How Pink Floyd's 'Animals' Is Still Relevant Today | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

How Pink Floyd's 'Animals' Is Still Relevant Today

Three different ones.

103
How Pink Floyd's 'Animals' Is Still Relevant Today
popmatters.com

If you didn't care what happened to me

And I didn't care for you

We would zig zag our way through the boredom and pain

Occasionally glancing up through the rain

Wondering which of the buggers to blame

And watching for pigs on the wing


Pink Floyd's Animals is a progressive rock concept album released in 1977. The album serves as a critique of socio-political issues that England faced throughout the late 1970's that persisted into the 1980's, and pursues this harsh criticism through a metaphoric hierarchy of walking, talking animals (akin to George Orwell's Animal Farm) consisting of sheep, dogs, and pigs. While this highly experimental (and admittedly fantastical) album seems to have been very much so a artifact of a lost rebellious, anti-Thatcherite mentality, Animals still holds a surprising amount of relevance in our modern society.

The first step of the three-part hierarchy we should analyze is the lowest: the sheep. The sheep are especially relevant because, according to Animals, the sheep are symbolic of us. They are the working-class civilians who are at the mercy of their overlords. Many sheep are thoughtless and merely accept their mistreatment, and those who dare to rebel are far too small in numbers to succeed. The sheep are “harmlessly passing their time in the grassland away”, and are “only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air”, unknowing that those above them merely want to use them.

The second step of the hierarchy is the dogs. To the sheep, the most dangerous animal is the almighty dog. They are fierce and militant, and exist only to rule over the sheep. The dogs “have to be trusted by the people they lie to” for the sole purpose that “when they turn their backs on you you'll get the chance to put the knife in”. The dogs are seemingly valiant, but beneath their flesh lies a pure lust for power. The dogs represent (not surprisingly), politicians. However, we know that our hierarchy consists of three parts, which leaves one species above all.

The third and final step of the hierarchy is one that the sheep are unaware of: the pigs. The pigs are in control of all capitol and resources, and therefore have significant power over the previous two species. The pigs are described as being old, fat, and physically powerless. However, they manipulate the dogs to keep the sheep under control. The pigs attempt to present themselves as “big men”, and “house proud town mice” (this second verse being a direct reference to Mary Whitehouse, a British pro-censorship advocate), but are called out by the narrator as merely being “charades”. The pigs represent CEOs of major corporations; they are seemingly uninvolved with the political conflicts between the sheep and the dogs (the civilians and the politicians), but in reality, they are the root of the problem, being in-control of both species due to their extensive wealth and influence.

At the conclusion of Animals, the sheep rise up against the dogs, defeating them. However, they realize that it is impossible to defeat the pigs alone. The root of their problem stems from a lack of cooperation with each other, and a lack of understanding of what the real issue is; the sheep believe that the dogs are their only predator, and the dogs are completely unaware that they are not in charge and have been “dragged down by the stone”. Together, they stand a chance against the pigs, and can bring about equality and an end to corruption. Together, with acceptance, understanding, and passion, we can bring about a new age of equality, free from the oppressive hierarchy that binds us. Instead of sheep, dogs and pigs, maybe someday we'll just be people.

You know that I care what happens to you

And I know that you care for me too

So I don't feel alone

On the way to the stone

Now that I have found somewhere safe

To bury my bone

And any fool knows a dog needs a home

A shelter from pigs on the wing

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

183424
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

10014
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

454411
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

24451
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments