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.
Don't Change
AFI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sky above won't fall down
See no evil in all direction
Resolution of happiness
Things have been dark
For too long
Don't change for you
I found a love I had lost
It had been gone for too long
Hear no evil, hear no evil
In all directions
Execution of bitterness
Message received loud and clear
Don't change for you
Don't change a thing for me
Don't change
Don't change, for me
The song "Don't Change" by AFI was originally recorded by INXS as a tribute to their friend Michael Hutchence, the late lead singer of their band. AFI's version, released in 2003, explores themes of finding happiness and love after a period of darkness and bitterness.
In the first verse, the singer acknowledges that they have been through a difficult time ("things have been dark for too long"), but they are now standing firm on solid ground, and the sky above them won't come crashing down. They see no evil in any direction, suggesting a newfound sense of clarity and optimism. The resolution of happiness is achieved when the singer finds something (or someone) that they had lost for a long time.
The second verse emphasizes that the bitterness and darkness have been eradicated, as the singer hears no evil in any direction. The execution of bitterness suggests a finality to that chapter of their life, and the message is received "loud and clear" - perhaps indicating that they have finally processed the pain and found a way to move forward.
Overall, the lyrics suggest that the singer is content and doesn't want anything to change. They've found happiness and love after a period of difficulty and don't want anything to disrupt that newfound sense of peace.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm standing here on the ground
I am in the present moment, grounded and stable.
The sky above won't fall down
The world is not ending, things are not as bad as they may seem.
See no evil in all direction
I am surrounded by positivity and good intentions.
Resolution of happiness
I have made a conscious decision to pursue happiness and positivity.
Things have been dark
I have experienced difficult times and sadness recently.
Don't change for you
You should not change who you are for someone else's benefit.
Don't change a thing for me
I accept you exactly as you are, and do not expect you to change to please me.
I found a love I had lost
I rediscovered a love or passion that I had lost sight of.
It had been gone for too long
I had neglected this love or passion for an extended period of time.
Hear no evil, hear no evil
I am no longer allowing negative influences or thoughts to affect me.
In all directions
I am actively seeking positivity and good influences in every aspect of my life.
Execution of bitterness
I am letting go of any bitterness or resentment I may have held onto.
Message received loud and clear
I have understood and processed the lesson that was presented to me.
Don't change
Stay true to yourself and your values.
Don't change, for me
I value you exactly as you are, and have no desire or expectation for you to change for me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Andrew Charles Farriss, Garry William Beers, Jon Farriss, Kirk Pengilly, Michael Hutchence, Timothy William Farriss
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mone
Been a fan of the AFI since around 1996. I remember going to a show of theres at The Galaxy Club in Dallas around 1999 and loosing my glasses. I was in the front row recording the show with my 8mm camcorder and my glasses fell off and thought they were crushed so I never looked for them(alot of people cramming and there was a pit too). About two songs later a guy started yelling "I lost my shoe"and Davey said"I don't have a shoe up here but I have a pair of glasses." I got them back unharmed!!
C A
Davey is god like!
ꌃꋪꌩꍏꈤ ꁅꀎꍟꌗꌗ
Wow I love this story. Time passes by a little to fast 😔
frankie0iero
Such a great cover.I like INXS version also,but this is Davey... in all his greatness.
lastofleaves
One of my favorite bands covering one of my favorite bands. Gotta love it.
Tristan Fernstrom
This is an amazing cover of INXS. I love the kind of techno feel to it. You can really tell that this is when Davey and Jade started to get into their Blaqk Audio phase.
Catie
I have SO much respect for AFI. I've been listening to them since I was 13 years old (I am now 19.) They are a fantastic artist. They have evolved with time, as all people do. They started out in their punk stage and have become more alternative. It's like when teenagers party hard. Trashing houses and being crazy. Give them a few years and they'll still be partying with enthusiasm, but not as out of control. AFI is truly amazing.
Infernal Rush
Can't say I like this near as much as the original. . . but then, I'm old. Anyway, kudos to AFI for reinventing the song with their own artistic spin. That's what any good cover should do-- take an old song and make it new again.
Cameron Shoppee
i like this version for some reason its good for when your in that type of mood. Calm and collective.
Jenifer Mattock
Love this version! I love their covers...kind of cool to see who their influences and idols are. AFI/Blaqk Audio/Davey Havok can do no wrong in my eyes. People who call them a sell-out when they do something different than their early hardcore punk are stupid. Don't you think that they have a right to make money off their music? I think it's brilliant to do something different every once in a while. It is a great way to be heard by people who might not have heard or liked them before. Then they can join the despair faction like the rest of us, and revel in Davey's dark splendor forever.