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!!

Venus
Peter and the Test Tube Babies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sur son visage Vénus
Ni de présage ni blanc
Pas de prémonition
Sa majesté d'Égypte
Ronfle sans tourment
Sommité indolente

Montre moi comment faire

Ressusciter les cieux
Sans que les dieux ne reviennent
Emmène moi si tu peux
Dans ton décor esquissé
Par des esprits qui ne pensent à rien

Oh non je ne sais plus
Comment irriguer mes yeux
Sans que le vent se lève

Dis moi comment tu fais
Tu ne sembles pas t'en faire
Tu t'endors doucement
Quand la vérité ment

Dehors j'ai peur d'aller
Me dénoncer moi même
Hm je resterais dans ton temple
À menacer les murs
De m'enfuir pour de bon

Dis moi comment tu fais
Tu ne sembles pas t'en faire
Tu t'endors doucement
Quand la vérité ment

Dis moi comment tu fais
Tu ne sembles pas t'en faire
Tu t'endors doucement
Quand la vérité ment
Quand la vérité ment

Des oiseaux veilleurs de nuit
Ont brisé nos secrets
Oh vénus s'il te plait
Chasse les de la chambre
Qu'ils ne reviennent jamais

Dis moi comment tu fais
Tu ne sembles pas t'en faire
Tu t'endors doucement
Quand la vérité ment

Dis moi comment tu fais
Tu ne sembles pas t'en faire
Tu t'endors doucement

Quand la vérité ment
Quand la vérité ment

Overall Meaning

The lyrics are actually a mix of French and English, wherein the performer is asking Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, for guidance on how to deal with the truth that has been lying to him. The first stanza describes Venus, without any sign of warning or fear, peacefully sleeping, surrounded by Egyptian splendor. The performer then asks Venus to show him how to revive the heavens without calling on the gods' intervention, and to take him to her world, which is sketched by the minds that don't think anything.

The second portion of the song proceeds with the artist expressing his confusion and frustration in dealing with reality that is lying to him. The performer is asking Venus how she deals with the issue since she doesn't seem to care and falls asleep quickly whenever she encounters the lying truth. He is contemplating staying in her temple rather than denouncing himself outside and threatening to escape forever. In the end, the performer implores Venus to keep the night-watch birds away from his secrets.

Overall, the song is about seeking guidance from the goddess of love and beauty, Venus, in dealing with the harsh realities of life that seem to continuously deceive us.

Line by Line Meaning

Sur son visage Vénus
Venus is on her face.

Ni de présage ni blanc
There is no omen or white on her face.

Pas de prémonition
There is no premonition.

Sa majesté d'Égypte
She is the majestic queen of Egypt.

Ronfle sans tourment
She snores without any trouble.

Sommité indolente
She is an indolent queen.

Montre moi comment faire
Show me how to do it.

Ressusciter les cieux
Resurrect the heavens.

Sans que les dieux ne reviennent
Without the gods returning.

Emmène moi si tu peux
Take me with you if you can.

Dans ton décor esquissé
In your sketched scenery.