Although the band have released several singles and EP's in recent years, I
decided to lump together all of the Clay singles recordings on this page, be
they of 7" or 12" origin. I guess it has to be said that these records were
responsible for launching the band's career and they are 'classic' recordings
as such, that doesn't detract from some of the excellent recordings that the
band have been releasing recently, try out the excellent 2002 release Ha Ha if you don't believe me.
Their first Clay 7" single. Unbelieveably, I first heard 'No
Survivors' played on Great Britian's 'Radio 1' on a Saturday afternoon when the
single was first released, it's kind of hard to imagine that happening these
days I can tell you. 'No Survivors' makes a really strong comment on the
futility of the First World World and is a recently re-introduced live
favourite. The thoughtfulness of the A-Side contrasts strongly with the first
song of the B-Side which earned the band quite a panning in the press as I
recall at the time. I am of course referring to 'Big Women', 'dedicated to all
you feminists' as it says underneath the lyrics on the back of the original
sleeve. Well I am saying nothing, make your own mind up, all in all, a pretty
classic first single I think.
No Survivors
Words & Music: Abrahall, Blyth, Lomas, Williams
No survivors in this game of hate, we all get changed in a certain way.
Our ideals changed by mortar, there isn't a person who doesn't pay.
No survivors, burst the bubble.
No survivors, too much trouble.
No survivors, your just a pawn.
No survivors, don't conform.
Boys mature to men in weeks, while rivals stay on the boil.
The time is right, the 'real' cowards, we all suffer at this toil.
So patriots who wear your flag, can enlist and die together.
I'll stay at home, protect MY world, do two years and wear a white feather.
The fields in France are full of heroes, now only poppies remain.
Their colour red, their number many, and still not achieved their aim.
Self Destruct
Words & Music: Abrahall, Blyth, Lomas, Williams
Out on a limb, got no enjoyment, stoney broke, got no employment.
It's something no-one else can see, I've gotta end my misery.
Self destruct, self destruct, I said I'm gonna.
Self destruct, fill my head with a piece of lead.
Had enough of this recession, their bullshit caused my depression.
Their ways make me feel small, now I'm gonna end it all.
Count-down's over this is it, my life is spent it's now I quit.
Done my best to aid this caper, one less name on a piece of paper.
.. blow my brain.
Big Women
Words & Music: Abrahall, Blyth, Lomas, Williams
Big women, I like the size, big women flabby thighs.
Big women, big women, big women .. they fill my eyes.
Oooh a a ah !
Here they come, walking down the street, big and bouncy look so neat.
I like them best between the sheets, big women give me a treat.
Skinny wenches will not do, I need a big one to see me through.
I've gotta get some meat to see me through the night,
in the morning I feel alright.
Sick Boy
Sick Boy / Slit Your Own
Throat / Am I Dead Yet
This single contains one of the few songs to be released twice by the band. It
has to be said that this version of 'Sick boy' sounds very rough indeed with
biscuit tin drums and a buzzsaw like guitar sound, apart from that I can't tell
you that much about it. I would pick the intelligently penned 'Am I dead yet'
as my favourite from this release.
Sick Boy
Words & Music: Abrahall, Blyth, Lomas, Williams
I'm strapped into my bed, electrodes in my head.
My nerves are really bad, it's the best time I ever had.
I'm a sick boy and there's no cure.
I'm a sick boy, there should be more.
But I'm happy the way I am, like a sardine in a can.
People taking notes, people in white coats.
I see school girls everywhere, short skirts and pigtailed hair.
But why must I suffer, for being a gymslip lover ?
Slit your own throat ?
Words & Music: Abrahall, Blyth, Lomas, Williams
Exempt from the laws which you created,
your thought out lies becoming dated.
Ruin our lives then plead for support,
the noose around your neck is getting taught.
Slit your own throat.
Your ignorance is hard to believe,
do you want this country to bleed ?
Stuck in a rut full of rot,
complain about things you haven't got.
Disrupt the lives of those around,
it's time you lot were underground.
But no-one hears when you start to moan,
sulk in self-pity 'till the cows come home.
Am I dead yet ?
Words & Music: Abrahall, Blyth, Lomas, Williams
The pen they say is mightier than the sword,
but don't for a minute believe a lying word.
They'll do anything to try and sell their ware,
they've got no morals and they really don't care.
Am I, am I dead yet ?
They've got the freedom others haven't got,
they get away with murder and we do not.
Sensationalise anything that's dull,
it can't go on the street if it's not full.
The cheapo porn is bound to get the men,
think twice when it has a reading age of ten.
Trivial stories get caught in their net,
and they can bury you if you're a threat.
Give Me Fire
Give Me Fire /
Mantrap
'Give Me Fire', a real personal favourite, though I didn't hear it live until
1993 (and rather ironically, on November 5th .. bonfire night), as it had not
been played for some years as a live piece as apparently (and I have it on
tape), 'Ross hated it'. This song was actually played live on Channel 4's 'The
Tube' program .. I missed it ! As a final note, The Almighty did a very fine
cover of this song as a B-Side to their 'Whose Side Are You On' single,
released in 1994.
Give Me Fire
Words & Music: Abrahall, Blyth, Lomas, Williams
Smoke and fire are burning bright, we'll set the tinderbox alight.
Rising from the ashes the phoenix lives, life and death the red flame gives.
Give me fire, on which I feed, give me fire, 'cus it's a need.
Real fine, I can tell, real fine really burns in hell.
