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.
Soap Box Derby
AFI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your quest for attention through your
Self-abuse.
The only response that you get
For your pleas is sorely less
Than sympathy.
What reason is there to be alive?
How can you survive?
All your friends are apathetic at best,
And your entire life is a total mess.
Give it a fucking rest.
You can't, you can't feel me, I'm scared so deep.
No one could ever need me.
Could you please leave me alone?
I'm sorry to hear that your world's sinking fast
And you've lost your stable ground
And I'm sorry to add to your disappointment,
But I won't be brought down.
I'm not angry, I'm just amused at all the dramatics
You love to use, but one thing I know is that
You're not happy unless you're unhappy.
You're not content until you're brought down,
And you're always so alone because you
Can't be found.
Your soul is black and you're filled with hate.
How much more could you possibly take?
Give me a fucking break.
The lyrics to AFI's "Soap-Box Derby" explore the themes of self-destructive behavior, isolation, and the need for attention and validation. The song's narrator, while not angry, is amused by the dramatics of someone who is seeking attention through self-abuse. Despite their pleas for sympathy, they receive no response, suggesting a lack of empathy or understanding from others. The singer questions the reason for being alive when the world seems to be against you and nothing seems to go right. The person being addressed seems to be in a state of constant unhappiness and misery, as they are "not happy unless [they're] unhappy" and "not content until [they're] brought down." The song ends with a plea for the person to give it a rest and a statement that their soul is black and filled with hate.
Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of someone who is struggling with their own demons and using harmful behaviors to cope. The singer seems to have some level of understanding for why the person is behaving this way, but also recognizes the negative impact it's having on their life and those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not angry, I'm just amused at
Indicates that the singer is not angry but finds it amusing.
Your quest for attention through your
Criticizes the person for trying to seek attention through self-abuse.
Self-abuse.
Refers to self-harming behaviors of the person.
The only response that you get
Suggests that the person is not getting any positive response from others.
For your pleas is sorely less
Conveys that the response to the person is lacking in empathy.
Than sympathy.
Compares the response to the person's situation with what is expected.
What reason is there to be alive?
Questions the purpose of living.
When the word is against you
States that the person is facing a lot of obstacles in life.
How can you survive?
Asks how the person can keep going in life.
All your friends are apathetic at best,
Suggests that the person's friends are not very caring.
And your entire life is a total mess.
Highlights the chaotic state of the person's life.
Give it a fucking rest.
Tells the person to stop complaining.
You can't, you can't feel me, I'm scared so deep.
Indicates that the singer is struggling to connect with the person.
No one could ever need me.
Expresses feelings of worthlessness and isolation.
Could you please leave me alone?
Asks the person to stop bothering the singer.
I'm sorry to hear that your world's sinking fast
Sympathizes with the person's difficulties.
And you've lost your stable ground
Refers to the person's situation of instability.
And I'm sorry to add to your disappointment,
Apologizes for not being able to help the person.
But I won't be brought down.
Expresses the singer's resilience in the face of adversity.
I'm not angry, I'm just amused at all the dramatics
Reiterates that the artist is not angry but amused by the person's behavior.
You love to use, but one thing I know is that
Accuses the person of enjoying being dramatic.
You're not happy unless you're unhappy.
Suggests that the person may be addicted to negativity.
You're not content until you're brought down,
Further emphasizes the person's tendency to seek negativity.
And you're always so alone because you
Indicates that the person is always isolated due to their behavior.
Can't be found.
Implicates that others may not want to be around the person due to their behavior.
Your soul is black and you're filled with hate.
Describes the person's negativity on a deeper level.
How much more could you possibly take?
Questions how much more the person can endure.
Give me a fucking break.
Expresses frustration with the person's behavior.
Contributed by Gavin W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.