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.
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AFI Lyrics
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Walked away,
Heard them say,
Poison hearts will never change
Walk away again
Turned away in disgrace
Felt the chill upon my face
Cooling from within
Gleaming from the sky
When your staring at the cracks
Hard to notice
What is passing by
With eyes low, Oh
Walked away
Heard them say
Poison hearts will never change
Walk away again
All the cracks they lead right to me
And all the cracks will crawl right through me
All the cracks they lead right to me
And all the cracks will crawl right through me
And they'll part
As I
[Chorus]
The song "The Leaving Song" by AFI is a heart-wrenching tune that speaks of a person's decision to walk away from a relationship that has become toxic. The chorus repeats the phrase "walked away, heard them say, poison hearts will never change" which could suggest that the people around the singer are criticizing them for leaving the relationship despite knowing the toxicity of the situation. The line "turned away in disgrace, felt the chill upon my face" suggests that the singer feels a sense of sadness and disappointment for having to leave but they understand that it is the best thing for them.
The following lines speak about how easy it is to miss the beauty in the world when we are too caught up in our own problems. "Hard to notice, gleaming from the sky, when you're staring at the cracks, hard to notice, what is passing by, with eyes low." The final lines of the chorus, "all the cracks they lead right to me, and all the cracks will crawl right through me" puts emphasis on how the singer is consumed by the negativity of the relationship, but now that they have walked away, they can breathe again.
Overall, "The Leaving Song" by AFI is a powerful and emotional song that speaks about the struggles of leaving a toxic relationship. It encourages listeners to make tough decisions that are best for them even if it means walking away from something they once loved.
Line by Line Meaning
Walked away,
I chose to leave and move on from a situation
Heard them say,
I heard others make negative comments about me or my decision to leave
Poison hearts will never change
They believe I will always be a negative, toxic or harmful person
Walk away again
I am determined to keep leaving toxic or negative situations/people
Turned away in disgrace
I felt embarrassed or ashamed for leaving
Felt the chill upon my face
I experienced a cold or unwelcome response from the situation or people I left
Cooling from within
Despite the chilly response, I am internally growing or becoming stronger due to my decision
Hard to notice
It is difficult to recognize positive things or opportunities while focusing on negative things or problems
Gleaming from the sky
There are possibly good things or opportunities present, but they are difficult to see or recognize
When your staring at the cracks
It is easy to become absorbed in identifying problems or faults
Hard to notice
It is difficult to recognize positive things or opportunities while focusing on negative things or problems
What is passing by
I might miss positive things or opportunities that come and go because of my focus on negative things
With eyes low, Oh
I am feeling down or possibly ashamed for focusing on the negative or missing out on positive things
All the cracks they lead right to me
All the problems or faults in the situation seem to be centered around me or caused by me
And all the cracks will crawl right through me
Because of my focus on negativity, the problems or faults are affecting me emotionally and mentally
And they'll part
The instance of negativity or harmfulness associated with the situation will eventually come to an end
As I
As I continue to walk away and leave negative situations behind
[Chorus]
Refrain on how I have decided to walk away from negativity and not let others' opinions of me define me
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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