Avail was a punk band from Richmond, Virginia. Originally from Northern Vir… Read Full Bio ↴Avail was a punk band from Richmond, Virginia. Originally from Northern Virginia, the band formed in 1987, its members included Joe Banks, Doug Crosby, Brian Stewart and Mikey Warstler. The only original remaining member, guitar player Joe Banks, teamed up with rival band LDK's (Learning Disabled Kids) Tim Barry. They moved to Richmond in 1990, and soon, after numerous line up changes, put together a solid lineup to release their first album in 1992. Many of their lyrics center around Richmond.
Avail is on 'permanent standby' as per Tim Barry's interview on Dope Sick Radio #40. Tim mentions in the interview "let's just say it's a thing of the past"

Connection
Avail Lyrics

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No one turned your Rally of peace into A state of violence Inside I hear the screams Of the strongest on their knees I took a look - I stepped back Disappointment pulled me down Locks of skin outside Boredom lures them into this set Let's walk away - no not a chance We pause and linger not alone
Random Plunging people pushing presence To my face I heard about it 100 times When the act caught my sight I plugged my ear to dull the sound But curiosity let me see Why I looked I still don't know But now vision that runs my head
Why are we overwhelmed By rules today?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Avail's song Connection reflect on the disappointment and disillusionment of a peaceful rally that turned into a violent state. The phrase "no one turned your Rally of peace into A state of violence" suggests that the rally was intended to be peaceful and that the violence was brought upon by external factors. The singer can hear the screams of the strongest on their knees, implying that the violence was brutal and that even those who were strong enough to stand up for their beliefs were brought down. The next lines "Locks of skin outside/Boredom lures them into this set" describes how external factors can cause people to lash out, often for no apparent reason. The use of the word 'locks' implies that the people involved are trapped in this behavior, much like their skin is locked on top of them.

The lyrics show the singer's frustration at being a witness to the violence, asking himself why he did not walk away. The lines "Random plunging people pushing presence to my face/I heard about it 100 times" suggest that the singer is used to hearing about violence but is disturbed when he catches a glimpse of it himself. The phrase "when the act caught my sight/I plugged my ear to dull the sound" reveals that the singer cannot bear to hear the screams, but in spite of this, out of curiosity, he continues to watch. The lines "Why I looked I still don't know/But now vision that runs my head" imply that the singer is deeply troubled by what he saw and that the images continue to haunt him. The final line of the song asks a thought-provoking question, "why are we overwhelmed by rules today?" This question serves as a commentary on how our society is governed by rules, which often stifle our free will and individuality.

Line by Line Meaning

No one turned your Rally of peace into A state of violence
The peaceful protest turned violent on its own and not due to any external force.

Inside I hear the screams Of the strongest on their knees
Even the strongest of people are being affected and feel powerless in the current situation.

I took a look - I stepped back Disappointment pulled me down
The singer initially tried to observe the situation but was disappointed by what they saw and became disheartened.

Locks of skin outside Boredom lures them into this set
People on the outside often judge the situation without understanding why those involved are acting in a certain way.

Let's walk away - no not a chance We pause and linger not alone
Although the artist may want to leave the situation, they recognize that they cannot and take comfort in the fact that they are not alone.

Random Plunging people pushing presence
People are impulsively acting and pushing their ideas without considering the consequences.

To my face I heard about it 100 times When the act caught my sight
People had informed the singer about the situation numerous times, but they didn't fully understand the severity until they witnessed it themselves.

I plugged my ear to dull the sound But curiosity let me see
The artist tried to ignore the situation but eventually became curious and wanted to see it for themselves.

Why I looked I still don't know But now vision that runs my head
The artist still doesn't understand why they were drawn to the situation, but it continues to weigh on their mind.

Why are we overwhelmed By rules today?
The artist questions why society is so heavily governed by rules and regulations.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JUSTINE ELINOR FRISCHMANN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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