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(Image credit: Hipgnosis Copyright Pink Floyd Music Ltd)

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Animals have been represented in music for centuries. Whether it be to convey a message, concept, theme, or even as an atmospheric layer that transports the listener to a specific place of the artist’s choice, when it comes to music- animals are everywhere. Some musicians choose to use animal imagery in their lyrics, creating vivid imagery that allows listeners to picture the animals in their minds. Other musicians may incorporate animal sounds into their music, using instruments or electronic effects to mimic the sounds of different animals. Regardless, while it may often go unnoticed to the listener, the use of animals in music is extremely prevalent, and a testament to the importance and presence of animals in our lives as a whole.

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In this song, the bird symbolizes the struggles and challenges faced by marginalized individuals, such as black people during the Civil Rights movement. The lyrics speak to the bird's resilience and strength, encouraging it (and by extension, marginalized individuals) to "take these broken wings and learn to fly.” The metaphor comparing the flight of a bird to people is an extremely popular use of animal representation in music.

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Fly Like An Eagle - The Steve Miller Band

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Fly Like An Eagle - The Steve Miller Band

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A similar message is found in the song “Fly Like An Eagle,” by the Steve Miller Band. In the initial verse of the song, the lyrics portray a world filled with problems, with lines such as “Feed the babies, who don't have enough to eat. Shoe the children, with no shoes on their feet…” Another lyric that repeats throughout the song says, “Time keeps on slippin’ into the future…” This adds to the overall stress of the lyrics so far, implying a feeling of time escaping us, thus allowing these issues to continue to persist. However we escape all of these anxieties in the chorus, as Miller sings, “I want to fly like an eagle, to the sea, fly like an eagle, let my spirit carry me, I want to fly like an eagle, 'til I'm free, fly through the revolution…” The angst that had been previously building in the song up to this point is immediately resolved, and the listener is transported to the sky.

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Ελπιδα Κακαση

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Fly Like An Eagle ~ Steve Miller Band {Music Video HD}

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Beethoven - 6th Symphony 'Pastoral' (Complete) 

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Animals are not always used in such a metaphoric and conceptual sense, and are commonly used in a more palpable way. One of the earliest examples of a more literal use of animals in music can be found in the classical genre, where composers often used animal sounds to create musical pieces. For instance, Beethoven's famous "Pastoral Symphony" features the sounds of birds, sheep, and other animals, creating a peaceful and idyllic atmosphere that evokes the feeling of being in nature. Similarly, Debussy's "La Mer" incorporates the sound of seagulls and waves, creating a serene and calming effect that transports the listener to the beach.

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Beethoven - 6th Symphony 'Pastoral' (Complete) ♫♥

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Pink Floyd "Animals" 1976 Collectors Edition CD & DVD

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Another example can be found in the album conveniently titled, “Animals” by Pink Floyd. The album's title track features the sound of pigs squealing, which was reportedly recorded at a local farm. This use of animal sounds adds an extra layer of atmosphere and texture to the music, drawing the listener into the world of the album. However the band’s use of real animal sounds is only a small aspect of the overall representation of animals on the album. In fact, the album itself is a representation of animals in its entirety, using animals and the stereotypical traits that we apply to them to compare them to their metaphorical human counterparts.

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An additional example of animal representation in contemporary music can be found in Taylor Swift's "The Lucky One," in which the singer uses the metaphor of a fox to describe a relationship that is doomed to failure. In the song, the fox is portrayed as a wild and unpredictable animal that cannot be tamed, representing the unstable and unpredictable nature of the relationship. The lyrics of the song describe the fox as "running wild and running free," suggesting that, like the animal, the relationship is unable to be contained or controlled.

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In addition to being used in lyrics and sounds, animals are also often used as visual representations in music. Many musicians and bands use animal imagery in their album covers and music videos, creating striking and memorable images that help to establish their visual identity. For example, the band The Rolling Stones is known for their use of the "tongue and lips" logo, which features a stylized image of a mouth with a protruding tongue. This logo is meant to evoke the image of a predatory animal, emphasizing the band's rebellious and wild image.

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Lennon-McCartney. The Beatles.
"Blackbird." The White Album, 1968.

Miller. Steve Miller Band.
"Fly Like An Eagle." Fly Like An Eagle, 1976.

Ludwig Van Beethoven.
"Symphony No. 6." (Pastoral). 1808.

Claude DeBussy.
"La mer (The Sea)." L. 109, CD. 111. 1905.

Pink Floyd. Animals. Harvest & Columbia Records. 1977.

Taylor Swift.
"The Lucky One." Red, 2012.