After meeting at the Deeply Vale Free Festival, The Ruts were formed on 18 August ]1977, the band consisted of Malcolm Owen (vocals), Paul Fox (guitar), John "Segs" Jennings (bass) and Dave Ruffy (drums).[1] As part of the Misty in Roots People Unite collective based in Southall, west London, the band were active in anti-racist causes and played a number of benefits for Rock Against Racism.
On 11 February 1980, the band returned to a BBC studio for their third Peel session, two tracks of which - "Demolition Dancing" and "Secret Soldiers" - later appeared on Virgin's posthumous Grin & Bear It album.
By this time singer Malcolm Owen was suffering with health problems; a combination of sore throats and a heroin addiction. A UK tour was arranged, the 'Back to Blighty' tour, but a number of dates had to be cancelled due to Owen's condition. What turned out to be the last Ruts gig with Malcolm took place at Plymouth Polytechnic on 26 February 1980.
Many of the Ruts best gigs were RAR (Rock Against Racism) gigs with Misty in Roots, and Jah War was written in response to the Southall Riots where the police attacked the Anti-Nazi League that were protesting a National Front march through the predominantly British Indian Southall area.
The Ruts, in their attitude, politics and music were truly representative of the best Punk had to offer. Sadly we were never to discover how they would develop as Malcom Owen, their charismatic front man, died of a heroin overdose on 14th July 1980, aged 26.
H Eyes
The Ruts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's gonna screw your head, you're gonna wind up dead
You scratch your nose, you're lucky when it shows
It's gonna screw your head you're gonna wind up dead
H-eyes, H-brain, in your vain
H-eyes, H-brain, it's gonna fuck your brain
The lyrics to The Ruts's song H Eyes address the dangers of heroin addiction. The opening line "you're so young, you take smack for fun" highlights the risky behavior of experimenting with drugs without considering the consequences. The repetition of "It's gonna screw your head, you're gonna wind up dead" drives home the message that heroin addiction can have devastating and potentially deadly consequences.
The scratch in the nose is a reference to the tell-tale sign of heroin use, where users often develop a habit of scratching their nose due to the itchiness that accompanies the drug. The chorus takes on a more aggressive tone, with the repetition of "H-eyes, H-brain, in your vain, it's gonna fuck your brain" emphasizing the severity of heroin addiction and the way it can take over not only the physical body but also the mind.
Overall, The Ruts's song H Eyes is a warning against the dangers of heroin addiction and the destructive consequences it can have on an individual's life.
Line by Line Meaning
You're so young, you take smack for fun
Despite your youthfulness, you engage in using heroin just for pleasure
It's gonna screw your head, you're gonna wind up dead
The consequence of heroin usage is that it will cause mental health problems and eventually lead to death
You scratch your nose, you're lucky when it shows
You cover up heroin usage by scratching your nose, and it's fortunate when the signs of drug use are revealed
It's gonna screw your head you're gonna wind up dead
Using heroin will have adverse effects on your mental and physical health, potentially leading to an untimely death
H-eyes, H-brain, in your vain
The heroin will affect your eyes and brain, as it flows through your veins
H-eyes, H-brain, it's gonna fuck your brain
Heroin will disrupt your brain functions and have a negative impact on your overall mental health
Contributed by Andrew J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.