Originally known simply as GBH (inspired by then-bassist Sean McCarthy’s trial for grievous bodily harm), their name was changed to Charged G.B.H in order to differentiate themselves from another band of the same name. Founding members were Colin ‘Col’ Abrahall (vocals), Colin ‘Jock’ Blyth (guitar), Sean McCarthy (bass) and Andrew Williams (drums).
Charged G.B.H embarked on several English and mainland US tours during the early 1980s, including several gigs at the 100 Club. 1982 saw G.B.H’s first LP, City Baby Attacked By Rats. Lyrically, the album dealt with criticism of British and European culture, violence, morbidity (especially in reference to the song “Passenger On The Menu”, which describes in graphic detail the experiences of the passengers on the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571), atheism, nihilism and general absurdity. Musically, the album was loud and fast, with few songs exceeding three minutes. In 1983 the band changed their name to G.B.H.
Unlike many early punk bands who evolved towards a more post-punk sound, G.B.H have stayed fairly faithful to their original UK82 sound in subsequent releases. However, the band have experimented to some degree with a more metal-inflected sound, notably with their 1992 release Church of the Truly Warped, although they have since returned to a more purist punk sound. The band is still active and touring and maintain a strong following both in England and the rest of Europe, as well as in America and Japan.
City Baby Attacked By Rats
Charged G.B.H Lyrics
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Three months old a child, still you lived off love and fuss.
City baby, city baby, city baby attacked by rats.
Residing in a squalid place, it can't be too much fun.
Your brain is getting eaten away by the rat living in your skull.
A mutant at the age of one, a human rodent cabbage.
The lyrics of Charged G.B.H.'s song City Baby Attacked By Rats describe the tragic fate of an innocent child who was forced to grow up in a squalid environment infested with rats. The child is referred to as a "city baby," indicating that they were born and raised in an urban area. The song highlights the harsh realities of poverty and the devastating impact it can have on vulnerable individuals, particularly children.
The opening lines of the song suggest that the child was once just like the rest of us, implying that they were once healthy and happy. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that this is no longer the case. The child is not only living in a squalid place, but they are also being attacked by rats. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of the child's situation, suggesting that their brain is being eaten away and they are now a mutant, a human rodent cabbage.
Line by Line Meaning
The memory lingers on when you were the same as us.
We remember when you were just like us, innocent and vulnerable.
Three months old a child, still you lived off love and fuss.
You were just a three-month-old baby, completely dependent on love and care.
City baby, city baby, city baby attacked by rats.
You, a city baby, have been attacked and harmed by rats.
Residing in a squalid place, it can't be too much fun.
Living in a dirty, unpleasant place can't be enjoyable or healthy.
Your brain is getting eaten away by the rat living in your skull.
The rat that attacked you is causing damage to your brain and overall health.
A mutant at the age of one, a human rodent cabbage.
You have been severely impacted by the rat attack, making you abnormal and like a vegetable.
It's hard to think a tiny thing can do that much damage.
It's surprising that something as small as a rat could cause such significant harm and destruction.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW PAUL WILLIAMS, COLIN DEREK ABRAHALL, COLIN ROBERT BLYTH, ROSS ANDREW LOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Druffmaul
I got into punk in 1982 because of my best friend, and when I went to gigs I always saw so many GBH t-shirts and GBH logos painted on leather jackets... I figured they must be good, but nobody I knew personally was into them or had any of their records. I remember asking a dude at school who seemed to know about every band in existence and he said, "They're pretty good. Kinda heavy metal now though." This would have been when City Baby's Revenge was the current album. One day I was in a record store and decided to buy a GBH album. I just picked one at random and it was this one, City Baby Attacked By Rats. I took it home and listened to it and felt like I'd just won the lottery. Been one of my all time favorite records ever since.
@andywarstar
You picked their most classic album, good job!
@coldacre
that guitar sound is fucking huge. no wonder Quorthon / Bathory went nuts for this album.
@banananaz674
No kidding. The first thing I thought of when I started playing the album was “wow this sounds quite a lot like 1st EVEN some 2nd wave black metal” (for the guitars/production at least) 🤘
@musclhed5658
ONE OF THE BEST PUNK BANDS OF ALL TIME, UNMATCHED.
@HiddenFormula
As a punk teen this band and Discharge pretty much turned me on to the harder side of punk, which eventually down the road lead me to much heavier/faster music. Haven't listened to this in ages, but sounds even better than I remember! the production is pretty much perfect.
@billiehobbs5308
Did you end up a acid techno or gabba head by any chance?
@marcus_ohreallyus
They've flown under my radar and now I'm just finding them in my 50's. This is something I should have been listening to back in the 80's. They have something I find a lot of punk bands are missing...a big, full sound.
@GiveMeYourNachosButthead
Nothing will ever top this album and Discharge-Hear Nothing See Nothing!! Those albums just put modern hardcore/punk to shame and even in the 80s both those bands were kings of the wall of noise!! 🔥👌
@3cs3hs
@The Goonie 1. NOFX - Valuum 2. Sex Pistols - Bollocks 3. Bad Religion - Hell 4. GBH - Rats 5. DOA - Hardcore 81