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.
06 The Prayer Position
AFI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Steal the flesh back from the starving static minds
From nature we must stray, to clarity we'll climb
Deadly impulse seems so natural
Just look beyond it and we'll find
A brand new evolution
Here begins a brand new line
That no longer seems so far away
Pushed to our knees so let us pray
And all together we'll bring the real rain
Watch all that's wasted wash away
So let it come, our will be done
Stature retrieved, regain our form
Break free from instinct that's left us all confined
From nature we must stray to clarity we'll climb
Tradition ingrained, now impermissible
Just look beyond it and we'll find
A brand new evolution
Here begins a brand new line
And in the distance there's a gathering
That no longer seems so far away
Pushed to our knees so let us pray
And all together we'll bring the real rain
Watch all that's wasted wash away
So let it come, our will be done
I can't help but fear, look to my species and tremble
To think that God is just God
And in the distance there's a gathering
That no longer seems so far away
Pushed to our knees so let us pray
And all together we'll bring the real rain
Watch all that's wasted wash away
So let it come, our will be done
Yeah
Go, go, go
Go, go, go
Yeah
The song "The Prayer Position" by AFI seems to be a call to action to humans to break free from their primitive instincts and evolve to a higher state of mind. The lyrics have a spiritual undertone, as they mention pushing ourselves to our knees to pray and asking for strength to bring about change. The lines "From nature we must stray, to clarity we'll climb / Deadly impulse seems so natural" suggest that our primitive instincts are hindering our progress and we need to separate ourselves from them to evolve.
The theme of evolution continues throughout the song, with lyrics like "A brand new evolution / Here begins a brand new line". The song also touches on the idea of traditions and ingrained beliefs holding us back, with the line "Tradition ingrained, now impermissible". The idea is that we need to look beyond these limitations to find new solutions to our problems and advance as a species.
Overall, "The Prayer Position" is a thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to question their instincts and beliefs and strive for evolution and progress.
Line by Line Meaning
Now! Peel the skin back from the flesh
Begin the process of removing the layers covering the truth.
Steal the flesh back from the starving static minds
Reclaim our lost autonomy lost to the status quo.
From nature we must stray, to clarity we'll climb
The way forward is to separate ourselves from the old traditions and find clarity.
Deadly impulse seems so natural
What seems like a natural instinct to us can often be lethal.
Just look beyond it and we'll find a brand new evolution
By looking beyond our limiting perspectives, we'll experience growth and change.
Here begins a brand new line
This is the start of a new path.
And in the distance there's a gathering that no longer seems so far away
What seemed like a far-off goal is now within reach.
Pushed to our knees so let us pray
Acknowledging that we have been brought down by the struggle, we turn to prayer.
And all together we'll bring the real rain
Collectively, we'll bring about the change we desire.
Watch all that's wasted wash away
As we transition, we'll leave behind all that no longer serves us.
So let it come, our will be done
We're ready to embrace what's next, and our will is unwavering.
Stature retrieved, regain our form
Regain the authority and structure we lost in times of confusion.
Break free from instinct that's left us all confined
Let go of our old ways of thinking to find true freedom.
Tradition ingrained, now impermissible
Old traditions that keep us bound are no longer acceptable.
I can't help but fear, look to my species and tremble
As we look at our current state, there is a sense of fear and uncertainty.
To think that God is just God
It's impossible to truly know the divine, as it's beyond our understanding.
Yeah
An exclamation of enthusiasm and readiness.
Go, go, go
Encouraging us to continue pressing forward, no matter the obstacles.
Go, go, go
Encouraging us to continue pressing forward, no matter the obstacles.
Yeah
An exclamation of enthusiasm and readiness.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@psychostellar1432
Legend has it you still cant understand Davey to this day
@kc476
"WATCH PATRICK SWAYZE WALK AWAY!.... so let 'em go!"
(My 13 year old mind back then.)
@FlorFernandez1
Thanks 👌
@andrew3912
Obviously started swimming 🏊♂️
@andrew3912
Never read most afi lyric
@pubesmcfly1602
And in the distance there is gathering.
That no longer seems so far away!
Follow the path...
AFI- Death of seasons
( for Teresa )...
@Thechosenone9911
What do we have going on here
@adamolsey6683
how the fuck does this track only have 9 comments lol
@samvimes9510
"I can't help but fear, look to my species and tremble, to think that god is just"
Davey missed something important here. God doesn't have to judge us, we create our own hell. Then again, if god did want to punish us for shits and giggles.....
@TheseBitchesWantNikes
I might prefer STS and DU but damn their older stuff is so good too.