The bands’ debut release is described as The Fall meets Neil Young- which all makes sense on the band’s debut release, “American Specialties”. The quartet wanders through the American and British underground, picking away their favorite parts with confidence. The lyrics, when intelligible, are bizarre and dramatic. “She looked at me like a fry pan reducing,” moans Savage, from the same lustful subconscious built by the darker moments of psychedelia. Then at times, such as on the 70’s folkish “Square States”, thoughts are more sentimental and transparent. The setting for “American Specialties” ranges from a crusty Brooklyn bodega, to an endless Texas desert. If these sorts of soundscapes appeal to your mind, then you're sure to stumble upon Parquet Courts sooner or later.
Violence
Parquet Courts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That flowers from the lips of scoundrels
It is a forest so dense and rooted in our past
It tempts us to become lost in its darkness
And stinks like the piss test you were forced to take
Just before you were told that you didn't meet
The standards of integrity that this organization strives to maintain
That produce the likeness of the blazer of the trail of tears
Issuing overdraft fees from beyond the grave
Prison TV shows in an endless queue
Containing the robust nourishment of a commissary
This is why we cannot afford to close an open casket
You protect no one by obscuring the mirror
That reflects our own problematic reality
Allow me to ponder the role I play
In this pornographic spectacle of black death
At once a solution and a problem
A cause, an effect, a rejoice, a regret
Violence is daily life
A promise a pact that the world never kept
Violence is daily life
A cause, an effect, a rejoice, a regret
Violence is daily life
A promise a pact that the world never kept
Violence is daily life
Violence is daily life
Violence happens every day
It's hard to get used to getting used to violence
Savage is my name because Savage is how I feel
When the radio wakes me up with the words "suspected gunman"
My name is a warning for the acts you are about to witness
Which contain images that some viewers may find disturbing
My name belongs to us all
So if they ask for yours give them mine
My name is a threat
Riot is an unfinished grave that was dug to deposit undepleted anger
Like barrels of uranium leaking into something sacred
It is a word to use to delegitimize your unrest
And to make your resistance into an overreaction
The pink tube of paint called flesh
Used in portraits of chairmen of boards and
Men who clean up streets named after those who fought
For erasing the lives they now claim to protect
What is an up and coming neighborhood and where is it coming from?
A cause, an effect, a rejoice, a regret
Violence is daily life
A promise a pact that the world never kept
Violence is daily life
A cause, an effect, a rejoice, a regret
Violence is daily life
A promise a pact that the world never kept
Violence is daily life
What's wrong with the air you breathe?
The water you drink?
Violence is so omnipresent
So ingrained in your daily reality
You forget to notice it happens everyday
The Parquet Courts’s song Violence is an intricate reflection on how violence and power dynamics shape our daily lives. In the first verse, the song introduces the concept that violence occurs when we fail to understand each other's needs, desires, and boundaries. Thus, violence is the fruit of unrequited understanding that blooms from the mouth of mischievous individuals. The second verse delves into how everyday objects like ATM machines have become violent in themselves, as they greedily suck people’s money with overdraft fees even after they have departed the world. This verse highlights how we have normalized the violence of capitalism and how it is a part of our daily life. The third and fourth verses effectively criticize the role of media in the making of the spectacle of death, whereby they provoke fear and framing unrest under the labels of riot.
Furthermore, the lyrics focus on how language can be used to legitimize violence, as seen in the way the names of streets and neighborhoods erase the history of people's sacrifices and how common societal euphemisms of flesh color are meant to erase the diversity of skin tones. Finally, the song argues that because violence is ingrained in our everyday reality, we often fail to notice it.
Overall, the lyrics to Violence highlight various forms of violence and how they are normalized and invisible in our daily lives. The song also challenges the language we use to describe these aspects of our existence and the structures that perpetuate them.
Line by Line Meaning
Violence is the fruit of unreached understanding
Violence is the result of a lack of understanding between people.
That flowers from the lips of scoundrels
Violence is fueled by those who use deceptive language and promote discord.
It is a forest so dense and rooted in our past
Violence is a deep-seated problem that has existed throughout history.
It tempts us to become lost in its darkness
Violence can consume people and lead them down a dark path.
And stinks like the piss test you were forced to take
Violence is unpleasant and leaves a lasting impact, similar to an unpleasant drug test experience.
Just before you were told that you didn't meet
Similar to failing a drug test, being told you aren't good enough due to arbitrary standards can lead to frustration and anger.
The standards of integrity that this organization strives to maintain
This line suggests that organizations may claim to have high standards but in reality, they are only using them to maintain control and power.
Why are there no folk songs about ATM machines
The lack of popular art and music that highlights the mundane experiences of capitalism can make it difficult to confront the unsettling reality of modern life.
