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.
No Survivors
GBH Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our ideals changed by mortar, there isn't a person who doesn't pay.
No survivors, burst the bubble.
No survivors, too much trouble.
No survivors, your just a pawn.
No survivors, don't conform.
The time is right, the 'real' cowards, we all suffer at this toil.
So patriots who wear your flag, can enlist and die together.
I'll stay at home, protect MY world, do two years and wear a white feather.
The fields in France are full of heroes, now only poppies remain.
Their colour red, their number many, and still not achieved their aim.
GBH's song No Survivors is a punk rock tune that criticizes the concept of war and the adverse effects it has on people. The song has a strong anti-war message, and it discusses how those who participate in wars, whether as soldiers or civilians, are bound to suffer in one way or another. The lyrics reflect how ideals and beliefs change in the face of war, and how it's impossible to remain unscathed by the horrors of it. Even those who stay at home are not entirely spared, and they have to deal with the guilt that comes from not being on the front lines.
The song also touches on the concept of patriotism and how it is manipulated to convince people to enlist in the military and defend their country. The lyrics imply that blindly adhering to the call of duty is not worth it, and it's better to protect one's immediate surroundings and loved ones. The chorus is a call to rebel against conformity and not become another irrelevant pawn in the game of hate.
In conclusion, No Survivors is a thought-provoking song that speaks to the destructive nature of war and how it affects everyone involved. The lyrics urge listeners to critically evaluate the motivations behind participating in wars and to consider the long-term consequences of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
No survivors in this game of hate, we all get changed in a certain way.
Hatred destroys everyone involved, leaving them altered in some manner.
Our ideals changed by mortar, there isn't a person who doesn't pay.
Even those not directly involved are affected by the changes brought on by violence.
No survivors, burst the bubble.
There will be no winners in this destructive conflict.
No survivors, too much trouble.
The problems caused by this conflict are too significant to ignore.
No survivors, your just a pawn.
Individuals are being used as expendable pieces in a much larger game.
No survivors, don't conform.
It's essential to resist the pressure to conform to the demands of those currently in power.
Boys mature to men in weeks, while rivals stay on the boil.
The circumstances of war force young men to grow up quickly, while opponents remain steadfastly focused on winning.
The time is right, the 'real' cowards, we all suffer at this toil.
Those who refuse to fight are often labeled cowards, despite the fact that everyone is negatively impacted by war.
So patriots who wear your flag, can enlist and die together.
Patriotism alone is not enough to make people willingly enlist in wars that could lead to their demise.
I'll stay at home, protect MY world, do two years and wear a white feather.
The artist prioritizes individual responsibility in protecting their community, suggesting that there are alternative, non-violent ways to do so.
The fields in France are full of heroes, now only poppies remain.
The casualties of war are often remembered years later only through memorials like poppies, which can never fully capture the scale of the loss.
Their colour red, their number many, and still not achieved their aim.
Despite the great number of people who have died, the conflicts that led to their deaths have not resulted in lasting solutions or peace.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW PAUL WILLIAMS, COLIN DEREK ABRAHALL, COLIN ROBERT BLYTH, ROSS ANDREW LOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheHelder51
No survivors in this game of hate, we all get changed in a certain way.
Our ideals changed by mortar, there isn't a person who doesn't pay.
No survivors, burst the bubble.
No survivors, too much trouble.
No survivors, your just a pawn.
No survivors, don't conform.
Boys mature to men in weeks, while rivals stay on the boil.
The time is right, the 'real' cowards, we all suffer at this toil.
So patriots who wear your flag, can enlist and die together.
I'll stay at home, protect MY world, do two years and wear a white feather.
The fields in France are full of heroes, now only poppies remain.
Their colour red, their number many, and still not achieved their aim
@anarchyrider
Got that cd when i was 13
Now im 38 still one of the best
Gold !
@davidlester7066
gOT THis when i was 15 NOW 55 OLD FOOKER LOL.
@satomiwa
My band opened for GBH several times in 83 and again in 86. They were the nicest, most genuine bunch of blokes I could have had the pleasure to meet. No pretensions whatsoever. Motorhead influence on full display, as with most of the UK hardcore, Clay, "UK82" bands. Which is a good thing. Amazing how a band that wasn't "really" a punk group (Motorhead) had probably the most profound influence on post-70s punk.
@D1MCV
+satomiwa Great band, great song. Grew up with GBH.......wouldn't have had it any other way. What was your band?
@satomiwa
Generics was the first one. We were from London (Canada) 1980 to early 82 and pretty much nobody in the world has ever heard of us. We got back together for a few months in 83 and opened for GBH in July. The other band was Condo Christ, also completely unknown, and we again opened for GBH for either two or three shows in '86.
@VincentRE79
Do you realise GBH are still around, exactly the same as they were back in the 80's.
@letsgobluengold1027
+satomiwa "Weekend Alcoholic" is on a comp LP I own! Awesome!
@gil2509
G.B.H. made my 13 along side Sabbath and all the other Heavy Hitters of my time and at my now 53yrs old.. they still have the very same energy they did when i found them at 20.
@MarioGalvinLirio
Still 2023
@freddiesoverbite6162
Saw these guys at city gardens in 1988 . God, that was a great show.