We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Gave It Up for Religion

by Gas & the General

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $9 AUD  or more

     

1.
Woh oh oh oh! Oh oh oh! Woh oh oh oh! Oh oh oh! Got a pain in my heart, in my head, well I put it beside the bed Gave it up for religion, all you pretty boys and girls Gave it up for religion everywhere around the world... Well she left at first light on the train, I followed behind in the rain, in the rain When she lifted my shirt with her cane, with her cane Oh but now that she's gone, it's the same, it's the same! Gave it up for religion, all you prissy boys and girls Woh oh oh oh! Oh oh oh! Gave it up for religion... ©2016 Anathema Music. All Rights Reserved.
2.
Dying Day 04:20
How, how how How, how, how? Did we both feel the same thing dividing us all When along the winding road it's faded out So I stood, and I watched, and I recalled How it beat us down and nearly broke us all Strange old thing, what a strange old thing this dying day Strange old thing, strange old thing this dying day... Well I knew how you felt, when you saw what you'd done And I swear to God my father's ghost walked between us So I watched while you cried by the side of the road And he wanted to come on down to ease your load Chorus: Strange old thing... I got a taste, I got a taste of the one true fear Saw it in your eyes when I went off my brain I'll never do that to you, I'll never drag you under with me Strange old thing this dying day, what a strange old thing! Strange old thing this dyin' day... strange, how, how how Chorus: What a strange old thing, strange old thing this dyin' day Dyin' day, dyin' day, dyin' day... ©2016 Anathema Music.
3.
Did they give chase or did he run? No one's sayin' now. A young man lies dead on a rusted rail, no use praying now. His Mumma cried 'My baby, oh my only son! Look what just 6 months in the Big Smoke has done.' I wouldn't doubt it, I wouldn't doubt it, Sir there goes your proof- While Redfern burns, the big end of town regroups... But at sweet 18 things could have seemed a lot more straight If the cops weren't there puttin' the scare on a young brave... His Mumma cried, "My Lord! They've killed my only one, What do you gain by shedding such young blood?' I wouldn't doubt it, I wouldn't doubt it, there goes some truth... While Redfern burns the big end of town recruits... But at sweet 18 when you've been around you know That our laws aint there for protecting those who need it most! I'm gonna doubt it, I'm gonna doubt it And climb right on top of that roof I'm gonna doubt it! I'm gonna doubt it! Sir there goes your proof, oh! I'm gonna doubt it, I'm gonna doubt it For just a minute or two... While Redfern burns the big end of town... The big end of town, the big end of town salutes... ©2016 Anathema Music. All Rights Reserved.
4.
Leatherskin 03:35
Oh I wish had leather skin so I wouldn't get hurt, Fall in love a million times, roll in the dirt Oh I wish an easy mind that went with the wind, Then I wouldn't really mind if I didn't have a friend! Oh I wish I had a simple life like the man in the moon Travellin' around everywhere with just a cow and a spoon, I wish I had somethin' new took away time Made everybody in the world feel warm and kind! Hold me tight! Baby I gotta go in the night Hold me still babe, c'mon hold me still... Yeah I wish I had a simple life like the man in the moon Oh travellin' around everywhere with just a cow and a spoon, Yeh I wish I had somethin' new, that took away time I wish I had leather skin 'round this poor man's mind! Wish I had leather skin so I wouldn't get hurt Yeah, fall in love a million times, roll in the dirt, Yeah I wish I had somethin' new took away time Made everybody in the world feel warm and kind! Oh oh woh, I gotta go in the night! Hold me still, let pure love fill the air, Let pure love fill the air! There's one more thing I wish... I wish I had leather skin so I wouldn't get hurt Fall in love a million times, roll in the dirt, Yeah I wish had leather skin! Wish I had leather skin! Yeah, wish I had leather skin! Wish I had leather skin! I wish I had a million suns boiling in my heart, Yeah wish I had a million suns blazin' in my heart... © Control 2016. All Rights Reserved.
5.
