AFI (A Fire Inside) is an American punk rock band from Ukiah, California, f… Read Full Bio ↴AFI (A Fire Inside) is an American punk rock band from Ukiah, California, formed in 1991. The band's lineup stabilized in 1998 with lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backing vocalist Adam Carson, bassist, backing vocalist and keyboardist Hunter Burgan, and guitarist, backing vocalist and keyboardist Jade Puget. Havok and Carson are the sole remaining original members. Originally a hardcore punk band, they have since delved into many genres.

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.

thegreatdisappointment
AFI Lyrics

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Can remember a place I used to go
Chrysanthemums of white, they seemed so beautiful
I can remember, I searched for the amaranth
I'd shut my eyes, to see

Oh, how I smiled then, so near the cherished ones
I knew they would appear... saw not a single one
Oh, how I smiled then, waiting so patiently

I'd make a wish, and bleed

While I waited I was wasting away
While I waited I was wasting away

I can remember, dreamt them so vividly
Soft creatures draped in white, light kisses gracing me
I can remember when I first realized
Dreams were the only place to see them

While I waited I was wasting away
While I waited I was wasting away
While I waited I was wasting away
Hope was wasting away
Faith was wasting away
I was wasting away

I never, never wanted this
I always wanted to believe
I never, never wanted this
How could I have become?
I never, never wanted this
But from the start I'd been deceived
I never, never wanted this
How could I have become?

I never, never wanted this
I always wanted to believe
I never, never wanted this
I never, never wanted this
But from the start I'd been deceived
I never, never wanted this

Inside a crumbling effigy
But you promised
So dies all innocence
But you promised me

While I waited I was wasting away
While I waited I was wasting away
While I waited I was wasting away
Hope was wasting away

Faith was wasting away
I was wasting away

Overall Meaning

In AFI's song "thegreatdisappointment," the lyrics tell of the loss of faith and hope. The first verse describes a place that the singer used to go to, where the chrysanthemums were beautiful and he searched for the amaranth. This may represent a place of comfort or a time when the singer believed in something wholeheartedly. He remembers smiling and waiting patiently for something or someone, but seeing nothing. The second verse talks about the vivid dreams the singer has where he sees "soft creatures draped in white" who kiss him lightly. But he realizes that dreams are the only place he can see them. The repetition of the line "while I waited I was wasting away" emphasizes the feeling of hopelessness and disillusionment.

The chorus repeats the line "I never wanted this" several times, which can be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be the singer's denial of losing faith or his disbelief that he was deceived all along. The lines "But you promised/So dies all innocence/But you promised me" show the singer's disappointment in someone or something for making empty promises.

Overall, the lyrics of "thegreatdisappointment" convey a sense of loss and disappointment. The singer has lost faith and hope in something that he once believed in, and it has led him to feel as though he is wasting away. The vivid imagery and repetition of certain phrases help emphasize the emotions of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Can remember a place I used to go
I remember a place I used to go to

Chrysanthemums of white, they seemed so beautiful
There were beautiful white Chrysanthemums there

I can remember, I searched for the amaranth
I remember searching for the amaranth flower

I'd shut my eyes, to see
I closed my eyes to see

Oh, how I smiled then, so near the cherished ones
I was very happy back then, thinking I would be near my loved ones soon

I knew they would appear... saw not a single one
I expected to see them, but didn't see any of them

Oh, how I smiled then, waiting so patiently
I was very happy waiting patiently for them

I'd make a wish, and bleed
I would make a wish and suffer for it

While I waited I was wasting away
I was wasting time while waiting

I can remember, dreamt them so vividly
I remember dreaming about them very vividly

Soft creatures draped in white, light kisses gracing me
I dreamt of soft creatures draped in white giving me light kisses