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.
Keeping Out of Direct Sunlight
AFI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We are the ones who have a fire inside
We are the ones only we can recognize
We've been rejected, we've been rejected
Suffered the ignorance, suffered the selfishness
Been pushed so far down, now comes our time to surface
Turn from the light that made them all go blind
All arise to what we bring
Outstretched hands, unfolded wings
We've hurt ourselves, I feel the sting
Of broken hearts and burning wings
The lyrics to "Keeping Out Of Direct Sunlight" by AFI convey a message of perseverance and individuality. The opening lines, "We are the ones with the radiating eyes, we are the ones who have a fire inside," suggest that the singer and his/her peers possess a unique quality or passion that sets them apart from others. However, they have been rejected and suffered from the ignorance and selfishness of those around them. Despite this setback, the singer expresses a resolve to surface and prove themselves.
The next verse amplifies this resolve, with the singer proclaiming that they will turn away from the "light that made them all go blind," suggesting that they will eschew conformity and instead pursue their own path. The chorus continues this theme of unity and triumph as the group rises up and spreads their message ("All arise to what we bring") with outstretched hands and unfolded wings, symbolizing their readiness to embrace their true selves no matter what obstacles lie ahead.
The final lines ("We've hurt ourselves, I feel the sting, of broken hearts and burning wings") add a note of somberness to the song, acknowledging the pain and sacrifice that come with embracing one's individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
We are the ones with the radiating eyes
We are the unique individuals who possess an alluring aura which sets us apart.
We are the ones who have a fire inside
We are passionate and driven individuals who carry an intense flame of determination within us.
We are the ones only we can recognize
We are self-aware and acknowledge the depth of our own individuality which can only be grasped by us.
We've been rejected, we've been rejected
We have suffered multiple setbacks and rejections.
Suffered the ignorance, suffered the selfishness
We have undergone the pain of being discriminated and subjected to the self-centeredness of others.
Been pushed so far down, now comes our time to surface
We have been suppressed and overshadowed, but now it is our moment to step forward and shine.
Turn from the light that made them all go blind
We are moving away from the superficial glitz that caused others to lose their vision and sight of reality.
We've been protected, we've been protected
Though we have faced challenges, we have also been safeguarded from the negative influences and dangers of the world.
All arise to what we bring
Our unique offerings denote attention and raise up towards us.
Outstretched hands, unfolded wings
We are open-hearted and open-minded in our ways and exude a powerful persona.
We've hurt ourselves, I feel the sting
We have subjected ourselves to a lot of pain and hurt and are still feeling the effects of it.
Of broken hearts and burning wings
Our unhealed hearts and untamed spirits depict our struggles and our drive to overcome them.
Contributed by Riley O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.