Ahhhh! Dishonest ape signed off, didn't care a lot If a single case gets heard, It's been designed, this bottom line, now tyranny must work... So make a line where cameras whirr on their dead man's conga line, Don't care much, at all for them, cos I'm just followin' orders! In the detail, in the detail, in the detail of every line! Devil's detail, devil's detail! Devil's derailed all your rights! So chain 'em up, we chain 'em up, we chain 'em up... Cos Castro backed right off, we paid up front Revolution's just a word... If we produce the goods the neighbourhood Might not feel feel so disturbed... So kill the lights and bring the rope, The severed hopes and lap-top spies, Tryin' hard, to stand on guard, I guess we best ignore them flies... In the detail, in the detail, in the detail of every line! Devil's detail, devil's detail! The Devil's derailed all your rights! Chain 'em up, chain 'em up! We chain 'em up! We chain 'em up! Oh! Yeah a yeh! OH! In the detail, in the detail, in the deep seal of every line! Devil's detail, the Devil's detail! Devil's derailed all your rights! Chain 'em up, we chain 'em up! We chain 'em up! We chain 'em up! OH! Close it down! CLOSE IT DOWN! WOH! OH! Close GUANTANAMO! WOH! Close GUANTANAMO! OH! Close it down! Close GUANTANAMO! Close it down, hose it down! Close GUANTANAMO! ©2016 Anathema Music. All Rights Reserved.
6.
Penned for Mel Lawson [1991-2008] Much adored and respected member of the Lawson clan. God speed you angel child. Yo yoh! Yo-yo! Way down underneath the radar Mr Damage rides a boxcar, And your youth got focussed on his every word... Did a spell on trumped up charges- Still his thirst for night enlarges As he pulls your blanket up He mouths a curse... Cos once you reach the end of your rope No power on Earth's gonna help you cope A 'No Vacancy' sign swings between the stars! Yeah once you reach the end of the rope The universe looks an endless slope Leadin' nowhere fast but it's better Than where you are... oh... A human tendency for inaction Gives some a chance to post retractions From a roof, a car, or in some quiet room... The one I love chose Sunday morning Left no wish, no want, no warning, The blackest sin about it was she left too soon! Cos once she'd reached the end of her rope No holy Joe was there to crown her Pope, Or go chasin' virgin mums in trailer parks! Yeah once she'd reached the end of her rope The emptiness was like a cake of soap Slippin' underfoot, oh to bring her down so hard! Down so hard, oh, she came down so hard... oh yeah Hey Yo-yo.. Way down deep beneath the sonar Where every lie becomes a pop star, And the pure of heart are trampled at every turn... But know this one thing precious harlots! Truth will weave its web like Charlotte! And beyond this blue you'll get- your just deserts! Cos once you reach the end of that rope The universe looks an endless slope A 'No Vacancy' sign swings between the stars! Once you reach the end of your rope No power on Earth's gonna help you cope! Oh and you know you aint that strong... Oh and you know you can't go on... And you know you don't belong! And you know there's something wrong! With what you are, oh, with all you are... With what you are... ©2016 Anathema Music. All Rights Reserved.
7.
Listen here, Well all you madmen out there with your hand on the bomb Oh I got this little message and it shouldn't take long. Oh I know what's wrong with you, oh what's really been up See I found this little thing here in this little cup, (that's right!) You've been suffering from a bug that's been in your blood Since the Romans cast lots and sat around in the mud... It got loose from the cross! Ate 'em all up! It didn't care too much for too much brotherly love- The Christ virus... wow... Oh but now you can't remember quite the last thing you heard Was the preacher in his pulpit you hung on every word (yeah) Then you went right out and shot all those little brown kids You really think old God would approve what you did? {no, no, no) Oh you really oughta get out more boy! This world of ours aint yours to destroy You know those lies, those lies, they won't stack up When a 100 years from now folks won't care or cuss... [oh that's serious] See you've got the virus there, it's right in your eye! And it's forcin' you to sit right down and comply With all the voices down there screamin' in Hell... Heard your Mum bought herself an afterlife You aint doin' so well (he he!) Oh, the Christ virus came, it picked you up and threw you round And filled out your name... (the Christ virus) Oh cos all these years later we're in Heaven together... And the Lord Satan's wrappin' you In great strips of black leather (yes he is) Well I know that personally well I never done much! Least I never used no invisible man as a crutch, The Christ virus, oh, Christ! Christ virus, oh oh The Christ virus, ahhh, Christ virus... you got it right in the iris... ahhhh... ©2016 Anathema Music. All Rights Reserved.
