Dream of Waking
AFI Lyrics

I feel it washing over me the slow poisonous tide
The singer is experiencing a gradual and harmful force that is making them feel sick and overwhelmed.

Pins and needles dance on me sickness undefined
The singer is struggling with a physical sensation of discomfort and doesn't know what is causing it.

Now I'm afraid to face the sky
The singer has become fearful of something that used to be familiar or comforting to them.

Please someone hear my haunted cries
The artist is pleading with anyone who may be listening to help them with their distress and anxiety.

With eyes sewn shut I still can see
The artist is aware of what is happening around them, despite feeling powerless and unable to take action.

All that is surrounding me
The singer is aware of their environment and the people, things, or situations that are affecting them.

Between a dream
The singer is uncertain if they are awake or asleep, and is struggling with their perception of reality.

And motionless reality
The artist feels stuck and unable to change their circumstances, and is trapped in a state of inaction.

Will I forever lie?
The artist is questioning whether they will remain stuck in their current state of mind and body, and if they will ever be able to move forward.

I feel it binding so smoothly
The artist is experiencing something tightening around them, slowly and without any resistance.

I see myself below
The singer has a vision of themselves from an outside perspective, and is aware of how they appear to others.

I feel it gnawing, eating me
The artist is aware of something that is causing them harm, and is feeling the effects of it slowly consuming them.

Poisonous and slow
The singer is aware of the harmful nature of the force that is affecting them, and is aware that it is causing damage over a long period of time.

My mind it speeds
The singer's thoughts are becoming more rapid, possibly due to anxiety or fear.

My voice has died
The singer is unable to express themselves verbally, possibly due to fear, anxiety, or feeling overwhelmed.

God let me make the faintest cry
The artist is calling out to a higher power, asking for help or guidance in their situation.

Binded by my hands, by my legs, by my eyes
The artist feels restrained and unable to take action or move freely in their current state.

By my mouth, bind everything
The singer feels like they are unable to express themselves fully or take action, and that this is causing them harm.

Opened up and for the taking
The singer feels vulnerable and exposed, possibly due to feeling trapped or helpless.

Just one touch and I'll be yours
The artist feels like they are powerless and that someone else has control over them and their situation.

What's on the other side of the mirror?
The artist is questioning what exists beyond their current perception of reality, and is seeking answers or clarity.

To cry, I try, to break the static keeping me here in between
The artist is attempting to express their emotions and free themselves from being stuck in between two states, but is struggling to do so.

The static keeping me here
The singer feels trapped and unable to move forward, and is experiencing a feeling of stasis or being stuck.