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.
Hearing Screams
GBH Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why did you have to go away ?
Prospects were good, you had money to burn,
But you had the curse of the 'J'.
Now the skulls they're piling up,
And it's sure bad evidence.
Just use your head when you're getting wrecked,
You're hearing screams,
You're hearing screams,
Living dreams for the last time.
A lizard man with an arctic soul,
And a skin of leather hide.
Drank himself into the ground,
Rotted from the inside.
Now Johnny be he was real good,
Sounded like a thunder clap.
Lived too fast died too young,
Just another in that trap.
You're dancing to the death,
You're dancing to the death.
Taking your last breath,
Dancing to the death.
The lyrics of GBH's song "Hearing Screams" tell a story of loss and self-destruction. The first verse is addressed to someone who left at the age of twenty-five, despite having good prospects and money to burn. The reason for their departure is unknown, but the song suggests that they were cursed with the letter 'J'. The lyrics then move on to describe the consequences of excessive drinking and drug use, with imagery of skulls piling up and rotting from the inside.
The chorus, "You're hearing screams, living dreams for the last time", speaks to the feeling of being on the brink of death, with the end of life coming into focus. The lyrics describe a sense of recklessness and lack of care for one's own life, with lines like "use your head when you're getting wrecked, and do it with elegance" and "dancing to the death, taking your last breath".
Overall, the song is a warning about the danger of self-destructive behavior and the need to take care of oneself, rather than giving into the temptation to live fast and die young.
Line by Line Meaning
You were twenty five when you split the scene,
At the age of 25, you left without explanation.
Why did you have to go away ?
There was no need for you to leave and disappear.
Prospects were good, you had money to burn,
Your future looked bright with financial stability.
But you had the curse of the 'J'.
Unfortunately, you were plagued with addiction.
Now the skulls they're piling up,
The casualties are increasing.
And it's sure bad evidence.
It's a clear indication that things have gone wrong.
Just use your head when you're getting wrecked,
Think logically and be mindful while under the influence.
And do it with elegance.
Maintain composure and grace despite the chaos.
You're hearing screams,
You can hear the haunting cries of those who have suffered.
Living dreams for the last time.
Living life to the fullest because it may be your final moments.
A lizard man with an arctic soul,
Someone cold-blooded and frigid in spirit.
And a skin of leather hide.
A tough exterior, impenetrable by emotions.
Drank himself into the ground,
Drown his sorrows in alcohol to the point of destruction.
Rotted from the inside.
Decay and ruin from within, starting at the core.
Now Johnny be he was real good,
Johnny had a lot of potential and talent.
Sounded like a thunder clap.
His voice was loud and commanding like a storm.
Lived too fast died too young,
His lifestyle and choices led to his early demise.
Just another in that trap.
Unfortunately, he was just another victim of the cycle.
You're dancing to the death,
You're celebrating and living wildly in the face of death.
Taking your last breath,
Aware that it may be your final moments on this earth.
Dancing to the death.
Choosing to embrace life in the face of death.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: COLIN ABRAHALL, COLIN BLYTH, ROSS LOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind