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Roger Waters, David Gilmour
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George Orwell
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Pigs, Dogs & Sheep
Three animals whose personalities, symbols and traits have been used to define the human race through pop culture. Specifically with George Orwell in the 1940′s and Pink Floyd in the 1970′s. If you have never read the wonderful novel, Animal Farm by George Orwell, you are missing out an an amazing book.
In a day and age when people are either buried in Facebook or texting while driving, we have lost a lot of cultural significance in book reading. So at the very least I suggest you get an e-book of Animal Farm…then after you read it, you MUST get the album Animals by Pink Floyd.
Why?
Well for starters, the album was inspired by the book Animal Farm. It is also a cultural commentary on the state of England and the state of the world in the 1970′s.
And in 2011, the United States is still run by the Pigs and the Dogs enforce the crooked laws and hypocritical policies of the Pigs and the blind Sheep follow them in blind faith to be naively slaughtered.
PIGS = GOVERNMENT LEADERS
DOGS = AUTHORITY (THE MILITARY & LAW ENFORCEMENT)
SHEEP = NAIVE FOLLOWERS WHO NEVER QUESTION AUTHORITY
So how does this apply to Gates? Well let’s just say, Pink Floyd and George Orwell have been part of a small group of eye opening philosophers who have influenced my writing, art and way of thinking.
Because of these two works of art, I am able to think freely and see the world in a very different way than I used to. I opened my eyes by studying the the things they discussed in the book and the album. And this led me to so much more. And just by paying attention to modern times, I see the exact same things happening and the symbolism is even easier to spot…
So here’s what I learned from these two masterpieces–and what I ultimately found in Pink Floyd Animals that rings true about the current state of America.
Which has led to the creation of the villainous offspring of technology and religion…the ConGenement…
LESSON 1:
Authority should always be questioned. period. It makes complete sense to me doesn’t it to you? If the elite/wealthy in power of our country and the world as a whole are not continuously questioned, they can steer your point of view in a way that clearly benefits themselves with very little benefit for you.
Look at the United States in 2011. I love America, my country…BUT I feel that our government is destroying our great land with greed, the mishandling of the world’s energy and natural resources and more importantly, to impose a religious and moral agenda through any technological, scientific and media necessary.
Open your eyes to the Pigs on the Wing…
Pigs on the Wing Part One (Written by Roger Waters)
Length: 1:24
Song #1
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 buggars to blame
And watching for pigs on the wing.
LESSON 2:
You’ve got to be crazy? Ummm No. Seriously. Open your eyes. One or two eyes work best, or your third eye will work even better. Seriously people look at the inability to stop spending on wars that are bankrupting our country, putting people out of work and destroying our economy.
WAR COSTS MONEY! LOTS OF IT! So if we STOP SPENDING MONEY on WAR!…WE CAN HELP OUR ECONOMY!
But they say, “We” need to fight this group and this terrorist and then help build the country we have invaded and ravaged–to build it back up with democracy and a major influence on the emergence of its new leaders.
Q: Who does all the work?
A: The Soldiers
I apologize for my country to these brave young men and women who join our military at this point in time. I respect you very much for volunteering your life for our country. It is not fair that these men and women are dying for the greed of the wealthy elitists in power. I come from a long line of military serviceman and my cousin served in Iraq. I’m very grateful he’s alive. I don’t like seeing our men and women die for a cause that me and many other Americans just don’t understand.
Bring them home.
Stop spending money on war!
Stop treating them like dogs you pigs!
Dogs (Roger Waters, David Gilmour)
17:06
Song #2
You gotta be crazy, you gotta have a real need.
You gotta sleep on your toes, and when you’re on the street,
You gotta be able to pick out the easy meat with your eyes closed.
And then moving in silently, down wind and out of sight,
You gotta strike when the moment is right without thinking.
And after a while, you can work on points for style.
Like the club tie, and the firm handshake,
A certain look in the eye and an easy smile.
You have to be trusted by the people that you lie to,
So that when they turn their backs on you,
You’ll get the chance to put the knife in.
You gotta keep one eye looking over your shoulder.
You know it’s going to get harder, and harder, and harder as you
get older.
And in the end you’ll pack up and fly down south,
Hide your head in the sand,
Just another sad old man,
All alone and dying of cancer.
