There are two Australian bands with this name:
1. A Deep Funk outfit act… Read Full Bio ↴There are two Australian bands with this name:
1. A Deep Funk outfit active from 2001 onwards.
2. An Alternative Rock outfit active from 1984 to 1987.

1. The Bamboos are masters of super-heavy, raw and upfront drum-break driven grooves. Led by Guitarist Lance Ferguson (Equatorial Records/Lanu/No Comply), other members include Ben Grayson (Hammond Organ), Danny Farrugia (Drums), Yuri Pavlinov (Bass), Anton Delecca (Sax/Flute) and Ross Irwin (Trumpet). The Bamboos formed in 2001 and released the 7” single ‘Eel Oil/Blackfoot’, earning them international acclaim from the likes of Snowboy, Mr Scruff, Jazzanova, Patrick Forge and Russ Dewbury. Their next release ‘Tighten Up/Voodoo Doll’ was picked up by Kenny Dope (Masters At Work) and Keb Darge (Legendary Deep Funk) for their U.S-based imprint Kay-Dee Records. Making their home at Tru Thoughts records (home to Quantic and Alice Russell) in 2005, The Bamboos debut album ‘Step it Up’ looks set to bolster their reputation as heavy players in the global Funk scene. In 2004 and 2005 The Bamboos toured Australia and New Zealand alongside Quantic and Alice Russell to universal acclaim. The Bamboos live shows have evolved into non-stop mixtape-style throwdowns that draw the links between Hip Hop, Funk and old-school Breaks. The Bamboos have supported international artists including: Keb Darge (UK) Moloko (UK) Mathew Herbert (UK) Dynamo productions (UK) Derrick Carter (USA) Patrick Forge (UK) Snowboy (UK) Jazzanova (GERM) Chris Lum (UK) Alice Russell (UK) Quantic (UK) Nextmen (UK) Russ Dewbury (UK) Steinski (USA) Guru (USA)

2. The Bamboos consisted of members Russel Hopkinson, Mark Gelmi, Craig Hallsworth, Greg Hitchcock. The band is chiefly remembered today for the number of ex-members who have gone to feature prominently in high profile Australian acts.

RATS
The Bamboos Lyrics

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Rats are wasting through this town up above and down below
Loaded like a cannonball i made up and let me go
Someone's always saying that the music's too loud
It don't matter what they heard this is how we run it down

You gotta scream and shout
Gonna call it out
Gonna knock you out

Gonna run you out
Gotta call it out
Gonna knock you out
Gotta scream and shout

If you wanna be with me you gotta tell me what you know
Standing in the corner store, no i won't ever let you go
Same old story about the things that you stole
I won't listen to your lies and i won't play your rock and roll

You gotta scream and shout
Gonna call it out
Gonna knock you out
Gonna run you out
Gotta call it out
Gonna knock you out
Gotta scream and shout

You gotta scream and shout
Gonna call it out
Gonna knock you out
Gonna run you out
Gotta call it out
Gonna knock you out
Gotta scream and shout

Gotta be my man
Gotta be my man
Gotta be my man

Rats are taking over town, just can't stop the overflow
Won't you steal my daddy's car, turn the key and let it go?
Zero to sixty, now it's out of my hands
Will be my civil war, will you be my holy man?

You gotta scream and shout
Gonna call it out
Gonna knock you out
Gonna run you out
Gotta call it out
Gonna knock you out
Gotta scream and shout

Gotta be my man
Gotta be my man
Gotta be my man

You gotta scream and shout
Gonna call it out
Gonna knock you out
Gonna run you out
Gotta call it out
Gonna knock you out
Gotta scream and shout

Gotta be my man

Gotta be my man
Gotta be my man

Overall Meaning

The song "Rats" by The Bamboos is a fast-paced, high energy track that speaks to rebellion and taking control. The lyrics paint a picture of a town overrun by rats, both literal and metaphorical, where the music is loud and people are not afraid to speak their minds. The singer has seemingly had enough of the chaos and is demanding that those around them step up and join in the fight. The chorus insists on the need to scream and shout, call out those who are causing trouble, knock them out, and run them out. Despite the chaos around them, the singer is clear in what they want from those around them: honesty, loyalty, and a willingness to join the fight.

The overall message of the song is one of rebellion and standing up for what you believe in. It's a call to arms for those who are tired of the status quo and want to take action. The chaos and disorder of the town serve as a metaphor for the larger issues in society, and the singer's demand for honesty and loyalty underscores the importance of trust in the fight for change.

Line by Line Meaning

Rats are wasting through this town up above and down below
The town is infested with rats, both in the streets and underground

Loaded like a cannonball I made up and let me go
I'm ready to explode like a cannonball, with all my energy and passion

Someone's always saying that the music's too loud
People criticize the loud music, but it doesn't matter, because it's our way of expressing ourselves

It don't matter what they heard, this is how we run it down
No matter what others say, we'll continue playing our music and living our lives the way we want to

If you wanna be with me you gotta tell me what you know
I need honesty and trust from my partner in order to be in a relationship

Standing in the corner store, no I won't ever let you go
I won't abandon you, even if we're just standing in a store corner

Same old story about the things that you stole
I'm tired of hearing about your criminal behavior and dishonesty

I won't listen to your lies and I won't play your rock and roll
I won't tolerate your deceitful ways and won't participate in your corrupt actions

If you wanna be my man
In order to be with me, you need to meet certain standards and expectations

Rats are taking over town, just can't stop the overflow
The rats are multiplying and spreading throughout the town, seemingly unstoppable

Won't you steal my daddy's car, turn the key and let it go?
Let's do something thrilling and dangerous, like stealing a car and joyriding

Zero to sixty, now it's out of my hands
Things are moving quickly and I'm not sure where it will go from here

Will be my civil war, will you be my holy man?
This conflict will be like a battle of ideologies, will you be on my side as a supporter or a leader?

Contributed by Hailey S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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