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.
Freak
Charged G.B.H Lyrics
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You're belong in a side-show.
The shape of your head, length of your neck,
On the whole you're a fucking wreck.
Freak .. of nature, freak, god I hate yer ..
You get victimised wherever you go,
You grow uglier everyday,
It's not your fault you look that way.
But you've got friends and lots of money ..
Behind your back they think you're funny.
Sticking to you like a lot of leeches,
Disregarding your grotesque features.
The lyrics of Charged G.B.H's song "Freak" seem to be directed towards a person who is physically and socially different from the norm, leading to their alienation and ridicule. The lyrics portray the subject as aware of their outcast status, as evident from the opening line "You're a freak I guess you know." The second line "You belong in a side-show" suggests that the individual's physical appearance is bizarre enough to be exhibited in a circus. The lines "The shape of your head, length of your neck, On the whole you're a fucking wreck" further emphasize that the person's appearance is markedly unusual, with peculiar physical features that may attract unwanted attention.
The song also hints at the individual's struggle to fit into society and how they are treated by others. The line "You get victimised wherever you go, And you're too thick to even know" points to the individual being ostracized or bullied for being different. The verse "But you've got friends and lots of money, Behind your back they think you're funny, Sticking to you like a lot of leeches, Disregarding your grotesque features" suggests that despite being despised by some, the subject has a circle of people who support them, albeit behind their back. Their wealth and usefulness to others appear to outweigh their appearance to these individuals.
Overall, the song "Freak" by Charged G.B.H portrays the struggle faced by individuals who deviate from societal norms due to their appearance. It highlights the callousness and cruelty of people who judge others based on their appearance rather than their character.
Line by Line Meaning
You're a freak I guess you know
You are different from a regular person and you are aware of it.
You're belong in a side-show.
Your appearance is so unusual that you would fit right in at a carnival side-show.
The shape of your head, length of your neck,
Your head and neck have unique proportions.
On the whole you're a fucking wreck.
Overall, you are completely dysfunctional both in terms of appearance and personality.
Freak .. of nature, freak, god I hate yer ..
You are an anomaly of the natural world, a freak, and I despise you for it.
You get victimised wherever you go,
You suffer from mistreatment no matter where you are.
And you're too thick to even know.
You are not smart enough to realize the extent of how people treat you unfairly.
You grow uglier everyday,
Your appearance is getting worse with each passing day.
It's not your fault you look that way.
You are not responsible for your appearance.
But you've got friends and lots of money ..
You have companions and wealth.
Behind your back they think you're funny.
Your friends find humor in your oddity but don't tell you to your face.
Sticking to you like a lot of leeches,
They are attached to you like parasitic bloodsuckers.
Disregarding your grotesque features.
They ignore your unattractive traits because they enjoy your company.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW PAUL WILLIAMS, COLIN DEREK ABRAHALL, COLIN ROBERT BLYTH, ROSS ANDREW LOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind