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.
The Killing Light
AFI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Five a.M. On the bathroom floor
From the night before
Do you find me dreadful?
What a shame, such a sad disgrace
Such a pretty face
But she's not regretful
Am I beautiful?
Am I usable?
It's killing time again
Put on your face and let's pretend
These killing lights won't kill us all again
Three a.M. On the city street
When the air is sweet
I've had my mouthful
But it seems that I'm tired of screams
Such a pretty face
Up in will look dreadful, oh
Am I beautiful?
Am I usable?
It's killing time again
Put on your face and let's pretend
These killing lights won't kill us all again
It's killing time again
Cover your face and we'll pretend
These killing lights can't kill us all again
You seem to always remember
We never forget a face
When we cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, cut you up
Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut they remember
Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, cut you up
Cut you up
It's killing time again
Put on your face and let's pretend
These killing lights won't kill us all again
It's killing time again
Cover your face and we'll pretend
These killing lights can't kill us all again
All again
All again
It's time again
It's killing time
The lyrics of AFI's "The Killing Light" depict a haunting and dark portrait of a person struggling with their own self-worth and the relentless pressure of society to maintain a perfect image. The opening lines paint a vivid picture of a person lying on the bathroom floor after a night of partying, questioning if they are a disgrace and if they are still beautiful or usable. The desperation in these lines is evident as the character is looking for a glimmer of hope and reassurance that they still have a place in this world.
The chorus, "It's killing time again, put on your face and let's pretend, these killing lights won't kill us all again," reflects the incessant pressure to maintain a facade and perform for others even when one is feeling vulnerable and exposed. The idea of these "killing lights" is both literal and metaphorical, representing the harsh scrutiny of society and the destructive nature of substance abuse.
The song continues to explore themes of addiction, self-destruction, and the emotional toll that societal pressures can take on an individual, culminating in the final lines, "It's killing time again, cover your face and we'll pretend, these killing lights can't kill us all again, all again, all again. It's time again, it's killing time." These final lines are a reflection of the cyclical nature of addiction and the never-ending cycle of trying to numb the pain and escape from the pressures of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Five a.m. on the bathroom floor from the night before
This line describes a person who has spent the night before doing something possibly regretful and is now alone and vulnerable on the bathroom floor at five in the morning.
Do you find me dreadful?
The person on the bathroom floor is questioning whether others find them dreadful for their actions.
What a shame, such a sad disgrace
The person acknowledges that their actions may have been shameful and a sad disgrace.
Such a pretty face but she's not regretful
Despite the regretful situation, the person's appearance remains unchanged and they do not seem to regret their actions.
Am I beautiful?
The person on the bathroom floor is questioning their worth as a person and whether their beauty matters in the grand scheme of things.
Am I usable?
This line can be interpreted in a few different ways, but it may refer to the person questioning whether their worth is only tied to their usefulness or whether they are only valuable when needed by others.
It's killing time again
The phrase 'killing time' can mean passing time until something else happens or doing something that is a waste of time, but in this context, it may refer to repeating the same regretful actions again.
Put on your face and let's pretend
The person is putting on a facade and pretending that everything is okay, despite their regretful actions.
These killing lights won't kill us all again
The 'killing lights' may refer to the harsh, unforgiving light that illuminates one's flaws and mistakes. The person is hopeful that these lights won't destroy them completely this time around.
Three a.m. on the city street
This line sets the scene for another situation where the person finds themselves on the streets late at night or early in the morning.
When the air is sweet, I've had my mouthful
The person has indulged in something sweet or pleasurable, but is still not satisfied.
But it seems that I'm tired of screams
The person may be tired of screaming or shouting and wants to escape the noise and chaos of their situation.
Such a pretty face up in will look dreadful, oh
The person is acknowledging that despite their outward appearance, they may not be as pretty or put together as they seem.
You seem to always remember, we never forget a face
This line suggests that the person is recognizable, and that others may remember them or their actions even if they don't.
When we cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, cut you up
The repetition of the word 'cut' may refer to causing harm or pain to others in a metaphorical or literal sense.
Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut they remember
Continuing the theme of cutting, this line suggests that others will remember or feel the effects of one's actions, especially if they are harmful.
It's time again, it's killing time
This repetition of the phrase 'killing time' reinforces the idea that the person is stuck in a cycle of regretful behaviors and situations.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Adam A Carson, David Paden Marchand, Hunter Lawrence Burgan, Jade Errol Puget
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind