“A vein of light banter, enthusiastic swearing and decent some punk rock… I… Read Full Bio ↴“A vein of light banter, enthusiastic swearing and decent some punk rock… I was won over” – Fasterlouder.com.au

Australian 4 piece TheCityShakeUp have built their reputation with punk around the edges renegade rock. Born from the bowels of 90’s punk and rock – TCSU write their music collectively drawing on the combined influences and ideals of all four members in the band. This united front is heavily represented on their latest EP “Trigger Happy Slander” – a social commentary on the less chivalrous - Addressing futile hostility, first world problems and everyone’s old friend heart-ache.

With a sound that’s been forged on the road, TCSU bare it all on stage and leave nothing behind. Whether the show is for a crowd of a thousand or simply for a select few the lads make it their mission to ensure everyone leaves as sweaty and thunderstruck as they are. Winning over the crowd at Australias longest running national music festival – The Big Day Out in 2011, Opening for Canada’s finest Billy Talent in 2012 amongst an onslaught of international and local supports (not to mention their own headlining tours). The TCSU lads are no strangers to the stage and life on the road.

The traditional DIY punk ethos is one that is not lost on these lads. TCSU are self managed, self funded, self promoted, hell they even design and print their own shirts. It only takes one look at their completely self shot film clips or a quick listen to any of the releases recorded in their self made studio (they even constructed their own vocal booth) to realize these self sufficient beasts are no chumps.

Pouring every ounce of energy they have into their music and with 2013 set to be their biggest year yet, The City Shakeup show no signs of slowing down as they herald in a new breed of DIY rock renegades.

Truth Be Told
The City Shakeup Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I hear my whispers through these walls
----isn't blind
Conspiracy and treachery send shivers down my crooked spine
Well decisions all turn rotten, selling water off as wine
Wretched minds and wicked crimes corrupted by desire

Well truth be told, we've lost control
Let's get the hell out of here

'Cause we are not to blame, but we're guilty
We're guilty just the same

Whoa oh oh!

A cleane would be the cure we'd need
We're spreading their disease
But weary eyes still see their lies
They buried what they can't disguise
And it's so deceiving

Well truth be told, we've lost control
Let's get the hell out of here
'Cause we are not to blame, but we're guilty just the same

Well truth be told, we've lost control
Let's get the hell out of here
'Cause we are not to blame, but we're guilty
We're guilty just the same

Woo!

Is this the end, they'll pay the price for your soul
Is this the end, this fear is taking control

This fear, won't defeat us!
This fear, won't defeat us!
This fear, won't defeat us!
Nothing, can defeat us!

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-
-

Well truth be told, we've lost control
Let's get the hell out of here
'Cause we are not to blame, but we're guilty just the same

Well truth be told, we've lost control
Let's get the hell out of here
'Cause we are not to blame, but we're guilty
We're guilty just the same

Whoa oh oh oh
--
We are not to blame
Not to blame

We are not to blame
Not to blame

Overall Meaning

The first line of the chorus, "Well truth be told, we've lost control" sets the tone for the song to be a commentary on the current state of society, the powerful and the powerless, and the corruption of decision-making. The lyrics paint a picture of a world where the deceitful hold power and the plights faced by the common man are not given the attention they deserve. The line "selling water off as wine" sounds like a reference to a quote from the Bible, which narrates how Jesus transformed water into wine at the wedding in Cana. It could be an allegory for how those in power manipulate the truth to suit their narrative. The chorus is supposed to be a call for people to take action and not just sit by and watch the world as it crumbles.

The lines "We're guilty just the same," and "We are not to blame, but we're guilty" suggest that the system is rigged against the downtrodden and the oppressed, and how they are often blamed for society's problems even when it's ultimately the authorities that are at fault. The last section of the song, "Is this the end, they'll pay the price for your soul? Is this the end, this fear is taking control," is probably talking about the fear-mongering tactics used by the authorities in society to keep people in check and how we all have a part to play in changing that narrative.

Line by Line Meaning

I hear my whispers through these walls
I'm aware of what's going on, even if it's not seen at the surface level.

Conspiracy and treachery send shivers down my crooked spine
I'm scared of the deceitful plans that are being made to benefit a few.

Well decisions all turn rotten, selling water off as wine
People in power are deceitful and are trying to convince others to believe in something that isn't true.

Wretched minds and wicked crimes corrupted by desire
Individuals in power are making selfish decisions that are causing harm to others.

Well truth be told, we've lost control
We don't have as much power as we think.

Let's get the hell out of here
We need to distance ourselves from the corrupt individuals in power.

'Cause we are not to blame, but we're guilty
Although we may not have the power to stop the corruption, we're still responsible for not doing anything about it.

A clean would be the cure we'd need
We need to start fresh and create a new system to avoid corruption.

We're spreading their disease
We're continuing to support and enable the corrupt individuals in power.

But weary eyes still see their lies
People are starting to see through the lies and realize what's really happening.

They buried what they can't disguise
The corrupt individuals in power have tried to hide their true intentions.

And it's so deceiving
Their deceitful actions are extremely misleading.

Is this the end, they'll pay the price for your soul
The corrupt individuals in power will eventually face consequences for their actions, even if it means their own downfall.

This fear, won't defeat us! Nothing, can defeat us!
We won't let our fear of the corrupt individuals stop us from taking action and creating a better system.

We are not to blame
We didn't create the corrupt system, but we're affected by it and have a responsibility to make it better.

Contributed by Allison O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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