The Days of the Phoenix
AFI Lyrics

I remember when I was told of story of crushed velvet, candle wax, and dried up flowers
The singer recalls a story they were once told that involved crushed velvet, candle wax, and dried-up flowers.

The figure on the bed all dressed up in roses, calling; Beckoning to sleep, Offering a dream
The figure on the bed, dressed in roses, called out to the singer and offered them a dream.

Words were as mystical as purring animals; The circle of rage; The ghosts on the stage appeared; The time was so tangible, I'll never let it go; Ghost stories handed down, reached secret tunnels below; No one could see me
The words spoken were as mystical as purring animals, and created a sense of anger and intrigue. The ghosts on the stage appeared to the singer and the time they were experiencing felt very real to them. The ghost stories they heard were passed down and led to secret tunnels that nobody else knew about. Despite their presence, the singer felt invisible.

I fell into yesterday; Our dreams seemed not far away; I want to, I want to, I want to stay; I fell into fantasy
The artist fell back into the past, where their dreams seemed within reach. They wanted to stay in this place of fantasy.

The girl on the wall always waited for me, And she was always smiling; The teenage death boys; The teenage death girls; And everyone was dancing; Nothing could touch us then; No one could change us then; Everyone was dancing; Nothing could hurt us then; No one could see us then; Everyone was dancing; Everyone was dancing
The artist remembers a girl on the wall who always waited for them and smiled. They also recall a group of teenage death boys and girls, and everyone was dancing together. In this moment, nobody could touch them or change them, and nobody could see them, but everyone was dancing.

Our dreams seemed not far away; Our dreams seemed not far away; Our dreams seemed not far away; I fell into fantasy
Their dreams were still within reach, even though they were in a state of fantasy.