1982 saw GBH's first LP, City Baby Attacked By Rats. The album was marked lyrically with harsh criticism of British and European culture, typical of UK punk. It was also full of 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, social anarchism, and generalised absurdity. However not political, the album's lyrics do seem remarkably socially aware. This kind of content would later follow up in later GBH releases. Musically, the album was loud, and fast, with most songs staying under three minutes, typical of the hardcore punk genre. This is also a trademark of future GBH releases.
In 1983 the band changed their name to simply GBH, arguably just because the word "Charged" in front of their name had dropped from the lingo of many of their fans. (The name change was announced at a gig in the now defunct 'Golden Eagle' public house, where GBH were playing along with ex-Hawkwind sax player Nik Turner's 'Inner City Unit').
GBH are known to be pioneers of the UK82 second wave of British punk rock in the 1980s, along with fellow pioneers Discharge, Broken Bones, The Exploited, The Varukers. and The Skeptix.
The band has, for the most part, kept true to its original punk rock roots since its formation, unlike many other former punk bands, especially hardcore bands, who later formed the Post-Punk genre of the mid to late 80s. However the band has experimented with, alongside many other hardcore punk bands, notably The Exploited, a bit of what is known as metal crossover. Metal Crossover is when punk bands use riffs of heavy metal in their music, usually just as a break in the monotony of the traditional two and three chord, punk rock sound. Some punk rock purists argue that when punk bands do this they break from the original punk sound, and therefore become simply metal bands. The band, though, maintains that they are, in fact, still a punk rock band. However, the band has done this quite a lot, especially experimenting with it heavily in their 1992 release Church of the Truly Warped. This sound carried over even into their latest LPs. However, they have been falling back more on their original punk rock sound roots recently.
The band is still active and touring, even among many circulating rumours about a break up. The band maintains a strong cult following both in England and the rest of Europe, as well as in America and Japan, where some say that punk is still in its elementary to mid-stages.
Chance for Living
GBH Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the boys wanna' be so cute.
With the holes in their jeans,
Say they wanna' learn to shoot.
You don't need no judge and jury,
Just vibrate to the sound of fury.
You only get only get one chance for living,
Choose your medicine wisely now,
Once you get up, just stay high.
All the haves ignore the have-nots,
Those with can't see without.
Where reality is King, and you know the fault,
It can house a volcano of doubt.
Everyone's always talking,
And no-one seems to be giving.
Well the sowing of the seed, should compensate,
For suffering the pain of living.
The opening lines of GBH’s “Chance for Living” addresses societal standards and expectations, particularly those placed on young girls and boys to look a certain way. The lyrics suggest that these expectations often come at a cost, as individuals feel pressure to mold themselves into certain images, even if it means wearing pre-distressed clothing with holes or mimicking certain behaviors like learning to shoot. GBH seems to be suggesting that these behaviors are all outward displays of trying to conform to societal standards of beauty and power, rather than being true to oneself.
The following lines suggest that there is power in the act of rebellion, and that one can find a sense of liberation by letting go of these expectations and embracing their own inner fire. There is a particular focus on the idea of “vibrating” to the sound of fury, which could be interpreted as the act of getting in sync with one’s own personal beliefs and values rather than trying to fit into someone else’s mold. The lines “You only get one chance for living / You get too many times to die” reinforces this sense of urgency, suggesting that it is crucial to make the most of one’s life and not waste time conforming to others’ expectations.
The final lines of the song address the dichotomy between the “haves” and “have-nots” and the way in which those with privilege often ignore or overlook the struggles of those without. GBH seems to be pointing out the need for individuals to recognize the harsh realities of the world around them, even if those realities are uncomfortable or difficult to confront. The lines “Well the sowing of the seed, should compensate / For suffering the pain of living” suggest that there is value in facing these struggles head on, and that the act of pushing back against societal norms can lead to growth and change.
Line by Line Meaning
All the girls wanna' look so pretty,
Everyone wants to be good-looking and attractive.
All the boys wanna' be so cute.
Everyone wants to be charming and attractive.
With the holes in their jeans,
People want to appear stylish and fashionable.
Say they wanna' learn to shoot.
They want to learn how to succeed in life.
You don't need no judge and jury,
You don't need someone else to determine your fate.
Just vibrate to the sound of fury.
Follow your passions and be true to yourself.
You only get only get one chance for living,
Life is short and you should make the most of it.
You get too many times to die.
There are many opportunities for making mistakes, but life is precious.
Choose your medicine wisely now,
Make good decisions that will benefit you in the long run.
Once you get up, just stay high.
Once you achieve success, keep striving for more.
All the haves ignore the have-nots,
People who are well-off often disregard the less fortunate.
Those with can't see without.
Those who have everything don't understand what it's like to struggle.
Where reality is King, and you know the fault,
In the real world, things don't always go according to plan.
It can house a volcano of doubt.
This can lead to uncertainty and anxiety.
Everyone's always talking,
People talk a lot, but few take action.
And no-one seems to be giving.
Few people are willing to be generous and help others.
Well the sowing of the seed, should compensate,
If you invest time and energy in something, you should see a payoff.
For suffering the pain of living.
For enduring the hardships and challenges that life presents.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JammyPants
...just stay high. good advice then, better advice now.
JammyPants
...how about now ?