And when you loose control, you’ll reap the harvest you have sown.
And as the fear grows, the bad blood slows and turns to stone.
And it’s too late to lose the weight you used to need to throw
around.
So have a good drown, as you go down, all alone,
Dragged down by the stone.
I gotta admit that I’m a little bit confused.
Sometimes it seems to me as if I’m just being used.
Gotta stay awake, gotta try and shake off this creeping malaise.
If I don’t stand my own ground, how can I find my way out of this
maze?
Deaf, dumb, and blind, you just keep on pretending
That everyone’s expendable and no-one has a real friend.
And it seems to you the thing to do would be to isolate the winner
And everything’s done under the sun,
And you believe at heart, everyone’s a killer.
Who was born in a house full of pain.
Who was trained not to spit in the fan.
Who was told what to do by the man.
Who was broken by trained personnel.
Who was fitted with collar and chain.
Who was given a pat on the back.
Who was breaking away from the pack.
Who was only a stranger at home.
Who was ground down in the end.
Who was found dead on the phone.
Who was dragged down by the stone.
LESSON 3:
There are many kinds of PIGS. Pigs are smart. They organize. They lead. They teach. They get stuff done.
But some Pigs are more equal than other Pigs.
The Pigs that rule our county by wielding their agenda of war, corruption and political masturbation are the Pigs we need to be aware of and to make sure we do everything to get them out of power as soon as we can.
They make the rules. They make the laws. They interpret what the religious writings mean. They control the flow of money, the energy that fuels our homes and cars and technology.
They control us.
Pigs (Three Different Ones) (RogerWaters)
11:26
Song #3
Big man, pig man, ha ha charade you are.
You well heeled big wheel, ha ha charade you are.
And when your hand is on your heart,
You’re nearly a good laugh,
Almost a joker,
With your head down in the pig bin,
Saying “Keep on digging.”
Pig stain on your fat chin.
What do you hope to find.
When you’re down in the pig mine.
You’re nearly a laugh,
You’re nearly a laugh
But you’re really a cry.
Bus stop rat bag, ha ha charade you are.
You fucked up old hag, ha ha charade you are.
You radiate cold shafts of broken glass.
You’re nearly a good laugh,
Almost worth a quick grin.
You like the feel of steel,
You’re hot stuff with a hatpin,
And good fun with a hand gun.
You’re nearly a laugh,
You’re nearly a laugh
But you’re really a cry.
Hey you, Whitehouse,
Ha ha charade you are.
You house proud town mouse,
Ha ha charade you are
You’re trying to keep our feelings off the street.
You’re nearly a real treat,
All tight lips and cold feet
And do you feel abused?
…..! …..! …..! …..!
You gotta stem the evil tide,
And keep it all on the inside.
Mary you’re nearly a treat,
Mary you’re nearly a treat
But you’re really a cry.
LESSON 4:
Authority should always be questioned. It makes complete sense to me doesn’t it to you? Well if it doesn’t then try and think about all the things that have happened to Americans recently and maybe even to you. Have you personally or someone you know very well–lost their job recently? How is your healthcare? Is it expensive and crappy? Do you have any at all? How’s your mortgage? Oh you can’t afford to own? Oh you’re house was taken away? You don’t have a car? I have lived this and have heard this a lot.
But you still have a cell phone and a BIG TV and a computer and a video game system. Yep.
Now you have access to advertising. Through our entertainment we eat the messages of advertising. We can receive the words of GOD. We can read about all of the people telling us the “truth” on the internet. We can see the latest fashion. We can take our minds off of the stress of life and forget what’s really happening out there.
Sheep (Roger Waters)
10:19
Song #4
Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away;
Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air.
You better watch out,
There may be dogs about
I’ve looked over Jordan, and I have seen
Things are not what they seem.
What do you get for pretending the danger’s not real.
Meek and obedient you follow the leader
Down well trodden corridors into the valley of steel.
What a surprise!
A look of terminal shock in your eyes.
Now things are really what they seem.
No, this is no bad dream.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He makes me down to lie
Through pastures green He leadeth me the silent waters by.
With bright knives He releaseth my soul.
He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places.
He converteth me to lamb cutlets,
For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger.
When cometh the day we lowly ones,
Through quiet reflection, and great dedication
Master the art of karate,
Lo, we shall rise up,
And then we’ll make the bugger’s eyes water.
