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.
Time Bomb
GBH Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's meant to be, you can't change fate.
We got a time bomb ..
.. 5-4-3-2-1 go
The time will come when we gotta say no.
Decide ourselves who's friend or foe.
It's in our hands, above your head.
Think carefully or you'll be dead.
It's happened before, been called a traitor.
'cause we control .. the detonator.
The GBH song Time Bomb is a powerful commentary on the concept of fate and the impact it has on relationships. The opening lines of the song, "Perpetual torture, from those we love to hate. It's meant to be, you can't change fate," set the tone for a theme of inevitability and fatalism, suggesting that sometimes our relationships with others can feel predetermined and painful.
The song then introduces the idea of a time bomb, counting down to an explosive moment. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for a crucial decision point in a relationship - perhaps where we must decide whether to trust or betray someone. The lyrics urge us to be careful, warning that the consequences of our actions could be deadly.
Ultimately, the song resolves with a message of empowerment - that we hold the power to decide who is a friend or foe, and that we control the detonator. It's a call to take responsibility for our actions and not let the fate of our relationships be dictated by external forces.
Line by Line Meaning
Perpetual torture, from those we love to hate.
We are enduring continuous agony inflicted by the people whom we despise.
It's meant to be, you can't change fate.
Our sufferings are predetermined by destiny and cannot be altered.
We got a time bomb ..
There is a dangerous explosive device that we possess..
.. 5-4-3-2-1 go
It is about to detonate in a few seconds.
The time will come when we gotta say no.
There will be a point when we must refuse to comply.
Decide ourselves who's friend or foe.
We must identify who are allies and enemies by ourselves.
It's in our hands, above your head.
The situation is under our control, but you are at risk.
Think carefully or you'll be dead.
Be cautious in your actions, or it may lead to fatal consequences.
It's happened before, been called a traitor.
Similar incidents have occurred in the past, resulting in being labeled as a betrayer.
'cause we control .. the detonator.
As we govern the trigger, the power is in our hands.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MORITZ DRATH, CHANELLE CLARKE, HAUKE MALECK, PETER MANDESA, LEE WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
G Shock Babe614
First punk band I ever got into and the best!
Sam M.
This is how real Punk sounds like!!!!!!
Jermaine Guillory
Classic Hardcore Punk! 🇬🇧🤘
Antonia Sambrano
I love this song. It rocks.
Klaudiusz Myszogląd
GBH pierwsza moja kapela którą nagrałem na magnetofon! miałem 13 lat ale czad!
Pug Toobys
This is a great band and song
Tim L
Saw them at George Robey, Finsbury Park in 1990. Hardest band I've ever seen. Was 19 at time and felt slightly out of my depth. Great gig though!
Reto Hofmann
1:11 Love it❤
Anto CrashTek
Love this band :D
Charles
Long live Charged G.B.H! Let's keep supporting them!!!