profile busts for drug use and the Police wanted to bust the Beatles who the establishment thought were a bad influence on British society.
    They got to the Stones but as far as I know no Beatles were busted.
    Digging in the dirt and starch white shirts are other references.
  • Ben from Rohnert Park, Cawhen i bought the white album i couldnt enjoy any of the songs on it because it reminded me to much of manson, and creeped me out, but i love it now
  • Nikolai from Los Angeles, CaHey Jude has the phrase F*cking Hell buried in the mix, Paul hits a bum note, and cusses off mic. So like, that was before this, so yeah.
  • Jennifer from Winston Salem, Ncit takes a smart person to understand that this song can mean anything you want it to mean. It can mean corporate greed, it can mean society, it can mean selfishness, it can mean stupidity and self righteousness. Thats what I hear when I listen to it. it can be a million different things.
  • Breanna from Henderson, NvOk you know what's REALLY creepy, ok listen to this song then think what the Manson family did, ok "Clutching forks and knives" The LaBiancas' had over 100 stab wounds and a fork sticking out of one and 'War' carved in the other, "What they needs a d.... good wacking" the Tate murders had all of the victems were stabbed to the point of over kill, at the Tate, LaBianca, and Hinman murder sites there was a veriation of 'Piggies' somewhere written in blood, in the Hinman residence, 'POLITICAL PIGGY' was written, Tate residence, on the door was 'PIGGY' and in the LaBianca home, 'DEATH TO PIGS'(in that murder there was also 'HEALTHER SKELTER' written, another song off the White Album) all can be traced to this song, which was taken SO the wrong way by Charlie Manson.
  • David from Youngstown, OhDefinitely one of Harrison's absolute best songs with the Beatles. A great reflection on society.
  • Dean from Sydney,I love The Beatles. But I can't dig this song... What am I missing here??
  • Ken from Louisville, KyGeorge said the line "What they need's a damn good whacking" was something his mother would say about anyone who displeased her.

  • Buck from Liverpool, --I love the instrumentation and bass of this song as it's found on the White Album
  • Linda from Jersey C.i., United KingdomPiggies by The Beatles has just been abnned on BBC Radio Jersey, apparently it is not great taste! Moorons!
  • Jude from Toronto, Qcthe first time i heard this song, i was like, What are they saying? it was funny
  • Kris from Wichita, KsHoly crap dude craig just go and retire from listening to music in all. This is the beatles probably one of the greatest bands ever. This song is crazy awsome. it's out of the oridnary which is cool cause it's unexpected
  • Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmCraig, If you don't like The Beatles then stop being stupid. You say something bad about almost every Beatles song! I like this song! Danm's not a swear word. watch Danm danm danm. What they needs a DANM good walking. he he I like that part
  • Elyse from Auckland, New Zealandlol it maybe a pathetic example of this childrens pop band trying to appear "tough" and "topical"... but charles manson obvously didnt think so.. lets play children..
  • Craig from Melbourne, AustraliaThis is another pathetic example of this childrens pop band to try to appear "tough" and "topical" in the changing political climate of the times.

    They decided their gay satin pirate suits were not "cool" anymore (were they ever?) and tried to rough up their image, with hilarious pretentious results.
  • Sarah from Kennewick, WaCreepy, creepy, creepy...Manson, you ruined nearly all the White album tracks for me!!
  • Alex from Rialto, Caand to throw a wrench into the works, the section that was later removed:

    "Everywhere there's lots of piggies playing piggie pranks
    You can see them on their trotters
    At the piggy banks
    Paying piggy thanks
    To thee pig brother."