8.
You bought an out, you took the interstate #1 The very same road I once came down... That night you left you combed the city's circles Saw the same museum pieces, same sacred cows! There's not a lot here, save the same old fascinations, Avarice and Envy they're sisters now! You gave things up and still you felt no better- The I heard how you went and quit the town! Oh! oh oh oh! Your cool expressions, your lewd behind, Girl out of mind you run rings around me... Your hot, exhausted furious mind Bird on a wire you run rings around me! OH! You've never been so bloody scared! Oh and what if it should it come to fail? You bought an out and still you felt no better Avarice and Envy, oh they're high in a tree! I really doubt that you were worth the effort- But things are never how you think they should be! Your cool expression, your lewd behind, Girl on a wire you run rings around me... Your hot, exhausted, furious mind Bird on a wire you run rings around me Girl out of mind you run rings around me Girl out of mind... you run rings... around... me... hoo... ©2016 Anathema Music. All Rights Reserved.
9.
Hoo hoohoo hoo... I watched the news now for days on end And still those buildings wouldn't stand, Went lookin' for you in your bed this mornin' boy But you'd run off to meet with the recruitment man... I switched off and fixed us both a tea, Polished off your christening cup- Listened to the magpies in the neighbour's trees And pretended nothin' was up... Oh my son I fear the wheel has moved again Another buckled half a turn This one wasn't of anyone's makin' boy There'll be nothin' out of this to learn... But there's a thing I must sign in blood Cos I aint got no pen, Beware the moon still shines down On the roofs of foreign men... hoo hoo hoo... I wanted to keep you safe here with me And teach you all the things I knew, You boy were all I had left I guess fightin's what some men must do... I guess by now you're at Reveille In brand new boots and dungarees, They might just make a man of you Where they never could with me... I watched the news now for days on end For any semblance of the truth Waitin' to see you come rollin' by- And you there holdin' up the proof, With you there holdin' up the proof... But there's a thing I must sign in blood While my heart is still open, Beware the moon still shines down On the roofs of foreign men... Yeah there's one thing I must sign in blood boy Cos I aint got no pen... Beware the moon still shines down- On the roofs of foreign men... Hoo hoo hoo... ©2016 Anathema Music. All Rights Reserved.

about

The long awaited & slowly gestating follow up to 2011's 'Last Man Out'. Released with all due artifice and personal hardship. Bon appetite!

Check out antique music video at: vimeo.com/2041748

credits

released June 13, 2017

Jill Adams [Bass and BV's on 1, BV's on 4] Amy Freeman [BV's on 4] All other instruments on 'Gave it Up for Religion' by Gas Wylde. All Songs by Gas Wylde except 'Leatherskin' written by Davy Hilton and Gas Wylde.
©2016 Anathema Music. All Rights Reserved.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Gas & the General Sydney, Australia

Excerpt from music blog review of GWB's ‘Last Man Out’ from the most recent altcountryforum in the Netherlands.

"The great strength of the Gas Wylde Band’s "Last Man Out" is the fact that the politically critical words are supported by patiently crafted musical compositions. A brilliant album from a promising band based on Australian soil. Finger-licking good.”

Johan Schoenmakers
... more

contact / help

Contact Gas & the General

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Report this album or account

Gas & the General recommends:

If you like Gas & the General, you may also like: