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.
Who Said You Could Touch Me
AFI Lyrics
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You don't know I am so, you can not get close to me and I don't know who you are,
so just leave me alone.
I know you can't believe the anxiety you're causing me
and I know you can't believe your fake compassion I don't need.
Get away from me, You're standing too close.
Keep your hands off of me.
Don't try to rub my shoulders and don't try to hold my hand.
Don't try to give me a fucking hug.
You crawl.
Get away from me, You're standing too close.
Keep your hands off of me.
Keep away from me, Just leave me alone, who said you could touch me anyway?
The lyrics of AFI's "Who Said You Could Touch Me?" speak to the boundaries that people should respect in relationships. The song criticizes those who come close without permission and who believe that their fake compassion and attempts at touch will help ease the discomfort of anxiety that is building within another person. The song opens with the question, "Who said you could touch me?" It is a powerful statement that challenges the expectations of intimacy that some people have, even in relatively casual social settings. The lyrics have a very confrontational tone, which further emphasizes the need for strong boundaries in relationships.
The song's chorus repeats the words, "Get away from me, You're standing too close. Keep your hands off of me. Keep away from me, Just leave me alone, who said you could touch me anyway?" These lyrics highlight the need for personal space, physical boundaries, and a respect for individual autonomy. The language is very direct and assertive, which underscores the importance of communicating one's personal boundaries in relationships. The song's overall message is that people should not be afraid to express their discomfort when others cross those boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
Who said you could touch me?
You do not have permission to touch me, get away from me.
You don't know I am so, you can not get close to me and I don't know who you are,
You do not know me and we are not familiar, do not try to approach me.
so just leave me alone.
I need you to go away and leave me alone.
I know you can't believe the anxiety you're causing me
Your presence is causing me great anxiety and you may not realize the impact you are having on me.
and I know you can't believe your fake compassion I don't need.
Your false concern for me is not helpful or needed, please do not try to force it on me.
Don't try to rub my shoulders and don't try to hold my hand.
Do not attempt to touch me or invade my personal space by touching my shoulders, holding my hand or attempting to hug me.
Don't try to give me a fucking hug.
I do not want or need a hug from you, please refrain from trying to force physical contact.
You crawl.
Your actions are making me uncomfortable and I need you to back off and respect my boundaries.
Get away from me, You're standing too close.
You are standing too close to me and I need you to move away.
Keep your hands off of me.
I do not want you to touch me in any way, please keep your hands to yourself.
Keep away from me, Just leave me alone, who said you could touch me anyway?
I need you to keep your distance, leave me alone and stop trying to touch me without my consent.
Contributed by Ian J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.