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.
Theory of Revolution
AFI Lyrics
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But I see it every day
Corrupted innocence just
Doesn't seem to fade away
Spoiled so young,
You know it's bound to last
But when you're living in the city
And it makes me sick
God, it makes me sick
And it makes me sick
God, it makes me sick
Don't want to think about it
But I see it every day
If you want to buy affluence
Your soul you'll have to pay
Wasting away
The prime of your life
But it's been done that way for years
So you know it must be alright
And it makes me sick
God, it makes me sick
And it makes me sick
God, it makes me sick
It's just not right
Don't wanna think about it
But I see it every day
With every sip and every shot
Mind and bodies fade away
Friends are all gone
And memories don't last
But when you've fallen off the wagon
You seem to fall so damn fast
In "Theory of Revolution", AFI is expressing their disgust towards society's obsession with money and material possessions. The lyrics reflect the band's stance against the corrupt nature of the world and the lack of humanity in the face of capitalism. The song highlights how innocence is quickly spoiled as we grow up in a society driven by consumerism, where we are constantly bombarded with messages that tell us that wealth is the key to happiness. The chorus of the song repeats the line "And it makes me sick, God it makes me sick" emphasizing the disgust they have for the system that perpetuates this behavior.
The second verse focuses on the idea that in order to attain material wealth, people are willing to sell their souls, sacrificing their morality and ethics. The imagery used in "If you want to buy affluence, your soul you'll have to pay” highlights the cost of wealth, while the subsequent line "Wasting away the prime of your life" emphasizes that individuals are sacrificing their lives chasing after material possessions. The third verse discusses the dangers of substance abuse, with references to alcoholism, addiction, and how these substances can lead to the loss of oneself, and ultimately one's life.
The song is a critique of society's obsession with consumerism, its negative impacts on our lives, and the toll it takes on our mental and physical health. "Theory of Revolution" reveals the band's political stance and desire to inspire change in society by raising awareness of these issues.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't want to think about it
I would prefer not to acknowledge this issue
But I see it every day
Despite my reluctance, I witness its impact daily
Corrupted innocence just doesn't seem to fade away
The decay of purity is a continuous process
Spoiled so young, you know it's bound to last
Indulgence at a young age is likely to persist
But when you're living in the city, you've gotta grow up fast
Urban life demands maturity sooner than expected
And it makes me sick, God, it makes me sick
This situation disgusts and appalls me
If you want to buy affluence, your soul you'll have to pay
Success may require a moral compromise
Wasting away the prime of your life
Squandering the best years of existence
But it's been done that way for years, so you know it must be alright
Long-standing practices are often normalized
It's just not right
This is inherently unjust
With every sip and every shot, mind and bodies fade away
Substance abuse takes a toll on physical and mental wellbeing
Friends are all gone and memories don't last
Addiction can lead to social isolation and amnesia
But when you've fallen off the wagon, you seem to fall so damn fast
Relapse can be swift and severe
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: ADAM A. CARSON, DAVID MARCHAND, HUNTER L. BURGAN, JADE E. PUGET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind