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.
Heavy Discipline
Charged G.B.H Lyrics
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Footsteps clatter and my teeth chatter.
They're here again to administer.
Heavy discipline, is everyone listening ?
Heavy discipline, no one should be listening.
You'll get a gut feeling as they send you reeling.
There's no escape .. from this social rape.
You've gotta pay, being young today.
So the pressure's on and the freedom's gone.
The line gets thin with all this discipline.
The lyrics of Heavy Discipline, by Charged G.B.H., seem to describe a sense of impending doom and fear, as the singer describes a situation where authority figures are about to enforce some sort of discipline. The first two lines of the song evoke a sense of tension, with the adrenaline flowing and footsteps clattering. The singer then goes on to describe the enforcers as being here again to administer "heavy discipline" - a phrase that repeats throughout the song.
The singer then goes on to describe the physical and emotional toll of this discipline, with the listeners being sent reeling and knocked off their feet. The bleakness of the situation is emphasized in the lines "there's no escape... from this social rape," which suggest a sense of powerlessness and victimization. The chorus repeats the phrase "heavy discipline" and contrasts it with the line "no one should be listening," suggesting a criticism of the use of authority and discipline in society.
Overall, the lyrics of Heavy Discipline paint a dark picture of a society where young people are subject to punitive discipline, and where freedom and agency are limited.
Line by Line Meaning
The adrenaline flows as the shadow grows.
As fear sets in, my body kicks into high gear.
Footsteps clatter and my teeth chatter.
My nervous system reacts with a jittery response.
They're here again to administer.
The authorities have arrived to enforce their authority.
Heavy discipline, is everyone listening ?
The authorities are imposing strict rules and checking if everyone is complying.
Heavy discipline, no one should be listening.
The oppressive nature of the rules means nobody should have to hear them.
You'll get a gut feeling as they send you reeling.
Your intuition will warn you as you're pushed to your limits.
You'll feel the heat as they knock you off your feet.
The pain and suffering inflicted by these strict enforcers is intense.
There's no escape .. from this social rape.
The power dynamic is such that you are unable to disengage from the oppressive system being enforced.
You've gotta pay, being young today.
The youth are particularly targeted and will have to suffer the consequences imposed upon them.
So the pressure's on and the freedom's gone.
The oppressive atmosphere has resulted in a stifling environment with no room for individual freedom.
The line gets thin with all this discipline.
The boundaries separating individuals from the oppressive system are starting to blur and disappear.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW PAUL WILLIAMS, COLIN DEREK ABRAHALL, COLIN ROBERT BLYTH, ROSS ANDREW LOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind