Song analysis

In “War Pigs,” Black Sabbath uses destructive imagery, mechanical metaphors, and supernatural allegories in order to show the consequences of war-mongering.

                       Wars inevitable outcome is clearly portrayed by using destructive imagery. Black Sabbath creates a dark world with “fields the bodies burning.” Black Sabbath describes the generals as “evil” as they “plot destruction.” The destructive tone continues throughout the song. They even describe the world “in darkness” as it “stops turning.” This world coming to an end is the outcome of a war dedicated to conflict.

                       Black Sabbath uses mechanical metaphors to help convey the results of warfare. In the song the “war machine keeps turning.” The war machine is considered as the arms race, and troop training in preparation for war. Calling it a machine contributes to the steady flow of weapons rolling off of assembly lines during massive wars. Black Sabbath accuses the generals “treating people just like pawns in chess.” The steady mechanical game of chess is often considered a war game; the pawns which the generals are using as soldiers are often easily sacrificed. The war machine in the song finally comes to an end as the “world stops turning.” The mechanical action of turning finally ends as the results of war take their toll.

                       Black Sabbath utilizes supernatural allegories to show that all war ends in a “Day of judgment.” Black Sabbath quickly introduces the supernatural narrative by depicting witches, and sorcerers. The song is a narrative of a “War Pigs” and their lust for war. They finally meet their demise as “Satan laughing spreads his wings.” The allegory is in the song; it depicts our government and politicians creating war just for fun; forcing the poor to play their role as nothing more than pawns. In the end the Hand of God intervenes and the war pigs will plea for their lives.