Take a breath the heat surmounts, your mind wanders, you have your doubts.
Brain goes numb, in the heat, body glows, you cling to your seat.
It's on my head if I burn, sit next to me and take your turn.
Don't blame the flame by which I'm fuelled, one day by fire we'll all be ruled.
Man Trap
Words & Music: Abrahall, Blyth, Lomas, Williams
They're always stealing off the land, the Earl has to take his final stand.
Build a device to catch them all, I don't give a damn if they say they're poor.
If you get caught there's no going back, it's a man trap.
The jaws of his baby tightly snap, it's a man trap.
He's old and wicked and he hates the world, he's wicked as sin, his mind is gnarled.
He's got plenty but he doesn't care, and to ask for help they wouldn't dare.
A wall heath man with his wife to keep, did his duty and stole a sheep.
Refused to grovel, he refused to beg, stepped on the trigger and lost his leg.
Deported abroad and is long since dead, the gamekeeper's found without his head.
His body was torn like tissue paper, a hidden peg-leg found years later.
Catch 23
Catch 23 / Hellhole
Another classic double-A side single, quite a while since I heard either of
these two songs played live, the sound incidentally is much improved when heard
from a CD. 7" Singles most certainly did have a charm of their own, but boy
could the sound quality be lousy at times.
Catch 23
Words & Music: Abrahall, Blyth, Lomas, Williams
You beat us down but we came back, revenge is sweet and we're on the attack.
Who are you, what do you do ?
You promised us the world then took it away.
Slogging 'round the country for a tenner a day, we got got wise, to your idle lies.
The missing rung, we all knew.
We survived Catch 23.
Now we're prepared and that's the key.
So we'll survive Catch 23.
Organisation, a word you've never heard.
The cheques you wrote which never cleared.
Your big ideas, our biggest fears.
Your representatives of your name.
And you'll be forgotten as quickly as you came.
Now your gone, we'll carry on.
Hellhole
Words & Music: Abrahall, Blyth, Lomas, Williams
The poor man he had no dreams, had no vices all he had was himself.
Spent his days walking around, thinking of things to do with his time.
It's like a dream when I wake and scream.
I'm lost and alone and living in a hellhole.
Looked at himself then looked at the world, decided things weren't going too well.
Just a man with a sense of justice, would his days of misery never end.
Bought a gun disciplined himself, shoot those those bastards right between the eyes.
Crime figures fell like dead leaves, the city breathed a sigh of relief.
It's not easy when you're making a stand, when it seems that all the world is mad.
It's easy to fall by the wayside, but if you act like a sheep you'll get eaten by the wolf.
Now the streets are safe for children to play, couples can go walking in the park.
The poor man is happy now, an unknown hero and nobody knows his name.
Do What You Do
Do What You Do / Four
Men / Children Of The Dust
Their very last recording for Clay Records, released at the end of 1984, a
time really when a lot of the classic Brit Punk bands were disappearing. I am
not sure whether any of these tracks were ever played live, I have certainly
never heard them played in concert. This was a relatively genteel record by
GBH standards and I really like it. The 12" version has an extended version of
'Do What You Do' which at the time seemed to be quite a departure for the band
musically.
Do What You Do
Words & Music: Abrahall, Blyth, Lomas, Williams
Take a look at yourself from the other side, and see if it's really you.
The reason for life is living, so do what you gotta do.
Catch the fire of inspiration, seek and you shall find.
Go on down your own path, don't follow things so blind.
Do what you do (but know why you're doing it).
Do what you do for fun.
Do what you do (but know why you're doing it).
You're the only one.
Trash and truth are easily mixed, split them with your axe.
Burning ambitions fizzle out, don't listen to the facts.
They've got power in supply, overload and fuse it.
Don't sit at home vegetating ..
you've got a brain so use it.
Apathy is on the increase, problems are easily shared.
Freedom's on the horizon, but I didn't know you cared.
Plant the seed of hope and promise, feed it, it will grow.
Question all the answers, rock the Status Quo.
Four Men
Words & Music: Abrahall, Blyth, Lomas, Williams
The end of a decade closes in, the oppressed fight back but still can't win.
A blind eye sees more than pain, expressions on heads look so feign.
Four men died today, someone's gotta pay.
Why did four men die today ?
The culprits can't be found, they're hiding underground.
Why did four men die today ?
Hoboes and underdogs strike a new chord, they're sick and tired of acting bored.
Legions of damned citizens try, while all around the rotting die.
Concerned committees study and gen, the final word from Number Ten.
The worried gasp a sigh and frown as all the walls come crashing down.
The end of a decade closes in, the oppressed fight back and still can't win.
Doomsday lurks, an ugly figure, who'll be first to pull the trigger.
Children Of The Dust
Words & Music: Abrahall, Blyth, Lomas, Williams
It started off as innocent fun, a stranger in a foreign land.
A boy with a gun and no name, seeks compassion with a girl in hand.
When your conscience taps you on the shoulder,
you'll be a little wiser and older.
Not even we can save the children of dust,
not even we can save the children of dust,
Well not even we can save the children of dust.
Task completed but you lost face,
returning home the conquering saviour.
The little girl who lives next door,
takes a shine to your cool behaviour.
A steady job and a nice clean house, part of your parents scheming.
The past will always catch you out, in 'Nam a child is screaming.
Youth has gone now, the past is settled, you'll pay for that night of lust.
A million miles, a promise, and a child of dust.