    Seems to be a reference to 1984 and animal farm both as pig brother and big brother are almost identical and the people of 1984 LOVE to thank Big Brother every fricking day.
  • Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesRev. David Noebel of the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade had a field day with this one. He was certain that this song confirmed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the Beatles were knowingly instilling Marxist ethics in the minds of young listeners. Whee!
  • Patrick from Tallapoosa, GaA lot of the Beatles' later songs were anti-establishment, anti-capitalist, pro-Communist (esepcially anything written by Lennon), and pro-middle or working class. This song is no exception. The "little piggies" are the working class. They have to play, or dig in the dirt. They have to toil endlessly, and life for them isn't going to get any better. The "bigger piggies" are the upper class, who thrive off of the working class. They don't have to do any of the hard work, just take credit for it. They reap in the rewards (going out to no doubt fancy restaurants with their wives, eating their bacon) from the hard work put in by the working class. I guess this song is anti-business too. The bigger piggies are management, and little piggies are the laborers. The management takes in all the benefits the hard workers put in, such as bonuses, whereas the workers get squat.
  • Sal from Bardonia , NyThis is a protest song with a harpsichord, tape loops of pig noises contributed by Lennon, string quartet, acoustic guitar and Paul's imitation pig sounding bass. A fasle ending with pig noises at the end a wierd tune it's style is hard to define.
    Sal, Bardonia, NY
  • Mandy from CalgaryHey, Im back... to make another comment on this song. I was listening to it recently, and I would just like to say that it's plain BRILLIANT. I absolutly love it. I think it describes WONDERFULLY, how some people in this world can be real PIGS and have such little respect for others. I especially love the line "What they need's a damn good whacking!". It makes me laugh. I think its very appropriate. I enjoy this song, a lot. I think its very cool.
  • Melody from Brooklyn, NyThis is my least favorite song by the beatles. maybe it's because i don't liek thinking abotu pigs...?
  • Chitra from Bangalore, Indiayes, this song also reminded me of Orwell's 'Animal Farm'..in fact the image was quite strong
  • Daniel from Cincinnatti, OrWhen i first heard this song i thought it was a funny little song abou tcannibalistic pigs. but the more i listened to it the more i thought of Animal Farm by George Orwell.
  • Ian from Lethbridge, CanadaOkay, about the swearing and stuff. Yes, "damn" IS a swear word. It's a mild swear, but it's still a swear. Either way though, this isn't the first Beatles song to have a swear. In "I Am The Walrus", "bloody" is used as an exclamation.

    So there!

    But anyways, even with the swear, "Piggies" is a great song! I like this one!
  • Mike from Newark, NdI always liked this one...the harpsichord is one of my favorite sounding instruments and i love the lyrics. Quite a commentary on our society.