Bleating and babbling I fell on his neck with a scream.
Wave upon wave of demented avengers
March cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.
Have you heard the news?
The dogs are dead!
You better stay home
And do as you’re told.
Get out of the road if you want to grow old.
LESSON 5:
No matter who we are, no matter what race we are, no matter what gender we are…we should all live in peace. This should be the human way. Compassion. Respect for all life on planet Earth.
It would be amazing to focus on positive things like educating our children, exploring the oceans, curing diseases, cleaning our planet, saving our wildlife, protecting nature and discovering what lives beyond our galaxy!
It would be great to see everyone have more compassion for our fellow humans on the planet.
And if you’re unhappy with life and your surroundings, then change them. Run to follow your freedom whether it be internal or external.
Pigs on the Wing (Part Two) (Roger Waters)
1:27
Song #5
You know that I care what happens to you,
And I know that you care for me.
So I don’t feel alone,
Or the weight of the stone,
Now that I’ve found somewhere safe
To bury my bone.
And any fool knows a dog needs a home,
A shelter from pigs on the wing.
Ronnie James Dio has left an indelible mark on many music fans, artists and musicians, and while it’s impossible to distill his large body of work down to only five songs, I wanted to list five of his best and most influential songs. Obviously Dio has been inspirational to me and that is why I dedicated the Gates, comic book soundtrack to the Ronnie James Dio Stand up and Shout Cancer Fund.
"Man on the Silver Mountain" by Rainbow
Track one off of Rainbow’s 1975 debut album. This song was the first introduction to Ronnie James Dio for most of the world. After his band Elf opened for Deep Purple, Richie Blackmore asked Ronnie James Dio to sing in Blackmore’s new band Rainbow.
The song kicks off with a riff that is somewhat reminiscent in style to Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water,” but quickly moves into its own territory as soon as Dio starts to sing.
The song became a minor hit and a mainstay in both Rainbow’s and later Ronnie James Dio’s live setlist — and the world would forever know Ronnie James Dio.
4. Holy Diver
"Holy Diver" by Dio
The title track from the first Dio album.
Dio first left Rainbow for Black Sabbath in 1979, and subsequently left Sabbath in 1982 to start his own band and released what was arguably his best work to date.
As great art often does, the meaning of the lyrics have inspired many debates and was probably designed to have multiple interpretations.
The album cover artwork cannot be overlooked either. It too has been the source of many debates over its meaning, as it seems to depict a devil-like figure either whipping or fighting with a priest. What can’t be argued is that the artwork is striking and gets your attention.
"Rainbow in the Dark" by Dio
One of Dio’s most recognizable songs, “Rainbow in the Dark” reached #14 on the Billboard charts in 1983. This is of course also off of the debut Dio album.
While originally considered by Ronnie James Dio to have a sound that was too “pop,” it has since become a fan favorite with its undeniably catchy keyboard riff and vocal melody.
It is said to be about Ronnie James Dio’s feeling alone and rejected after leaving Black Sabbath. “You’ve been left on your own / Like a Rainbow in the Dark.”
"The Last In Line" by Dio
After a successful start to his solo career with Holy Diver, Dio followed up with The Last In Line.
The title track from Dio’s sophomore solo album is one of his most popular songs and actually was the highest charting song of his career, hitting #10 on the Billboard charts in 1984.
Ronnie James Dio revisits a popular theme of his in this song, balancing light versus dark, good versus evil. “We’re a ship without a storm / The cold without the warm / Light inside the darkness that it needs.”
In addition, it featured another striking album cover, again using the same devil-like figure, this time presiding over what looks to be slaves.
1. Mob Rules
"Mob Rules" by Black Sabbath
Title track from Black Sabbath’s sophomore album, and a song featured on the soundtrack to Heavy Metal magazine’s 1981 film.
After leaving Rainbow, Ronnie James Dio joined Black Sabbath, replacing their original vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. This new line-up released the album Heaven and Hell in 1980 and followed it up with Mob Rules in 1981. Both albums were a critical and commercial success and breathed new life into Black Sabbath.
An alternate version of the title track was also included on the Heavy Metal movie soundtrack.
What are your favorite Ronnie James Dio songs?
Leave a comment and let us know what you think are Dio’s best songs.
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