Make no mistake! Peter And The Test Tube Babies have written some of the be… Read Full Bio ↴Make no mistake! Peter And The Test Tube Babies have written some of the best punk songs ever. In the early '80s they stood out, above all other bands to emerge, with their tales of the hazards of being young punks in Brighton - "Banned From The Pubs", "Intensive Care", "Run Like Hell", the list goes on...all had the Test Tubes hallmark, combining personal experiences, real cool tunes and, most important of all, maintaining a great sense of humour.

Created in 1978 by Peter (vocals) and Del (vocals and guitar) in Peter's Dads garage in Peacehaven, Sussex, their early gigs were fun filled events with electrifying tunes and plenty of entertainment. Harmless humour of those early gigs was captured on their debut album, "Pissed And Proud". From those early gems, the Test Tubes just got better and better. The next crop of songs, "Jinx", "Blown Out Again" and "September" all featured on "The Mating Sounds Of South American Frogs", which stayed at number one for four months at the top of the independent charts. A US tour followed, climaxing with a 4,000 capacity sell out show at the Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium.

The Test Tubes first US domestic release, "Soberphobia", is probably one of their finest moments. The use of keyboards and sax on some tracks may not have been what people expected but it worked a treat. The much sought after CDs "Cringe" and "The $Hit Factory" again proved the Test Tubes unpredictability in the early '90s.

The mid '90s saw the release of "Supermodels" and the departure from the band of originals 'Trapper' and 'Ogs' (bass and drums). The band brought in fresh blood:local heroes Rum and AD, on bass and drums respectively,joined to promote the 'Supermodels' album. The band then went on a 25 date tour of Germany, Holland and Switzerland.

On their 20th anniversary in 1998 the band flew to Germany to record the "Alien Pubduction" album, their first with AD and Rum. The band also undertook a massive US and Canadian tour that lasted five weeks, lots of UK gigs and of course the annual German Christmas tour.

Rum & AD quit in 1999 due to the punishing tour schedule. Paul 'H' Henrickson, known to the band and a Brighton stalwart, took over on bass and Dave 'Caveman' 'O'Brien' was soon added behind, and sometimes on top of, the drum kit . The band hit the road again with renewed vigour touring repeatedly throughout the UK, Germany, Ireland, USA, France, Australia, New Zealand and making an impact on the summer festival circuits.

In 2005, after a seven year hiatus in the studio, the band released "A Foot Full of Bullets", recorded at Ford Lane Studios, Ford, West Sussex. The album was definitely worth the long wait demonstrating a familiar core sound matched with smart self assurance gained from decades of experience. Storming on with characteristic vigour, the Test Tubes gained praise as "the best band of the weekend" (Lars Friedrickson) at the WASTED festival before closing the year with the annual German Xmas Tour 2005. A remix of "A Foot Full of Bullets" was produced with contributions from Campino (Die Toten Hosen) and Olga (The Toy Dolls) at the start of 2006. "For a Few Bullets More".

Peter and the Test Tube Babies continue to tour and perform at festivals across the globe and remain one of the best punk bands to come out of Europe. See them live if you ever get the chance and check they're gig listings for all the latest show news and events!!

Alcohol
Peter and the Test Tube Babies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If you want that happy feeling, if you really wanna hit the ceiling.
If you want the world to spin, just get those lagers in.

Alcohol, you get it in bottles.
Alcohol, you get it in cans.
Alcohol, you get it on draught.
Alcohol, Get it anyway you can.

If you've got a broken heart, if your world is falling apart.
You can set the world on fire, after thirteen bottles of cider.

If you're dying day is near, spend it with a can of beer.
When the angels start to call, make sure you've drunk it all

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Peter and the Test Tube Babies's song Alcohol depict the role that alcohol plays in lifting someone's mood, helping them escape from their problems, and ultimately leading to their own self-destruction. The opening lines, "If you want that happy feeling, if you really wanna hit the ceiling" suggest that the consumption of alcohol is a means of getting high and forgetting about your problems. The following lines, "If you want the world to spin, just get those lagers in" demonstrate how alcohol is viewed as a way of altering one's reality, making the world around them seem different or non-existent altogether.

In the second verse, the lyrics take on a darker tone as the singer explains how alcohol can numb emotional pain caused by a broken heart or a falling world. Thirteen bottles of cider later, a person can set the world on fire, ultimately leading up to their own self-destruction. The final verse also takes on an ominous tone as it suggests that drinking to the point of passing away is a way of dealing with one's approaching death.

Overall, the lyrics of this song portray alcohol as a temporary escape from problems, but also a catalyst for self-destruction.

Line by Line Meaning

If you want that happy feeling, if you really wanna hit the ceiling.
If you seek joy and a euphoric high, then drinking alcohol can give it to you.

If you want the world to spin, just get those lagers in.
If you want to feel dizzy and out of control, then drink enough lagers and it'll create the effect.

Alcohol, you get it in bottles.
Alcohol is available for purchase in bottles.

Alcohol, you get it in cans.
Alcohol is available for purchase in cans.

Alcohol, you get it on draught.
Alcohol is also available on draught (on tap) at some bars or pubs.

Alcohol, Get it anyway you can.
Alcohol can be obtained in various ways such as at a store, or through someone else who already has it.

If you've got a broken heart, if your world is falling apart.
If you're experiencing emotional pain like a heartbreak or difficulties in your life, consuming alcohol can be viewed as a temporary escape.

You can set the world on fire, after thirteen bottles of cider.
If you drink enough cider, you can temporarily feel invincible and capable of achieving anything, but this mindset won't last for long.

If you're dying day is near, spend it with a can of beer.
If you're close to death, spending your final moments drinking alcohol may not provide any real value or comfort.

When the angels start to call, make sure you've drunk it all
When you're nearing death and your time is coming to an end, ensure you've consumed as much alcohol as possible to feel a sense of fulfillment and have no regrets.

Contributed by Nathaniel T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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