20 Floors Below

G.B.H. · A Fridge Too Far [1989]

In the city of madness, I'm just another face,

But they know right where I am,

Gotta leave this place.

Hiding in the subway, I don't like it down here,

Rats are coming after me, they can smell my fear.



I'm in a fix, can't you tell,

Living in this high rise hell.

Got the clouds for company,

Terra ferma is the place to be.



In the city of chrome and steel,

They've got axes to grind.

I'm looking straight ahead of me,

But they're coming up from below.

Try an' escape to the sky but I got my vertigo blues,

Running out of time and luck,

Wearing dead mens shoes.



They're twenty floor below,

Twenty floor below.

I can see the whites of their eyes,

And they're coming to get me.



In the city of angels underneath the desert moon,

I may seem in control right now,

But it's them who's calling the tune.

Turn to face my killers,

Now turn and confront my fear.

There's a shadow on the wall, everything is clear.



In the city where the motto is "Forward",

I feel right at home.

And I never can settle down, no matter where I roam.

Fidget bouncing off the wall,

Finding we got no cheese.

Check the answerphone,

And a little more petrol please.

20 Floors Below

Released in 1989 on the album A Fridge Too Far, "20 Floors Below" stands as a defining track in the post-punk revival of the late 1980s. G.B.H. crafted this recording with a raw, energetic intensity characteristic of their work, blending driving rhythms with a gritty vocal delivery that captured the restless spirit of the era. The song exemplifies the band's ability to fuse punk aggression with melodic sensibilities, creating a sound that resonated deeply with fans of the genre. As part of their discography from that pivotal year, the track remains a testament to the group's influence on the emerging alternative rock landscape, showcasing their commitment to authentic, unpolished production that prioritized emotional impact over commercial perfection.