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.
He Who Laughs Last
AFI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Its' a valuable commodity
But obviously this is something you've never learned
Faith is something that you put in friends
And had I excess morals to lend
I'd let you borrow them
But my trust you haven't earned
First of all there is no "We"
I'm detached from you completely
I've got a problem
You tell lies to my friends
And think it won't get back to me
No bond can ever seem to make a stable
Fit in our relationship
But one thing that never comes between us is honesty
When you've got something to say
You always seem to find a way
To avoid the truth or instead
Avoid me
We've got a problem?
First of all there is no "We"
I'm detached from you completely
I've got a problem
You tell lies to my friends
And think it won't get back to me
Straight up is always how you'll see me stand
But it is never in your plans to be straight forward
So instead, you use deceit
Now I would like to take apart
What you've been breaking from the start
I'll remain intact
I won't be broken in defeat
We've got a problem?
First of all there is no "We"
I'm detached from you completely
I've got a problem
You tell lies to my friends
And think it won't get back to me
No trust
can be given freely, according to the lyrics of AFI's song "He Who Laughs Last". Trust is a precious commodity, and the singer has learned that the hard way. It seems that the subject of the song, presumably someone close to the singer, has betrayed their trust. The lyrics express disappointment and a sense of detachment that has since been established between them. The singer claims that if they had more morals to lend, they would give them to the subject, but their trust hasn't been earned yet.
The chorus repeats that "we" have a problem, but the singer denies any kind of connection to the subject. A "we" implies some kind of bond or relationship, which seems to be non-existent in this case. Instead, there is only avoidance, lies, and deceit. The subject is accused of being dishonest with both the singer and their friends, thinking that the truth won't get back to them. The singer takes pride in their honesty but recognizes that this trait is not reciprocated.
The song ends on a note of determination from the singer. They refuse to let this betrayal break them down and claim that they won't be defeated. The lyrics of "He Who Laughs Last" are a powerful expression of the hurt and disappointment caused by broken trust, but also the strength that can come from standing up for oneself and refusing to be defeated.
Line by Line Meaning
No trust can be given freely
Trust is a valuable commodity that cannot be freely given without earned credibility.
But obviously this is something you've never learned
You lack the ability to earn trust from others.
Faith is something that you put in friends
Belief in the reliability of friends is an important aspect of faith.
And had I excess morals to lend
If I could give away morals, I would have shared mine.
I'd let you borrow them
I would have loaned you my morals.
But my trust you haven't earned
Because you have not earned my trust, I cannot lend my morals to you.
We've got a problem?
There is a problem between us?
First of all there is no "We"
We are not a unified group, as I am completely detached from you.
I'm detached from you completely
I am fully removed from any connection or relationship with you.
You tell lies to my friends
You are dishonest with my friends.
And think it won't get back to me
You believe that your lies won't be uncovered by me.
No bond can ever seem to make a stable
Any bond we may have had has never been a stable one.
Fit in our relationship
Our relationship cannot find harmony.
But one thing that never comes between us is honesty
Regardless of our unstable relationship, honesty has never been a conflict between us.
When you've got something to say
When you need to express something,
You always seem to find a way
You consistently find a way
To avoid the truth or instead
To evade the truth or
Avoid me
To avoid me directly.
Straight up is always how you'll see me stand
I always stand up honestly.
But it is never in your plans to be straight forward
On the other hand, you always plan on being deceitful.
So instead, you use deceit
Instead, you choose to be dishonest in your dealings.
Now I would like to take apart
I want to dissect
What you've been breaking from the start
All of the things you've been destroying since the beginning.
I'll remain intact
Despite your actions, I will not be broken.
I won't be broken in defeat
I will not succumb to defeat, but instead am resilient.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
chris collett
Oh god i miss this AFI soo much. this was my first introduction to them growing up watching moto XXX videos then the 2000's happened :(
Neuromancer
If you miss it so much, go listen to their albums.
Problem solved.
Brandon Valliere
This is still one of my all time favourite music videos of all time. Maybe I biased opinion because I fucking love that movie
MiBzAn
Aghhhhhh old AFI!!! YESSSSSSS!!! This is the band I loooooooved!!! AFI!! F*** YEAH!!! ❤ thank yoooou for posting these!!! ❤
Trey P
As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be in a hardcore band.
Pure peppered Chicken relish
I miss this afi
Andrew Meilinger
We all do
Club Foot
before youtube existed i used to watch this music video over and over on their myspace page
Fredd
Never saw this one, amazing!
HandsOfOsiris
Man I miss early 90 punk