AFI has released eleven studio albums, ten EPs, one live album and one DVD. The band first reached substantial commercial success with their fifth album, The Art of Drowning (2000), which peaked at number 174 on the Billboard 200. They then broke into the mainstream with their sixth, Sing the Sorrow (2003), which peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for 51 weeks. The album was supported by popular singles "Girl's Not Grey" and "Silver and Cold", both of which peaked at number seven on America's Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2003. "The Leaving Song Pt. II" was also released as a single, reaching number 16 on the chart. Sing the Sorrow was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 2006 and is AFI's best-selling release, having sold over 1.26 million copies as of September 2009.
AFI's seventh album, Decemberunderground (2006), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and featured the hit single "Miss Murder", which topped the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart and reached number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another single, "Love Like Winter", reached number four on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 2013.[6] Decemberunderground was followed three years later by Crash Love (2009), and then four years later by Burials (2013); both albums were also successful, peaking at number twelve and number nine, respectively, on the Billboard 200. The band's tenth and latest album, AFI (The Blood Album), was released in 2017, and peaked at number five on the Billboard 200, making it their second-highest chart position.
Miss Murder
AFI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey (hey), Miss Murder, can I
Make (hey) beauty stay if I
Take my life? Oh
With just a look, they shook
And heavens bowed before him
Simply a look can break your heart
The stars that pierced the sky
He left them all behind
We're left to wonder why
He left us all behind
Hey (hey), Miss Murder, can I
Hey (hey), Miss Murder, can I
Make (hey) beauty stay if I
Take my life? Oh
Oh
Dreams of his crash won't pass
Oh, how they all adored him
Beauty will last when spiralled down
The stars that mystified
He left them all behind
And how his children cried
"He left us all behind"
Hey (hey), Miss Murder, can I
Hey (hey), Miss Murder, can I
Make (hey) beauty stay if I
Take my life? Oh
What's the hook, the twist within this furthest mystery?
I would gladly bet my life upon it
That the ghost you love, your ray of light will fizzle out
Without hope
We're the empty set just flowing through our empty skin
Ever-searching for what we were promised
Reaching for the golden ring, we never let go
Who would ever let us put our filthy hands upon it?
Hey (hey), Miss Murder, can I
Hey (hey), Miss Murder, can I
Make (hey) beauty stay if I
Take my life? Oh
Hey (hey), Miss Murder, can I
Hey (hey), Miss Murder, can I
Make (hey) beauty stay if I
Take my life? Oh
The song Miss Murder by AFI is a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life, beauty, and fame. The lyrics address the central character of Miss Murder and her role in the singer's life. The opening lines of the chorus, "Hey (hey), Miss Murder, can I make beauty stay if I take my life? Oh," suggest that the singer is willing to sacrifice himself to make beauty perpetual. The idea of death and sacrifice is further reinforced in the following line, "With just a look, they shook, and heavens bowed before him. Simply a look can break your heart."
The next verse speaks to the beauty and enigma of the central character, "Dreams of his crash won't pass. Oh, how they all adored him. Beauty will last when spiraled down." The use of the pronoun "his" is an interesting choice that leaves the gender of Miss Murder unclear, challenging societal norms and expectations. The lyrics also reflect on the aftermath of Miss Murder's departure, specifically the grief of those left behind, "And how his children cried, 'he left us all behind.'"
The final verse of the song provides the crux of the meaning of Miss Murder. The lyrics suggest that life is a futile pursuit, and that we are always searching for something more. The lines, "Without hope, we're the empty set just flowing through our empty skin. Ever-searching for what we were promised. Reaching for the golden ring, we never let go. Who would ever let us put our filthy hands upon it?" convey a sense of desperation and unattainability. The singer is left questioning the value of life and what we're ultimately striving for.
Overall, Miss Murder is a haunting reflection on the human condition, and on the pursuit of meaning and beauty in an ultimately fleeting existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey (hey), Miss Murder, can I
Asking if he can keep beauty alive by sacrificing himself
Make (hey) beauty stay if I
Wondering if his death can preserve beauty
Take my life? Oh
Expressing willingness to die for beauty
With just a look, they shook
And heavens bowed before him
A powerful gaze can cause a devastating effect
The stars that pierced the sky
He left them all behind
We're left to wonder why
He left us all behind
Questioning why someone of great influence and beauty left everything behind
Dreams of his crash won't pass
Oh, how they all adored him
Beauty will last when spiralled down
Memories of someone admired yet flawed will endure
What's the hook, the twist within this furthest mystery?
I would gladly bet my life upon it
That the ghost you love, your ray of light will fizzle out
Without hope
Wondering what secret lies beneath the surface and acknowledging the fleeting nature of love and hope
We're the empty set just flowing through our empty skin
Ever-searching for what we were promised
Reaching for the golden ring, we never let go
Who would ever let us put our filthy hands upon it?
Feeling hollow and unfulfilled, continuously chasing an unattainable ideal
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jade Puget, Adam Carson, Hunter Burgan, David Marchand
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind