War Pigs
04-06-03, 02:36 PM
#1
DVD Talk Hero
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War Pigs
Okay, so a few days ago, this happens on a local rock radio station.
Between songs, the DJ is going on a mini-tirade, lashing out at Michael Moore for his Oscar speech and Zach de la Rocha (for his "March of Death" download track), and going over the usual "support the troops" and "support the president" spiel -- the two concepts have apparently become synonymous.
And then, he announces -- without a trace of irony -- that the next song they'll be playing is Black Sabbath's "War Pigs."
If you're unfamiliar with the song, here are the lyrics:
("War Pigs" from the 1970 album "Paranoid")
This seem a little weird to anyone? Not only are the lyrics a strong anti-war sentiment, but the title of the frigging song is War Pigs. Since the editorial policy of the radio station seems to be that they're "supporting the troops," it seems strange that would play such songs with such a strong anti-war message. The lyrics certainly aren't politically correct in today's climate.
I've heard "War Pigs" being played a few times in the past few weeks on said station.
Between songs, the DJ is going on a mini-tirade, lashing out at Michael Moore for his Oscar speech and Zach de la Rocha (for his "March of Death" download track), and going over the usual "support the troops" and "support the president" spiel -- the two concepts have apparently become synonymous.
And then, he announces -- without a trace of irony -- that the next song they'll be playing is Black Sabbath's "War Pigs."
If you're unfamiliar with the song, here are the lyrics:
Generals gathered in their masses
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
Oh lord yeah
Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that 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
As the war machine keeps burning
No more war pigs of 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
All right now!
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
Oh lord yeah
Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that 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
As the war machine keeps burning
No more war pigs of 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
All right now!
This seem a little weird to anyone? Not only are the lyrics a strong anti-war sentiment, but the title of the frigging song is War Pigs. Since the editorial policy of the radio station seems to be that they're "supporting the troops," it seems strange that would play such songs with such a strong anti-war message. The lyrics certainly aren't politically correct in today's climate.
I've heard "War Pigs" being played a few times in the past few weeks on said station.
04-06-03, 03:36 PM
#2
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Re: War Pigs
The station could be pro-soldier but anti the warmongering and largely non-combatant leaders with, perhaps, the like of Saddam Hussein comprising the main target of their ire.
If you look at the cover of Paranoid (certainly the UK version) you'll see a load of pigs as the album was intended to bear the name of that track. A decision was taken after the cover art was chosen to go for "Paranoid" in case there was any fall-out from pro-Vietnam war people.
The song has been a staple at Sabbath & Ozzy concerts for 30 years. The name is a bastardisation of the word "Walpurgis". A decision was taken to move away from a song with satanic references to one with anti-war sentiment.
Those aren't the original words, although they are the ones found on the studio album.
Personally I don't like the "masses", "masses" rhyme in the revised version: I think they could have kept the original or used something along the lines of:
Generals gather round the ashes.,
Just like witches at black masses.
If you look at the cover of Paranoid (certainly the UK version) you'll see a load of pigs as the album was intended to bear the name of that track. A decision was taken after the cover art was chosen to go for "Paranoid" in case there was any fall-out from pro-Vietnam war people.
The song has been a staple at Sabbath & Ozzy concerts for 30 years. The name is a bastardisation of the word "Walpurgis". A decision was taken to move away from a song with satanic references to one with anti-war sentiment.
Those aren't the original words, although they are the ones found on the studio album.
witches gather at black masses
bodies burning in red ashes
on the hill the church in ruins
is the scene of evil doings
it's the place for all black sinners
watch them eating dead rat's innards
i guess its the same
wherever u may go
oh lord yea
carry banners which denounce the lord
see me rocking in my grave
see them anoint my head with dead rat's blood
see them stick this stake through me
lord hold me back _____ gotta go
they gotta hold my soul down
lord can my brain escape what blood im seeing
lord can my eyes bare it all
yea
on the scene a priest appears
sinners falling at his knees
satan sends out funeral pyer
casts the priest into the fire
it's the place for all bad sinners
watch them eating dead rat's innerds
i guess its the same
wherever u may go
oh lord yea
bodies burning in red ashes
on the hill the church in ruins
is the scene of evil doings
it's the place for all black sinners
watch them eating dead rat's innards
i guess its the same
wherever u may go
oh lord yea
carry banners which denounce the lord
see me rocking in my grave
see them anoint my head with dead rat's blood
see them stick this stake through me
lord hold me back _____ gotta go
they gotta hold my soul down
lord can my brain escape what blood im seeing
lord can my eyes bare it all
yea
on the scene a priest appears
sinners falling at his knees
satan sends out funeral pyer
casts the priest into the fire
it's the place for all bad sinners
watch them eating dead rat's innerds
i guess its the same
wherever u may go
oh lord yea
Generals gather round the ashes.,
Just like witches at black masses.
