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!
@karkarinus I have been wondering about the Bus stop rat bag line. Perhaps your explanation is correct. Its the best one Ive heard but how do you explain the fact that the song was written in 76? Your reference is from 79. They were working on the Wall at that time.
@karkarinus I have been wondering about the Bus stop rat bag line. Perhaps your explanation is correct. Its the best one Ive heard but how do you explain the fact that the song was written in 76? Your reference is from 79. They were working on the Wall at that time.
@bill110798 Well, it's only taken me 4 years to answer, and you've probably already found your answer, but here I am! In answer to your question, Maggie was leader of the Conservative Party from 1975, hence she was waiting to "get on the bus" when Animals was written.
@bill110798 Well, it's only taken me 4 years to answer, and you've probably already found your answer, but here I am! In answer to your question, Maggie was leader of the Conservative Party from 1975, hence she was waiting to "get on the bus" when Animals was written.
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!
@karkarinus It took 15 years for at least one person to say thank you! This is probably the most help I've had on trying to find the meaning.
@karkarinus It took 15 years for at least one person to say thank you! This is probably the most help I've had on trying to find the meaning.
@karkarinus Oops 12 years my bad I can't maths right
@karkarinus Oops 12 years my bad I can't maths right
@karkarinus I have been wondering about the Bus stop rat bag line. Perhaps your explanation is correct. Its the best one Ive heard but how do you explain the fact that the song was written in 76? Your reference is from 79. They were working on the Wall at that time.
@karkarinus I have been wondering about the Bus stop rat bag line. Perhaps your explanation is correct. Its the best one Ive heard but how do you explain the fact that the song was written in 76? Your reference is from 79. They were working on the Wall at that time.
@bill110798 Well, it's only taken me 4 years to answer, and you've probably already found your answer, but here I am! In answer to your question, Maggie was leader of the Conservative Party from 1975, hence she was waiting to "get on the bus" when Animals was written.
@bill110798 Well, it's only taken me 4 years to answer, and you've probably already found your answer, but here I am! In answer to your question, Maggie was leader of the Conservative Party from 1975, hence she was waiting to "get on the bus" when Animals was written.