I believe it is somewhat between the previous two interpretations. Although a war-time interpretation is not far off, the "pigs can fly" imagery seems to more accurately evoke police forces, flying in aircraft, rather than enemy forces. As such, I believe it is a song about a woman begging her man to not go on a mission ferrying an IRA operative out of England and into the Continent (or perhaps to pick up said operatives and spirit them away from the reach of British justice) in a plane under cover of night.
The object of the song sees it as a low-risk opportunity to do "something" with his "miserable life," something without implication of guilt. It is unclear whether the pilot is an actual Irish Catholic, or simply an IRA sympathizer. The singer does not agree, and has to overcome the pilot's sense of pride, as he has chosen this illegal opportunity in order to add meaning to his life.
I believe it is somewhat between the previous two interpretations. Although a war-time interpretation is not far off, the "pigs can fly" imagery seems to more accurately evoke police forces, flying in aircraft, rather than enemy forces. As such, I believe it is a song about a woman begging her man to not go on a mission ferrying an IRA operative out of England and into the Continent (or perhaps to pick up said operatives and spirit them away from the reach of British justice) in a plane under cover of night.
The object of the song sees it as a low-risk opportunity to do "something" with his "miserable life," something without implication of guilt. It is unclear whether the pilot is an actual Irish Catholic, or simply an IRA sympathizer. The singer does not agree, and has to overcome the pilot's sense of pride, as he has chosen this illegal opportunity in order to add meaning to his life.