AFI (A Fire Inside) is an American punk rock band from Ukiah, California, f… Read Full Bio ↴AFI (A Fire Inside) is an American punk rock band from Ukiah, California, formed in 1991. The band's lineup stabilized in 1998 with lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backing vocalist Adam Carson, bassist, backing vocalist and keyboardist Hunter Burgan, and guitarist, backing vocalist and keyboardist Jade Puget. Havok and Carson are the sole remaining original members. Originally a hardcore punk band, they have since delved into many genres.

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.

Love Is A Many Splendore
AFI Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ah!
You think you've got the looks
You think you've got the fashion
You thought you'd have me wanting more
But don't like my reaction
You think you're really something
You're nothing to me now
You thought you'd keep me coming

Without ever thinking how
I hate you
I hate you
I hate you
I hate you
You think you're really special
You think I think you're best
You think you're really something?
You're no better than the rest
You've got everything you wanted
Don't let yourself be fooled
You thought that you could play the game
But I just changed the rules
I hate you
I hate you
I hate you
I hate you
I hate you
You!
Why do I hate you
You think you've got the looks
You think you've got the fashion
You thought you'd have me wanting more
But don't like my reaction
You think you're really something
You're nothing to me now
You thought you'd keep me coming
Without ever thinking how
I hate you
I hate you
I hate you
I hate you
I hate you
I hate you

I hate you
I hate you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to AFI's song Love Is A Many Splendored describe a relationship that has gone sour. The singer seems to be addressing someone who they once had feelings for, but who has since become nothing to them. The person being addressed seems to have been someone who was very concerned with their appearance and how they presented themselves to the world, but who did not consider the singer's feelings. The singer expresses resentment towards this person, repeatedly telling them "I hate you," and suggesting that they were trying to manipulate the singer without considering the consequences.

The title of the song, "Love Is A Many Splendored," is ironic given the tone of the lyrics. The phrase comes from a popular 1955 film and subsequent television show of the same name, which depicted the many facets of love. In contrast, AFI's lyrics describe a love that is anything but splendorous. Rather than depicting love as a source of happiness and fulfillment, the lyrics describe a painful, perhaps even abusive, relationship.

Overall, the lyrics to AFI's Love Is A Many Splendored express a deep sense of frustration and anger towards someone who has caused the singer pain. They depict a relationship in which one person is selfish and uncaring, willing to manipulate the other person for their own gain. The singer, however, is no longer willing to play along with this game, and has decided to speak out against the other person's behavior.

Line by Line Meaning

Ah!
Exclamation of frustration or exasperation

You think you've got the looks
You believe you are physically attractive

You think you've got the fashion
You believe you have good taste in clothing

You thought you'd have me wanting more
You expected me to be interested in you

But don't like my reaction
I am not responding positively to you

You think you're really something
You have a high opinion of yourself

You're nothing to me now
I do not care about you anymore

You thought you'd keep me coming
You believed I would continue to be interested in you

Without ever thinking how
You did not consider my feelings or thoughts

I hate you
I have strong negative feelings towards you

You think I think you're best
You believe I consider you the greatest