Have you seen the little piggies
Crawling in the dirt?
And for all the little piggies
Life is getting worse
Always having dirt to play around in
Have you seen the bigger piggies
In their starched white shirts?
You will find the bigger piggies
Stirring up the dirt
Always have clean shirts to play around in
In their styes with all their backing
They don’t care what goes on around
In their eyes there’s something lacking
What they need’s a damn good whacking
Everywhere there’s lots of piggies
Living piggy lives
You can see them out for dinner
With their piggy wives
Clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon
(One more time…)
Interpreting the Satirical Message of “Piggies”
“Piggies” by The Beatles takes a sharp, satirical look at social classes and the behaviors that define them. The song uses the metaphor of “little piggies” and “bigger piggies” to highlight disparities between the working class and the wealthy elite. The “little piggies” crawl in the dirt, symbolizing the struggles of ordinary people, while the “bigger piggies” enjoy privilege and comfort, oblivious to the world around them. The lyrics employ biting humor and clever wordplay, with vivid imagery of piggies in “starched white shirts” and “clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon.” This playful yet critical tone underscores themes of greed, hypocrisy, and social injustice, making “Piggies” both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Song Credits
Songwriter: George Harrison
Release Year: 1968
Label: Apple Records