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.
Winter's Tale
AFI Lyrics
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My breath materialized again
Immaculate, inanimate
A comfort cutting time I see a string of white lights
Forever walking through December
Forever longing for a sign of life, a bringer of light
Forever wandering together through
Ice everlasting
A full moon casting a purple veil enshrouding all
I perambulate, somnambulant
A solace piercing time I see a string of white lights
Forever walking through December
Forever longing for a sign of life, a bringer of light
Forever wandering together through
A world of violets
If only one for night, if only for one night
If only for one night remember
If only for one night, if only for one night
If only for one night together
Forever walking through December
Forever longing for a sign of life, a bringer of light
Forever wandering together through
A world of violets
The lyrics of AFI's "A Winter's Tale" evoke a sense of melancholy and isolation. The opening lines describe a world of violets, which could be a reference to death or mourning. The singer finds solace in the stillness and silence, reflected in the phrase "immaculate, inanimate." The image is then contrasted with a string of white lights, which could symbolize hope or a guide through the darkness. The lyrics repeat "forever walking through December, forever longing for a sign of life, a bringer of light, forever wandering together through a world of violets." The repetition emphasizes the feeling of being stuck in a moment and unable to move forward.
The following verse repeats many of the same themes, but adds a new image of a purple veil cast by the moon. The singer is somnambulant, or sleepwalking, further emphasizing the sense of being trapped in a dreamlike state. The line "if only for one night, if only for one night, if only for one night remember, if only for one night together" suggests that the singer is trying to hold on to a memory or moment that is slipping away.
Overall, "A Winter's Tale" is a haunting and emotional song that captures the feeling of being stuck in a moment of grief or loss. The repeated imagery of violets and white lights adds to the sense of isolation and longing for something that is just out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
A chilling silence, a world of violets
The world is silent and cold, surrounded by purple flowers.
My breath materialized again
Breathing makes visible clouds of water vapor.
Immaculate, inanimate
Spotlessly clean objects seem lifeless.
A comfort cutting time I see a string of white lights
Looking at light decorations relieves the monotony of time.
Forever walking through December
Winter's dark mood persists throughout the month.
Forever longing for a sign of life, a bringer of light
Wishing for a sign of hope or inspiration during this time.
Forever wandering together through A world of violets
Endlessly exploring the mystical scenery of winter flowers.
Ice everlasting
The ice is permanent and unchanging.
A full moon casting a purple veil enshrouding all
The moon's light takes on a purple hue and envelops everything.
I perambulate, somnambulant
Walking in a trance-like state.
A solace piercing time I see a string of white lights
White lights provide comfort in the midst of pain or loneliness.
If only for one night remember
Even if just for one night, remember what it feels like to be alive.
If only for one night together
Spend time together, even if it's just for one night.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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