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.
17
AFI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
would you give me a moment?
Would you allow our play
to leave no bone unbroken?
Let’s love, like 17
I’m in love with poisoning
Only bring your pretty, frightful gifts to me
If I weren’t so cold
we could unfreeze this moment
And as the world grow old,
We’ll leave no heart unbroken
Let’s love, like 17
I’m in love with poisoning
Only bring your pretty, frightful gifts to me
Let’s love, and kill like 17 now
Tomorrow cannot be like this
And even though it’s such a simple world,
tomorrow cannot be like this
Tomorrow they will take a stand
We’ll leave no heart unbroken
Let’s love, like 17
I’m in love, with poisoning
Only bring your pretty, frightful gifts to me
Let’s love, and kill like 17 now
Let’s love, like 17
I’m in love with your new screams
Only bring those pretty, frightful things to me
Let’s love, and kill like 17 now
Let’s run, and kill like 17 now
Let’s love, and kill like 17
Crimes by AFI is a song that presents a highly romanticized view of an intense, violent relationship. The character portrayed in the song is obsessed with his partner and wants to experience a love that is all-consuming and destructive. The song itself is highly energetic, with driving guitar riffs and pounding drums that match the intensity of the lyrics.
The first verse of the song sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The character is asking his partner if they would be willing to indulge in a passionate relationship that would leave them physically and emotionally spent. The second verse is where the character reveals that his cold exterior is preventing him from fully embracing the relationship, but he implores his partner to help thaw his heart. The chorus repeats the request for a love that is as intense as two 17-year-olds, with the added twist that the love must include violence and destruction.
The bridge of the song serves as a warning that tomorrow will be different, which suggests that the character is aware that his behavior is not sustainable. However, it is unclear if he intends to change his ways or if he is resigned to the fact that the relationship will eventually end. The final chorus repeats the request for a love that is both pretty and frightful, which juxtaposes the violent imagery with a certain beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
If you had a day
If you had one day to spare
would you give me a moment?
would you spend some time with me?
Would you allow our play
Would you let us have some fun
to leave no bone unbroken?
to completely let loose and enjoy ourselves
Let’s love, like 17
Let's love with the intensity and recklessness of youth at 17
I’m in love with poisoning
I'm addicted to the dangerous thrill of it all
Only bring your pretty, frightful gifts to me
Only bring me beautiful, terrifying things
Let’s love, and kill like 17 now
Let's indulge in our love and destruction with the abandon of teenagers
If I weren’t so cold
If I wasn't so distant
we could unfreeze this moment
we could let ourselves be present and enjoy this moment
And as the world grow old,
As time passes us by,
We’ll leave no heart unbroken
We won't hold back from living fully and passionately
Tomorrow cannot be like this
We can't keep living this way
And even though it’s such a simple world,
Even though things seem straightforward and easy,
tomorrow cannot be like this
We can't keep doing the same things every day
Tomorrow they will take a stand
Tomorrow people will make a change
We’ll leave no heart unbroken
We won't hold back from living fully and passionately
I’m in love with your new screams
I'm excited by the passion and intensity you bring
Only bring those pretty, frightful things to me
Only bring me beautiful, terrifying things
Let’s run, and kill like 17 now
Let's run away and indulge in our love and destruction with the abandon of teenagers
Let’s love, and kill like 17
Let's indulge in our love and destruction with the abandon of teenagers
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Adam A Carson, David Paden Marchand, Hunter Lawrence Burgan, Jade Errol Puget
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RockandMetal645
Even on Art of Drowning (which is considered to be the last "Best album" to Punk AFI fans) had some stuff that sounded like it would have belonged on Sing The Sorrow.
From The Days of The Phoenix:
I fell into yesterday
Our dreams seemed not far away
I want to, I want to, I want to stay
I fell into fantasy
From Morningstar:
Am I the star beneath the stairs?
Am I a ghost upon the stage?
Am I your anything?
From Ever and a Day:
Lie in comfort of sweet calamity with nothing left to lose.
Lie in the darkness, I'm slowly drowned to sleep
Nothing left to lose.
@saoirseandreapatriciacrowl506
"17 Crimes"
If you had a day,
would you give me a moment?
Would you allow our play
to leave no bone unbroken?
Let’s love, like 17.
I’m in love with poisoning.
Only bring your pretty, frightful gifts to me.
Let’s love, and kill like 17 now.
If I weren’t so cold,
we could unfreeze this moment.
And as the world grow old,
We’ll leave no heart unbroken.
Let’s love, like 17.
I’m in love with poisoning.
Only bring your pretty, frightful gifts to me.
Let’s love, and kill like 17 now.
Tomorrow cannot be like this.
And even though it’s such a simple world,
tomorrow cannot be like this.
Tomorrow they will take a stand.
We’ll leave no heart unbroken.
Let’s love, like 17.
I’m in love, with poisoning.
Only bring your pretty, frightful gifts to me
Let’s love, and kill like 17 now.
Let’s love, like 17.
I’m in love with your new screams.
Only bring those pretty, frightful things to me.
Let’s love, and kill like 17 now.
Let’s run, and kill like 17 now.
Let’s love, and kill like 17.
@JojoTaker1999
[Verse 1]
If you had a day
Would you give me a moment?
Would you allow our play
To leave no bone unbroken?
[Chorus]
Let's love, like 17
I'm in love with poisoning
Only bring your pretty, frightful gifts to me
Let's love and kill like 17 now
[Verse 2]
If I weren't so cold
We could unfreeze this moment
And as the world grows old
We'll leave no heart unbroken
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Tomorrow cannot be like this
And even though it’s such a simple world
Tomorrow cannot be like this
Tomorrow they will take a stand
We’ll leave no heart unbroken
[Chorus]
[Chorus]
Let’s run, and kill like 17 now
Let’s love, and kill like 17
@I_am_Jordan_K
I legitimately think this is one of their best songs.
@joshuabalsavage4695
You're not wrong!
@matthewthomas1704
Days of the Phoenix pt2
@bharris591
Yep, to be paired with Silver and cold
@kenobibryant1637
I agree 👍
@robbdavis9889
My fiancee isn't a big AFI song but I heard her singing the chorus to this recently. Love it, great song!
@RockandMetal645
To all who said "I miss old AFI", they kind of ALWAYS had a different sound with each of their albums. The only albums that sounded the same were when they were punk. I actually like the variety they give. I don't understand why people hate them.
@endridcold2571
my first time hearing this song man, it's still fucking awesome, sounds like AFI!
@RockandMetal645
Even on Art of Drowning (which is considered to be the last "Best album" to Punk AFI fans) had some stuff that sounded like it would have belonged on Sing The Sorrow.
From The Days of The Phoenix:
I fell into yesterday
Our dreams seemed not far away
I want to, I want to, I want to stay
I fell into fantasy
From Morningstar:
Am I the star beneath the stairs?
Am I a ghost upon the stage?
Am I your anything?
From Ever and a Day:
Lie in comfort of sweet calamity with nothing left to lose.
Lie in the darkness, I'm slowly drowned to sleep
Nothing left to lose.
@alexeiramone
I miss the old AFI