Here's One for the Pigs

Posted at 01:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)

Few things in life go together as perfectly as peanut butter and jelly or pigs and mud, but music and animal rights is definitely one of those perfect pairs.

It's been a sad few years since a little band by the name of Weezer—you may have heard of them—have had any new tunes. Well, the boys with those oh-so-catchy-lyrics are back with a brilliant self-titled album (a.k.a. The Red Album), which was just released on June 3. And here's the really terrific part: The bonus track, "Pig," contains a great animal rights message. Here's an excerpt:

But now, I've got to die
I've lived a good life
I've got no complaints
I'd like to thank farmer keep
For bringin' me scraps of food that I could eat
He always had a smile on his face
He didn't want to think of this day
It's finally here
It's finally here

They called me pig
They called me pig

When I was a baby, I was so happy
I played with my friends in the mud

Now promise me you'll go out and buy a copy of The Red Album in support of Weezer's animal-friendly lyrics (and their two vegetarian band mates). Thanks, Weezer, for taking on the plight of animals through your songs.

—Jen

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

Comments

I am no longer a pork eater.

A couple of weeks ago I saw a transport truck full of pigs stuck in traffic, with the hot sun beating down on them.

Those poor beautiful pigs were lying on top of each other, as close to those vents as they could. Obviously for air, but then they got the hot sun on them.

They were so beautiful and pink and sweet looking.
I knew they were miserable. And I knew it was going to get even worse for them.

I cried the rest of the way home for them. A good 20 minutes or so. It still hurts thinking about them. I am not eating pork again.

Posted by: Tamara | June 18, 2008 02:12 PM

What about their single "Pork and Beans"? That doesn't seem to have animal-friendly lyrics, unless I'm missing something...

Posted by: Lola | June 18, 2008 03:14 PM

Anything that makes anyone put themselves, even for a second, in a pig or any animal's place is a blessing. That said, what farm is Weezer picturing in this song? If only pigs were as "lucky," so to speak, to get any chance to roll in the mud, be fed someone or thing besides their ground-up peers and drug-laden corn, and be moved toward slaughter by someone thinking of them, and not profit, with fondness.

Posted by: Dean Ween | June 18, 2008 04:16 PM

That's wonderful. I am totally buying that album!

Posted by: josey | June 18, 2008 04:59 PM

I don't really see how this song focusses on animal rights. To me it is saying the pig is ok with dying because he lived a happy life on a farm, which is not only realistic, but it is also not fair. Reguardless of how happy my life has been, I would never be happy about being killed for someone's bacon.

Posted by: Lauren | June 18, 2008 05:23 PM

I'm with you, Lauren. That doesn't even represent the experiences of about 98% of pigs in the country.

Posted by: Canaduck | June 18, 2008 06:01 PM

Vengence belongs to GOD and those fools in IOWA are getting their just rewards, their reconpense. I hope IOWA is swallowed up and off the map and all those fat, gluttoness pig eating boombalatties can take their meals in HELL where they belong for doing that to those pigs. Hallaluha!

Posted by: Saucy | June 19, 2008 10:52 AM

I agree that this song does not represent the suffering of pigs on farms and in slaughterhouses. This song does nothing to depict the truth. It's cool that they are trying to take a stand for animals. Unfortunately, they seem uninformed.

Posted by: Wendy | June 19, 2008 11:23 AM

I like Weezer don't get me wrong BUT I have to agree with Lauren, It's like "suicide food"!!

Posted by: Carla | June 19, 2008 11:27 AM

I totally agree with Lauren--this song doesn't say anything about the horrible lives that most pigs live on factory farms where they're crammed in gestation crates. The pig thanks the farmer for his "good life" and accepts that now he's got to die, and you think its pro-animal rights????

Posted by: Soli | June 19, 2008 12:19 PM

Iowa is getting their just reward? Who are you to judge another person for earning their livlihood and feeding their family? You are no better that those conservative preachers who say that Katrina was God's punishment for homosexuality. You should be ashamed of yourself. For someone who clains to care so much about animals you certainly don't care a bit about human life, do you? Members of my family are potentially losing their entire income from SOYBEANS in Iowa. Are they to be punished for their continuing subjegation of the soybean, too?

Posted by: Hannah | June 19, 2008 04:49 PM

Agreed Hannah,

Saucy...how dare you claim to value life when you say such rude and ignorant things? Maybe you should step into the shoes of someone like Hannah before writing whatever you want.

Posted by: Maria | June 19, 2008 09:45 PM

What the F*** are you talking about, Hannah!!!

Posted by: Carla | June 20, 2008 10:23 AM

I love bacon but will not be part of their suffering anymore. I am giving up all meat from now on, even fish!

Posted by: jennifer Gardner | June 21, 2008 02:24 AM

I'm with you Hannah!
Saucy is an obvious lunatic who has her priorities messed up.
Its easy justify natural disaters when it when it affects total strangers. Saucy better hope that God will forgive her for her hate speech she just posted!

Posted by: Kurt K | June 27, 2008 11:24 AM

I tend to agree with Saucy--what comes around, goes around. Human justice is not always just, but Karma metes out true justice.

Posted by: Antigone1000 | June 27, 2008 06:19 PM