Henry Garfield was part of the original skater clique that made up the core… Read Full Bio ↴Henry Garfield was part of the original skater clique that made up the core of the early DC hardcore scene, but early on his participation was limited to being a roadie for the Teen Idles, which featured his close friend Ian MacKaye. When MacKaye formed Minor Threat, his follow up act to the Teen Idles, he swiped Lyle Preslar from the band the Extorts. The Extorts had played only one show before Lyle, the band's singer, left. Jumping at the chance to launch his own musical venture, Henry and the remaining Extorts, guitarist Michael Hampton, bassist Wendel Blow, and drummer Simon Jacobsen, formed State of Alert, better known as S.O.A., in 1980.

The introduction of bands like S.O.A. and Minor Threat signaled a change in the mood of the DC hardcore scene. Early hardcore acts like the Teen Idles and the Untouchables had a light-hearted vibe. Songs were often goofy and humorous and few ever approached any sort of serious subject. The new crop of bands that formed, though, like S.O.A., Minor Threat and Youth Brigade, were angrier and projected a tougher image. S.O.A. was a perfect example of this. Musically not as strong as their peers in Minor Threat, their style was simple thrash with Henry's monotone bark on top of the mix. The songs were usually about things that made Henry mad, like girls and cops, or his love of fighting. Despite their rudimentary style and limited musical ability, S.O.A.'s live performances were reportedly exhilarating.

After several shows, Simon left the band to attend college. He was replaced by Ivor Hanson. Dischord Records wanted to put out an S.O.A. release, but the infant label also wanted to put out a record by Minor Threat and there was not enough money to do both. The band had already recorded while Simon was in the group, so Henry solved the problem by paying for pressing of the record himself with money he saved while working as a manager at an ice cream store.

While things were looking up for S.O.A., fate would soon intervene. Henry was offered a chance to audition for LA's Black Flag. After practicing with the band in New York, he was asked to join as their singer. Word of Henry's new gig soon filtered back to Henry's friends in DC, who had mixed feelings about his imminent departure for the west coast. The rest of S.O.A. was particularly disillusioned, as it would likely mean the end of the band. S.O.A.'s last gig was in Philadelphia opening for Black Flag, after which Henry left town with that band.

Henry had approached Ian MacKaye's younger brother Alec about taking over for him in S.O.A., but Alec didn't want to sing Henry's words. Instead, he, along with Michael Hampton and Ivor Hanson, formed the Faith, while Wendel Blow joined proto-skinhead act Iron Cross and later co-founded Lethal Intent. Henry, after changing his last name to Rollins, went on to sing for Black Flag until their demise in 1986.

Disease
State of Alert Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Look in my room
Look in my bed
Look into the alley
Look in my head

You give me disease

Get me up

Get me down
I just get sick
When you're around

You give me disease

Overall Meaning

The above lyrics to State of Alert's song Disease seem to be centered around the negative effects of toxic relationships. The imagery of the lines, "Look in my room, Look in my bed, Look into the alley, Look in my head" suggest that the persona is being haunted by the presence of someone who is bringing negative energy into their life. The repetition of the phrase “You give me disease” emphasizes the point that just being in the presence of this person is causing the persona to suffer mentally and emotionally.

Furthermore, the lines, "Get me up, Get me down, I just get sick when you're around" indicate that no matter what the persona does, they cannot escape the adverse effects of the relationship. The use of language such as "sick" and "disease" add to the intensity of the message, creating a sense of hopelessness for the persona. Overall, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of how a toxic relationship can cause one's mental and emotional well-being to deteriorate.

Line by Line Meaning

Look in my room
Search through my personal space and belongings.

Look in my bed
Inspect the place where I rest and sleep.

Look into the alley
Investigate the area adjacent to my living space.

Look in my head
Examine my thoughts and mental state.

You give me disease
Your presence or influence in my life causes me emotional harm or turmoil.

Get me up
Make me feel excited and energized.

Get me down
Make me feel sad or depressed.

I just get sick
I become physically or mentally ill.

When you're around
During the time period in which you are present.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIEL SCHULER, EVAN SEINFELD, ROBERT SCOTT HAMBEL, WILLIAM DANIEL GRAZIADEL IV

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS