War Pigs
1971 · Vertigo 6360 011 · Birmingham, UK: England
- Artist
- Black Sabbath
- Title
- War Pigs
- Release
- Paranoid
- Year
- 1971
- Label
- Vertigo # 6360 011
- Format
- LP · Album
- Language
- English
- Country
- Birmingham, UK: England
- Genre
- Metal · Heavy Metal
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation
Also on this album is the well-known and popular anti-war song "War Pigs" which criticised the "generals...the war machines...the politicians", that "started the war". It noted the destruction left behind: "in the fields, the bodies burning.... death and hatred to mankind". It also highlighted wealth disparities in those sent to fight: "why should they go out to fight? They leave that role to the poor".
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: Generals gathered in their masses / Just like witches at black masses / Evil minds that plot destruction / Sorcerer 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, yeah / Time will tell on their power minds / Making war just for fun / Treating people just like pawns in chess / Wait till their judgement day comes, yeah! / Now in darkness, world stops turning / Ashes where their bodies burning / No more war pigs have the power / Hand of God has struck the hour / Day of judgement, God is calling / On their knees, the war pigs crawling / Begging mercy for their sins / Satan laughing, spreads his wings / Oh lord, yeah!
About the artist
formed on 9 August 1969 in Birmingham, West Midlands, UK, fronted by Ozzy Osbourne
Themes
From the release Paranoid
In collections
European Songs · Metal Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]