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.
Midnight Sun
AFI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What I saw at the edge of the sea
Only those elements time cannot wear
And they follow
What seeped out through the cracks of time?
What sucks out the color in me?
What awaits beyond infinity?
Beyond and to all time I stand
Beyond and to all time I stand
What blew in with the great gale?
What weighed down the falling leaves?
What came forth from the remains?
What has always lived and gone unseen?
What has caused the night to fall?
Who speaks of eternity?
Who awakes to night eternally?
Beyond and to all time I stand
Beyond and to all time I stand
Beyond and to all time I stand
Beyond and to all time I stand, I stand, I stand
To all time I stand
O my soul love, I pray thee pity me
From out this dark gulf where this poor heart lies
A barren world hemmed in by leaden skies
Where horror flies at night, and blasphemy
For half the year the sickly sun is seen
The other half thick night lies on the land
A country bleaker than the polar strand
No beasts, no brooks, nor any shred of green
There never was a horror which surpassed
This icy sun's cold cruelty
Beyond and to all time I stand
Beyond and to all time I stand
Beyond and to all time I stand
Beyond and to all time I stand
O my soul love, I pray thee pity me
From out this dark gulf where my poor heart lies,
A barren world hemmed in by leaden skies
The lyrics to AFI's song "Midnight Sun" are cryptic and mysterious, leaving much room for interpretation. However, the overarching theme seems to be the eternal nature of time and the unbreakable hold it has on all things. The verses ask a series of questions about what has endured through time and what has been lost to it. References to the sea, fallen leaves, and the great gale allude to the volatile and ever-changing nature of the world, while the repeated phrase "Beyond and to all time I stand" suggests a sense of permanence or immortality.
In the final verse, the lyrics shift to a poem by Clark Ashton Smith. The poem describes a desolate and bleak world, where the sun never shines and horror and blasphemy reign. The singer of the poem pleads for his soul to be pitied, trapped as it is in this dark and lifeless place. This final verse adds a layer of darkness and despair to the song, underscoring the idea that time is not always kind and that the eternal nature of existence can be a curse as well as a blessing.
Overall, "Midnight Sun" is a lyrically rich and thought-provoking song that invites the listener to contemplate the weight of time and the mysteries of the universe.
Line by Line Meaning
What went down on the side of the road?
What happened on the side of the road that left a lasting impact?
What I saw at the edge of the sea
What was witnessed at the sea's edge that remains unforgettable?
Only those elements time cannot wear
The things that are immune to the passing of time.
And they follow
Memories that continue to cling and follow.
What seeped out through the cracks of time?
What memories or emotions have leaked through time's cracks?
What sucks out the color in me?
What drains the vibrancy and life out of me?
What awaits beyond infinity?
What lies beyond infinity's limit?
Beyond and to all time I stand
Standing unyielding, beyond time's constraints.
What blew in with the great gale?
What impact has been left by the violent rush of change?
What weighed down the falling leaves?
What heaviness accompanies the falling of leaves, representing loss and change?
What came forth from the remains?
What emerged from what was left behind or destroyed?
What has always lived and gone unseen?
What has existed in secret or unnoticed, yet ever-present?
What has caused the night to fall?
What has brought upon darkness and fear?
Who speaks of eternity?
Who discusses or connects with the concept of eternal life or existence?
Who awakes to night eternally?
Who is forever trapped in the nightmare of constant darkness and fear?
Beyond and to all time I stand, I stand, I stand
Unwavering in the face of all threats and obstacles across time.
To all time I stand
Standing steadfast and determined through all time.
O my soul love, I pray thee pity me
An appeal for empathy and compassion in the face of personal struggles.
From out this dark gulf where this poor heart lies
Expressing the depths of despair and hopelessness.
A barren world hemmed in by leaden skies
A lifeless existence trapped beneath oppressive skies.
Where horror flies at night, and blasphemy
A place of terror and blasphemous darkness.
For half the year the sickly sun is seen
An existence plagued by half-hearted hope and life.
The other half thick night lies on the land
The other half consumed by overwhelming darkness and despair.
A country bleaker than the polar strand
A land devoid of any life, hope, or vibrancy.
No beasts, no brooks, nor any shred of green
A lifeless, barren existence bereft of any signs of growth or vitality.
There never was a horror which surpassed
Nothing can compare to the terror and hopelessness of this existence.
This icy sun's cold cruelty
The unforgiving, uncaring nature of existence's harsh realities.
Contributed by Emma S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MattHatter
the poem they whisper is called "De Profundis Calamvi" or (in english) "From The Depths I Cried". it's by Charles Baudelaire as previously mentioned, from a collection called Fleurs Du Mal or The Flowers of Evil, and i do STRONGLY recommend checking out more of his work; it's amazing.
kimmi ann
CthulhuDarkLord - thank you so much!! I've been wondering what the whispering was for like 18 years. Who knew when I was 12 years old I'd find it on a youtube comment? Lol. Good lookin out!
Daniel Cardillo
the guitar in the passage where he whispers the poem is so freaking awesome. one of my favorites from afi of all albums
a person on the internet
I've seen a video of a live performance on here where Davey is singing Death of Seasons and his screams are dying out by the end, it was clearly seriously painful, but he kept going and forced it out, I just really admire his dedication (and if you watch later performances after he healed up he's back to being able to scream.)
amanda mcconnell
This is my all time favorite AFI song. Thank you for this video!
Jeff Race
I noticed way back in the day if you look on the inside fold of the CD you'll see "beyond and to all time, I stand" printed there so sneakily.
Tsvetan Iliev
This song always brings in October's chill during these bleak, hot, summer days..... Also it made me think of Diablo :P Cant wait till Diablo 3 !!!
AFI4eternity1
I'm just dying to see them live.
kimmi ann
Definitely their best hidden track.
anna
so so so beautiful. thanks for posting. <3