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.
08 Lower It
AFI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So you walk right in and destroy the fucking place
You've lost your right to be part of my family
The family that welcomed you, you joined and left in disgrace
Your flag's was flamin, flaming
Your flag was flaming before it ever started flying
Your flag was burning
Sense of commitment, a sense of pride
I heard you say that we shared a destiny
Now it is plain to see you've got no sense at all
The name that once honored, you disgraced and made a mockery
Your flag's was flamin, was flaming
Your flag was flaming before it ever started flying
Your flag was burning
Was burning down [Incomprehensible] in true salute
I could always see
I could always see the smoke from miles away
I could always see the weakness in your eyes
Far away I feel the lies while the sky is burning
Your flag's was flaming, flaming
Your flag was flaming before it ever started flying
Your flag was burning
Was burning down [Incomprehensible] in true salute
You will always be unwanted, unwanted
You will always be unwanted, unwanted, unwanted
The lyrics to AFI's song Lower It convey a sense of betrayal and disappointment towards someone who was once considered part of the family. The song begins by describing an invitation that was open to anyone, but the subject of the song took this invitation as an opportunity to destroy everything in their path. They are then told that they have lost the right to be part of the family and that the name they once honored has now been disgraced. The chorus of the song talks about the subject's flag being flamin' before it ever started flying, implying that their actions were destructive from the very beginning.
The second verse highlights the subject's sense of commitment and pride towards the group, and how they once believed in a shared destiny. However, from what is now evident, the subject has no sense at all and has instead become synonymous with weakness and deceit. The lyricist sings about being able to see the smoke from miles away, which suggests that the damage caused by this individual's actions was widely visible. The final chorus reiterates their lack of worthiness, and how they will always be unwanted.
Overall, Lower It is a song about someone who was once welcomed into a group, but through their destructive behavior, has become an outsider once again. The song is expressive and emotionally charged, highlighting the pain caused by someone's betrayal.
Line by Line Meaning
An invitation, excluding no one
Everyone is welcome to be a part of our family and community.
So you walk right in and destroy the fucking place
You came in and caused chaos and destruction.
You've lost your right to be part of my family
You have betrayed and disgraced the family that once welcomed you.
The family that welcomed you, you joined and left in disgrace
You joined our family but left us in shame and disgrace.
Your flag's was flamin, flaming
Your symbol of pride and loyalty was already burning and dying out.
Your flag was flaming before it ever started flying
Your loyalty and pride were questionable from the start.
Your flag was burning
Your symbol of loyalty was burning and dwindling.
Was burning down [Incomprehensible] in true salute
Your true intentions were revealed as your symbol of loyalty burned down.
Sense of commitment, a sense of pride
You claimed to have a strong dedication and loyalty to our family.
I heard you say that we shared a destiny
You once claimed that our paths were meant to cross and we had a shared destiny.
Now it is plain to see you've got no sense at all
It is now obvious that you have no loyalty or sense of responsibility.
The name that once honored, you disgraced and made a mockery
You brought shame and disrespect to the family name that was once an honor to bear.
I could always see
I always knew and could see the truth about you.
I could always see the smoke from miles away
I could always see the signs and warnings of your betrayal and disloyalty.
I could always see the weakness in your eyes
Your lack of loyalty and weakness were always apparent in your eyes.
Far away I feel the lies while the sky is burning
Even from afar, I could sense the deceit and betrayal while things were falling apart.
You will always be unwanted, unwanted
You will never be welcomed or accepted back into the family.
You will always be unwanted, unwanted, unwanted
Your betrayal and disgrace will never be forgotten or forgiven.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: ADAM A CARSON, DAVID PADEN MARCHAND, HUNTER LAWRENCE BURGAN, JADE ERROL PUGET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mightybosstones2258
CLASSIC AFI IS THE BEST THIS IS WHEN THEY HAD PUNK ROCK DOWN
@KingerlySHolt
Still a fan of theirs <3
@KeyXLimeXPieXPunko
I enjoy old punk afi and new afi. they didnt sellout. They wanted to try new things.
@sidescrollin
fuckin LOVE the bass in this song
@schaazy
Fuckin awsome! better then todays afi, thats for sure.
@Javv6669
Dat bass
@CommunalRhythm
i miss when the bass was an integral part of their music. and fun.
@irulepandorasbox
Called sellin out to the man. Cant blame them too much for wanting to make a fuckload of money. At least he's got his side project, and is doing kinda what he wants and not what the reord company wants
@dad5004
I liked afi alot up to like halfway through the crash love album then it just got kinda lame
@A2Z83
new afi is okay. crash love is not okay. i dont know what they were being all hardcore vegan political and listened to too much U2.