What Did You Expect? - A.C.A.B.

    

  "Politically inclined, socially awkward, lyrically explicit DIY punk rock from London, UK, with a focus on creating community through music."

  That's the description given by Joe Strummer loving Chris Goode to his musical project What Did You Expect? He's been releasing DIY political punk for a couple of years and his latest release is a song called A.C.A.B. which is a rip roaring singalong bolstered by backing vocals from Mike McKinnon, Afro Hamurai, Sober Dave & Beck Butler. It's a brief but energetic put down of police brutality and all proceeds go towards funding Black Lives Matter, Stand Against Racism & Inequality NAACP Legal Defense Fund. It makes me want to say it's like Anti Flag getting down with Leftover Crack but I'll let you make your own comparisons. 

  You can get it as a name your price download here : https://whatdidyouexpect.bandcamp.com/album/a-c-a-b

  A.C.A.B.... 

“Stop resisting, and don’t you fucking run” Said "Officer, I’m not resisting anyone" Mr Policeman, won’t you please lower that gun? I’m just a poor boy and I’m not hurting anyone And now I’m choking and I’m face down on the floor, Handcuffs cutting through, please don’t hurt me anymore. Hands up, don’t shoot, please officer today Put your gun away, I’d like to live another day Don’t want to read another headline on a page That says unarmed kid shot dead by police again The streets are smoking from the barrel of a gun Police corruption, pull the curtain down at once No more questions, another false display: Show fake empathy, suspended still getting paid. Tell me more about how you’ve been victimised, How an unarmed man made you fear for your fucking life, This one’s for all those that we’ve lost but never forgot, “Black Lives Matter” and this needs to fucking stop. Hands up, don’t shoot, please officer today, Put your gun away, I’d like to live another day. Don’t want to read another headline on a page, That says unarmed kid shot dead by police again Hands up, don’t shoot, fuck police brutality, Take their guns away, your kids will live another day. Won’t let them be another headline on a page, That reads unarmed kid shot dead by police again.

What Did You Expect? - Who Did You Elect?

 

photo : Vittorio TheComet Haley
 
  The day after I air the Just Some Punk Songs show I seem to have started posting songs that went down a storm with the people listening in the chatroom. Today's song is one of those.

 What Did You Expect?  is one man (Chris Goode) from London who idolises Joe Strummer and is influenced by The Homeless Gospel Choir, Rancid, Anti-Flag, The Clash, ONSIND and NOFX. Other favoured artists include the likes of Mischief Brew and Andrew Jackson Jihad. He's politically inclined and writes socially awkward, lyrically explicit songs. Very good those songs are too.

  There's recently been a new ep released, 6 angry songs about the state of the world today, politics, the tories, the economy, Trump etc... It's titled Grow(ing) up and you can find it here :  https://whatdidyouexpect.bandcamp.com/album/grow-ing-up

  Despite containing no hints of ska, High School Sucks reminds me a little of Big D And The Kids Table's LAX whilst the song you'll find below reminds me (vocally) of early Osker. The target's of Goode's verbal volleys may be familiar but the songs are great and the sentiments are ones that most of those who check out this blog will share.

  You can get more info here: https://www.facebook.com/WDYExpect/

  This is called Who Did You Elect?....

I pass the time
Singing songs out of key
As the time passes me by
I wonder what happened to me
Did i fall for the lies they told?
Did i believe in the dream they sold to me?
Now nothing seems to make much sense
I was told i could have it all
Was i wrong to try so hard
To break the walls between social classes
Brick by brick I think it can be done
Piece by piece we'll spark a revolution

Always thought there was so much more
There's always something worth fighting for
When a government chooses to ignore the poor
Any surprise there's still a class war?
21st century still casualties
No money, there's just overdraft fees
Modern capitalism, our economy
Only profiting the rich, no equality
Always thought there'd be so much more
Is there still something worth fighting for
With government corruption at our core
Will we ever be able to even the score?
We all believed in a fantasy
Just victims of complacency
What happened to our decency?
Have we lost all our humanity?

Why do we trust our governments
When upper class is all thats relevant to them
Government for the rich and greedy
They don’t care for the poor and needy
Seems the politicians just don't understand
They've got the power but they just don't take a stand
And while you're stuck on benefits
They line their pockets with a ton of profit

Always thought there was so much more
There's always something worth fighting for
When a government chooses to ignore the poor
Is it any surprise there's still a class war
21st century still casualties
No money, there's just overdraft fees
Modern capitalism, our economy
Only profiting the rich, no equality

But why
Should we do just as we're told
To get by
They say
That You've got to sell your soul
But why
Should I
Fit into their mould
Tell them
They lied
And We're taking back control

Always thought there was so much more
There's always something worth fighting for
When a government chooses to ignore the poor
Is it any surprise there's still a class war
21st century still casualties
No money, there's just overdraft fees
Modern capitalism, our economy
Only profiting the rich, no equality
Always thought there'd be so much more
Is there still something worth fighting for
When it's all fake news and voter fraud
And the population still applauds
We all believed in a fantasy
We lost our way, such a tragedy
Where's our sense of community?
What's with all this lunacy?