    P.S. never put the knives and forks together with the Manson murders but it makes alot of sense to me.
  • Pat from Boston, MaMakes me think of "Animal Farm". The lyrics really do fit the context of the book in subtle ways.
  • Audrey from Urbana, Oh "Clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon." Is a purely ironic line. They are pigs, eating bacon. I interpreted this to mean that the "pigs" or people in high society(as Charles Manson thought...not the police-he killed as an act against powerful people. His family wanted to kill people to shock the world and show them that the "little people" were making a revolt.) are really only hurting themselves(eating themselves) by always wanting something more, when they are already successful:"In their eyes there's something lacking"
  • Lee from Clearwater, FlThis song reminds me of my ex-wife, so so much.
  • Derek from Brampton, CanadaThe song is about all of the materialistic people that started to come about during this era. For the first time in the history of mankind your average joe could have material items and act, well :P like piggies. Who would hanve thought that it would have went as far as it has in todays society.
  • Jo Bob from Mccleary, WaA word to the wise: this thing doesn't always let me type certain words so my comments don't come out right. Anyway, I read "Animal Farm," but I never thought about the Piggies song. Ha, that's a funny connection. It's kinda strange... the book is actually kind of serious and has a lot of meaning to it, and George's song kind of does too, but we still laugh when we hear it. At least I do. Also, Liza, on one of the Anthology albums, John is singing "Happiness is a Warm Gun" and he screws up and swears. I crack up every time I hear it. It's something about the Beatles swearing that's funny... =D
  • Sam from Thompsons, TxIve read the book, "Animal Farm" before, and I liked it, and I love this song, and also thought of animal farm the first time I heard it.
  • Mandy from Calgary, CanadaAh, yes- Nessie from Sapporo, Japan. So you know about Animal Farm too?! I dont agree that it was REFERANCE to it, but this song DOES remind me of that book.
  • Mandy from Calgary, CanadaThis song reminds me of a book we read called the "Animal Farm". In the end of the book, the pigs become so much like humans that the other animals see them as humans. Very strange book. And tis not even a children's book either. Has any-one else read this book?
  • Nick from Solvang, Cathis song reminds me of Gir from Invader Zim...
  • Lisa from Sf Valley, CaThis song cracks me up. I'm pretty sure it's a harpsichord...the use of it in the song is interesting. Goes with the whole elite group representation.
  • Ben from Cheverly, MdI can't tolerate this song.
  • Melissa from Fairborn, OhThis is one of my favorite novelty Beatles song from The White Album. That song makes me laugh.
  • Tessa from Miami, FlDoes anyone know the answer to this: What song did George Harrison write to describe how he felt about the Beatles before they broke up?
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScI crack up every time I hear this song. I know it's not right but I always had immages of piggies, as in the animals doing all those things... going out to dinner, crawling in the dirt, clutching forks and knives! i can see how it would be about greedy people though. That line about the piggies clutching forks and knives to eat bacon is awesome, because you know they wouldn't do that. After all, bacon comes from piggi8es! Anyway that song's funny, and George's awesome!
  • Ken from Louisville, KyJohn Lennon claims to have given George the line about "clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon".
  • Nessie from Sapporo, JapanIt's a clear musical reference to Orwell's "Animal Farm." "Eat their bacon," right?
  • Jack from St. Paul, Mnalso, those with an interest in swearing-beatles should listen to hey jude. Right before the "better better better ooooh!" transition into the nananas you can hear john yell out "F***ing hell!" And I think there was another swearing lyric, before The White Album, but I recall it not.
  • Chiaki from Nagoya, JapanIt IS a song about greedy humans. The line about the piggies eating bacon may refer to the fact that humans don't care what they have to do, as long as they themselves are happy- they'd go to any lengths, even knocking their fellows, to obtain personal satisfaction.
  • Josh from Plainview, NyThe line in Revolution 9 is "...joined the BLOODY navy and went to sea" not f--cking navy. Just for the record.
  • Taylor from Wheaton, IlIf you are intrested in Charles Manson's interpretations of the Beatles, I suggest you read "Helter Skelter" by Vincent Bugliosi.
  • Kent Lyle from Palo Alto, CaOne wonders if Roger Waters wasn't listening to this song before he wrote "Pigs (Three Different Ones" for Pink Floyd's Animals. "Pig noises - why those buggers are brilliant!"
  • George from Hell, Pa9in Nails, and Pink Floyd liked to use heavy Pig references as well
    Usually as the type of people who would be seen at a Scull&Bones meeting
  • Scott Baldwin from Edmonton, CanadaC'Mon,Liza!Damn is not a swear word.in fact,from Rvolution 9:so said id mary,join the ^%$&ing navy and went to sea".
  • Brett from Edmonton, CanadaLennon wasn't using Christ's name as an expletive, he was actually talking to Jesus Christ. Read the lyrics carefully: "Christ, YOU KNOW IT AIN'T EASY, you know how hard it can be; the way things are going, THEY'RE GONNA CRUCIFY ME". He's sardonically "talking" to Jesus, recounting his story and comparing it to the Crucifixtion. Lennon respected Jesus as a philosopher, and even wanted his face on the cover of Sgt. Pepper's. In this case, he was, in a sense, dedicating the song to Christ. It wasn't reverent by any means, but he also wasn't saying "Christ!" in the sense that one would when, say, they'd been stabbed in the leg, so Harrison's use of "damn" here does, indeed, qualify as the first swear in a Beatles song.
  • Si from London, EnglandHmmm...I was always under the impression that this was a song about greedy over-rich people
  • Martin from London, EnglandJohn says "Christ" several times as an expletive (rather than with any reverence!) in "The Ballad of John & Yoko"; and Paul says "Oh s--t" in the Anthology version of "A Day In The Life". But is it important?
  • Dominic from Pittsburgh, PaAlso, Liza, you may want to check out Revolution 9.
  • Moonunit from Greensboro, Nc"Damn" is not a swear word.
  • Brittanie from Liverpool, EnglandAlot of people think George was high when he wrote this. I don't. It makes perfect sense to me. Just stop taking songs so literally. It's not actual pigs he is talking. It's actually one of my favourite songs he did whilst in the Beatles.
  • Zayne from Houston, TxDid anybody get that the piggies are eating bacon? The beatles were awsome. Trent Resnor also refers to piggies in alot of his songs.
  • Liza from The Dalles, Or"Piggies" is the only Beatles song with a swear word.
  • Dan from Fort Collins, Co"Piggies" was a Manson Family song, meaning Charles Manson interpreted this song in his own twisted way as a message for him to murder. "Piggies" to the Manson Family were any member of the Establishment. At one of the Manson murder scenes (the LaBianca murders), one of the murder victims was found with a fork and knife stuck in his stomach - note the last lyric of the song: "You can see them out for dinner, with their Piggy wives, clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon."
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