"march of the pigs" has an unusual meter, alternating three bars of 7/8 time with one bar of 8/8 time (in effect, a 29/8 time signature). according to the liner notes, the song has a bpm rate of 269. the song's high energy (analogous to a previous nin track, "wish"), segued by two piano breakdowns, has made it a staple of nin's live concert performances. it is also one of the band's shortest hit songs, clocking in at just under three minutes.