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.
Days of the Phoenix
AFI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was told of story of crushed velvet, candle wax and dried up flowers
The figure on the bed
All dressed up in roses, calling, beckoning to sleep, offering a dream
Words were as mystical as purring animals
The circle of rage, the ghosts on the stage appeared
The time was so tangible, I'll never let it go
No one could see me
(Oh!)
I fell into yesterday
(Oh!)
Our dreams seemed not far away
I want to, I want to, I want to stay
(Oh!)
I fell into fantasy
Words were as mystical as purring animals
The circle of rage, the ghosts on the stage appeared
The time was so tangible, I'll never let it go
Ghost stories handed down reached secret tunnels below
No one could see me
(Oh!)
I fell into yesterday
(Oh!)
Our dreams seemed not far away
I want to, I want to, I want to stay
(Oh!)
I fell into fantasy
The girl on the wall always waited for me
And she was always smiling
The teenage death boys, the teenage death girls
And everyone was dancing
Nothing could touch us then, no one could change us then
Everyone was dancing
Nothing could hurt us then, no one could see us then
Everyone was dancing
No one could see me
(Oh!)
I fell into yesterday
(Oh!)
Our dreams seemed not far away
I want to, I want to, I want to stay
(Oh!)
I fell into fantasy
Our dreams seemed not far away
I fell into fantasy
The Days of the Phoenix by AFI is a song that highlights the transcendent power of music and art. The lyrics allude to a story told to the singer about crushed velvet, candle wax, and dried-up flowers. The figure on the bed is dressed in roses and beckons to the singer to come sleep and dream with them. The words of the story are as mystical as purring animals and the ghosts on the stage appear in a circle of rage.
The song seems to be about the power of art to transport the listener to another world, a world where dreams are possible, and reality is malleable. As the singer sings, "I fell into yesterday, our dreams seemed not far away, I want to stay," it is clear that they are longing to stay in this fantastical world where nothing can touch them, nothing can hurt them, and everyone is dancing.
The song speaks to the universal human desire for escape and transcendence, for something beyond the mundane, everyday reality. The music and lyrics work together to create an otherworldly atmosphere that pulls the listener in and encourages them to let go of the present and enter into a dreamlike state.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember when
The singer is reminiscing about a specific time in their life.
I was told of story of crushed velvet, candle wax and dried up flowers
They were told a story that included sensory details like crushed velvet, candle wax, and dried up flowers.
The figure on the bed
The story included a figure lying on a bed.
All dressed up in roses, calling, beckoning to sleep, offering a dream
The figure was dressed in roses and seemed to be inviting the artist to sleep and dream.
Words were as mystical as purring animals
The words in the story were mysterious and captivating, like the purring of an animal.
The circle of rage, the ghosts on the stage appeared
In the story, there was a circle of anger and ghosts appeared on a stage.
The time was so tangible, I'll never let it go
The experience was so vivid and real that the singer will always remember it.
Ghost stories handed down reached secret tunnels below
The story was passed down through generations and even had secret elements to it.
I fell into yesterday
The artist is transported back in time to relive the experience.
Our dreams seemed not far away
The artist and those around them believed their dreams were within reach.
I want to, I want to, I want to stay
The singer wishes to remain in this dreamlike state.
I fell into fantasy
The artist falls into a fantastical world.
The girl on the wall always waited for me
In this fantasy world, there's a girl on the wall who is always waiting for the singer.
And she was always smiling
The girl on the wall has a smile on her face.
The teenage death boys, the teenage death girls
There are groups of teenage boys and girls in this world who associate with death.
And everyone was dancing
Despite the association with death, the people in this world are happy and dancing.
Nothing could touch us then, no one could change us then
In this world, the people are invincible and no one can change them.
No one could hurt us then, no one could see us then
They are also invisible and impervious to harm.
Our dreams seemed not far away
Their dreams are still within reach, even in this fantastical world.
I fell into fantasy
The artist continues to experience this fantastical world.
Contributed by Leah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@robertxhacker
I remember when
I was told of story of crushed velvet
Candle wax, and dried up flowers
The figure on the bed
All dressed up in roses, calling
Beckoning to sleep, offering a dream
Words were as mystical as purring animals
The circle of rage, the ghosts on the stage appeared
The time was so tangible, I'll never let it go
Ghost stories handed down reached secret tunnels below
No one could see me
I fell into yesterday
Our dreams seemed not far away
I want to, I want to, I want to stay
I fell into fantasy
Words were as mystical as purring animals
The circle of rage, the ghosts on the stage appeared
The time was so tangible, I'll never let it go
Ghost stories handed down reached secret tunnels below
No one could see me
@lostborgdrone
TheĀ LordĀ is my shepherd,Ā I lack nothing!Ā He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides meĀ along the right paths for his nameās sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a tableĀ before meĀ in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cupĀ overflows. Surely your goodness and loveĀ will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of theĀ Lord! forever!
psalm 23
amen
@Jean_Pierre_Wehry
We were blessed to have AFI. Bands like this literally don't exist anymore. What a time to be alive..
@Pur3knight56
Are you still looking for a job? I heard John Pedderson may be hiring...
@kylehermann1976
they do, they just dont make it big. the music industry has changed since the 80s. there aren't 20 bands, there are 2000. most of them really talented and will never make it
@anti-ethniccleansing465
@Kyle Hermann
Youāre fucking delusional.
@HedeccaTamer
I guess Creeper, Ashestoangels, Fearless Vampire Killers and Miss Vincent are all just fever dreams then
@V2K2702
@Anti - Ethnic Cleansing They arenāt though. There are genuinely amazing bands out there that shall never get the spotlight they deserve because of how the industry works nowadays.
@tangofett4065
This song came out when I was 20, Iām 42 nowā¦. And itās STILL incredible!!!
@paolopallavicini715
Rock is timeless ā¤ļø
@WalbertAndreana
Same
@Brokeninc
I remember downloading the music video on Limewire so i could watch the music video. :)