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.
Anxious
AFI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Begin to ring in the new sound anxiously
Oh, I am anxious and aching, breathing the burning air
Caring for something that is not there
Knowing what's fated, begin my fatal flight
Flying obscenely into the light
But the light will evade me to bring down punishment
Swing the serenade (I heard it swing)
Swing love down and find the saddest song
I heard you swing the promises (You'll watch me swing now)
Swing love now and choke what we've become
Black without blindness, my eyes begin to sting
As my lips part to poison, sweet poisoning
Oh god, I feel like I'm dying. I've found death finally
And it feels like heaven, I'll never reach
Swing the serenade (I heard it swing)
Swing love down and find the saddest song
I heard you swing the promises (You'll watch me swing now)
Swing love now and choke what we've become
Swinging now, will you watch me?
Swinging now, will you watch me?
Turn it down. Drown it slowly
Is it off? I'm still listening
Swinging now, will you watch me?
Swinging now, will you watch me?
Turn it down. Drown it slowly
Is it off? I'm still listening
Swing the serenade (I heard it swing)
Swing love down and find the saddest song
I heard you swing the promises (You'll watch me swing now)
Swing love now and choke what we've become
The lyrics of AFI’s song Anxious capture the feeling of someone who is struggling with their emotions and mental state. The song starts with the singer feeling anxious and restless, trying to escape from their own thoughts, but to no avail. The new sound causes their ears to ring, propelling them towards an unknown fate. They feel like they are caring for something that is not there, perhaps pointing towards a feeling of emptiness or lack of fulfillment.
As the song progresses, the singer realizes that they are hurtling towards their fate, but they are powerless to stop it. They feel like they are flying into the light, but the light evades them, bringing down punishment. The punishment, however, is what lets them live. This could be interpreted as the singer feeling like the only thing that is keeping them going is their own pain and suffering.
The song ends with the singer begging for the noise to stop, but it continues to haunt them, driving them to the brink of insanity. Overall, the lyrics of Anxious convey a sense of desperation and hopelessness, and demonstrate the power of music to evoke strong emotions and connect with people on a deep level.
Line by Line Meaning
Tear into silence, my ears begin to ring
I suddenly entered into absolute silence, and my ears produced a persistent ringing sound.
Begin to ring in the new sound anxiously
The ringing in my ears continues and is now accompanied by an anxious new sound.
Oh, I am anxious and aching, breathing the burning air
I am in a state of extreme anxiety and physical pain, struggling to breathe in the scorching air around me.
Caring for something that is not there
I am emotionally invested in something or someone that does not actually exist in reality.
Knowing what's fated, begin my fatal flight
Aware of my predetermined fate, I commence a journey of no return.
Flying obscenely into the light
I am sinfully soaring towards the light despite my fate, rebelliously seeking something higher.
But the light will evade me to bring down punishment
Despite my efforts, I will not be able to reach the light, and as a result will be punished.
Punishing soundly it lets me live
Although I am punished severely, the experience keeps me alive.
Swing the serenade (I heard it swing)
Play the music that evokes emotion and deep thoughts. I have heard it before.
Swing love down and find the saddest song
Let the love and emotions flow, and choose the saddest song that best represents my feelings.
I heard you swing the promises (You'll watch me swing now)
I remember your promises, and now it is your turn to face the emotional turmoil.
Swing love now and choke what we've become
Express the feelings of love and suffocate what our relationship has turned into.
Black without blindness, my eyes begin to sting
Although my vision is intact, I feel the pain of having my eyes exposed to darkness.
As my lips part to poison, sweet poisoning
As I speak or sing, I am poisoning those around me, albeit sweetly.
Oh god, I feel like I'm dying. I've found death finally
I have found a state of complete emptiness and detachment, and it feels like dying, but ultimately brings peace.
And it feels like heaven, I'll never reach
Although it feels heavenly, I know that I will never attain or experience it.
Swinging now, will you watch me?
I am expressing my emotions through swings, and I am asking if you will observe me.
Turn it down. Drown it slowly
Lower the music gradually and let it fade out.
Is it off? I'm still listening
Even when the music stops, I still hear it resonating within me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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