That produce the likeness of the blazer of the trail of tears
Capitalism is intrinsically tied to the historic oppression of certain groups of people, and it's important not to forget this fact.
Issuing overdraft fees from beyond the grave
Companies can continue to exploit people even after they have passed away through things like bank fees and interest.
Prison TV shows in an endless queue
Prison entertainment is a profitable industry that perpetuates harmful stereotypes and has little regard for the reality of prison life.
Containing the robust nourishment of a commissary
Prison commissaries often sell unhealthy and overpriced food items, making it clear that profiting off prisoner's basic needs is a common practice.
This is why we cannot afford to close an open casket
Ignoring the harsh realities that people face doesn't solve the issue, especially when it involves the loss of life.
You protect no one by obscuring the mirror
Hiding from the unpleasant truths about violence and injustice will not make the problem go away.
That reflects our own problematic reality
This line encourages people to confront the ways that we contribute to societal issues, instead of denying them altogether.
Allow me to ponder the role I play
Individuals must take responsibility and consider the ways in which they contribute to societal problems, instead of expecting others to solve it for them.
In this pornographic spectacle of black death
The spectacle of black death is often exploited and sensationalized by the media, as opposed to being treated with respect and empathy.
At once a solution and a problem
Violence can be used to solve problems, but it can also be the root of the problem itself.
Violence happens every day
This line reiterates that violence is a common occurrence and should not be ignored or trivialized.
It's hard to get used to getting used to violence
The normalization of violence leads to a desensitization to its severity and perpetuates a harmful cycle.
Savage is my name because Savage is how I feel
The term ‘Savage’ describes how the song's narrator feels characterized by the world around them.
When the radio wakes me up with the words 'suspected gunman'
News of violence and crime dominates media culture, leading to a constant sense of fear and anxiety among people.
My name is a warning for the acts you are about to witness
The singer’s name serves as a warning for the brutality and violence that others may exhibit or experience.
Which contain images that some viewers may find disturbing
Viewing violence can be jarring, but it is a reality that we must confront in order to fully understand the world around us.
My name belongs to us all
The name ‘Savage’ is not unique and is shared amongst many other people.
So if they ask for yours give them mine
The singer's name is a symbolic representation of the struggles many people face and that should be acknowledged and shared by everyone.
My name is a threat
The name ‘Savage’ represents the danger and risk associated with confronting violent or oppressive forces in society.
Riot is an unfinished grave that was dug to deposit undepleted anger
Riots and violent protests are a result of unchecked anger and frustration amongst the population.
Like barrels of uranium leaking into something sacred
Violence can poison and forever tarnish something that was once held as sacred or virtuous.
It is a word to use to delegitimize your unrest
The term ‘riot’ is often used to discredit and undermine the voices of protesters and social movements.
And to make your resistance into an overreaction
Violent or excessive responses to the protests and movements of marginalized people are often painted as an unnecessary or unreasonable reaction.
The pink tube of paint called flesh
This line references the common term 'flesh-colored', which goes to illustrate how the beauty industry asserts a dominant idea of what a person of a certain race should look like
Used in portraits of chairmen of boards and
Corporate and political leaders often exhibit narrow views of the world and the people in it, leading to systemic discrimination and a lack of progress.
Men who clean up streets named after those who fought
This refers to the irony of naming streets after Civil Rights activists while police brutality and injustices perpetuated by different systems continue.
For erasing the lives they now claim to protect
People in power often deflect blame for societal issues while failing to protect the most vulnerable.
What is an up and coming neighborhood and where is it coming from?
The idea of an “up-and-coming” neighborhood often signals the arrival of gentrification, displacing those who are economically disadvantaged.
What's wrong with the air you breathe?
Even something as fundamental as clean air can be compromised by societal issues and actions.
The water you drink?
Basic necessities such as clean drinking water are not guaranteed to everyone and can also be affected by societal issues.
Violence is so omnipresent
Violence is an all-encompassing and ever-present part of human history and society.
So ingrained in your daily reality
Societal violence is deeply ingrained, to the point that even small, everyday actions can be violent or reproducing violence.
You forget to notice it happens every day
The normalization of violence has led to people being blind to it, making it seem tolerable and acceptable.
A cause, an effect, a rejoice, a regret
Violence and its effects are complex, and its consequences are often unpredictable and inconsistent.
Violence is daily life
Violence is a daily reality that people must confront and address in order to create a safer and more just society.
A promise a pact that the world never kept
The promise of a peaceful and just world free of violence is one that has not yet been fully realized, but we must continue to strive for it.
Violence happens every day
This line reiterates that violence is a common occurrence and should not be ignored or trivialized.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Andrew Savage, Austin Bradley Brown, Maxwell Savage, Sean Yeaton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind