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.
Warzone
State of Alert Lyrics
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Here they come, club owners beware
They're not welcome but they don't care
They're gonna rip this place apart
Thrash from the finish, thrash from the start
Don't be a fool, no choice for you
Don't be a fool, no choice for you
They're gonna do what they wanna do
They wear chains and they wear leather
They wear boots in any weather
Never dress up for a show
Look this way when they're at home
Don't be a fool, no choice for you
They're gonna do what they wanna do
Don't be a fool, no choice for you
They're gonna do what they wanna do
They own the floor when their bands play
Bouncers get bounced when they get in the way
If you wanna fight, you better think again
Because if you hit one, you'll fight ten
Don't be a fool, no choice for you
They're gonna do what they wanna do
Don't be a fool, no choice for you
They're gonna do what they wanna do
The lyrics to State of Alert's song "Warzone" describe a group of violent and rebellious individuals who attend concerts and cause chaos. The club owners are warned to beware of these individuals, who do not care if they are not welcome and will rip the place apart with their thrashing energy. The individuals are described as wearing chains, leather, and boots in any weather, never dressing up for a show, and only looking presentable when they are at home.
The lyrics warn that there is no choice but to let these individuals do what they want, as they will do it regardless. They own the dance floor when their bands play, and even bouncers get bounced if they get in the way. The lyrics also caution those who want to fight with these individuals, as they will fight back in numbers. The song overall provides a portrayal of aggressive and dangerous individuals who attend concerts and the unpredictable nature of their behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Here they come, club owners beware
Get ready, club owners! These guys are coming and they mean business.
They're not welcome but they don't care
The group isn't wanted, but they don't care what others think. They're going to do what they want anyway.
They're gonna rip this place apart
They're going to unleash a wild, rowdy performance that will leave the club in shambles.
Thrash from the finish, thrash from the start
From start to finish, their music is going to be heavy, aggressive, and anarchic.
Don't be a fool, no choice for you
Don't be foolish and try to resist them. You don't have a choice in the matter.
They're gonna do what they wanna do
They don't care about anyone else's rules, opinions, or safety. They're just going to do what they please.
They wear chains and they wear leather
These guys aren't afraid to look intimidating. They wear chains and leather clothing to show that they're tough and mean business.
They wear boots in any weather
Rain or shine, cold or hot, they're always dressed in tough boots to accent their style and add to their menacing appearance.
Never dress up for a show
They never bother to dress up in fancy clothes for their performances. That wouldn't be true to their punk rock roots.
Look this way when they're at home
Even when they're not at a show, they still have their tough appearance. They make sure that everyone knows that they're part of this scene.
They own the floor when their bands play
When they're on stage with their bands, they are in total control. Their music dominates and takes over the space.
Bouncers get bounced when they get in the way
Even bouncers can't stop them. Anyone who tries to intervene will get kicked out of the way.
If you wanna fight, you better think again
Don't even think about trying to start a fight with them. They're too tough and too many.
Because if you hit one, you'll fight ten
If you do decide to start a fight, be prepared to fight not just one, but many of them. They're a close-knit, loyal group who will always back each other up.
Contributed by Kennedy F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.