Lean against the night and laugh as I try to scale the walls.
Ingnored futility fills the air.
You're only there to watch me fall...
If only pure sweetness was offered,
why's this bitter taste left in my mouth?
If I could catch my breath just to exhale,
I'd know that I held it in to long......
From above comes a faint smile, a new vantage such a view.
Familiarity know disowned.
Just sit and stare as I walk away.


Lyrics submitted by oofus

Clove Smoke Catharsis song meanings
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31 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    I think this song is about an ex-girlfriend. Davey can't believe that he stuck around with this heartless girl for so long. "If I could catch my breath just to exhale, I'd know that I held it in to long..." and now he's fed up.
    kiefy24on July 01, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I believe this song is about a time in Davey's life when he was going through some stough times and asked someone(maybe friends or a girlfriend) to help him. Even though he had always been there for this person(or people), they do nothing to help him. Maybe it seemed like somebody who came along could be help, but they were just like the rest. Eventually, he sees that there is no use in trying to overcome this problem. He also realizes that he must get away from these people who used him and left him so helpless. Not able to take anymore, he gives up and moves on.
    articia678on May 27, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    i remember hearing this song was about a friend of davey who was abusing drugs and when davey tried to talk to him/her about it they were oblivious to his pleads for them to stop either because he/she didn't care or because they were too out of it to respond. either way th is song is pure genious
    minigimp7on June 10, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I'm not going to take a stab at interpereting Davey's lyris, I'd just like to know if anyone knows if Dexter from The Offspring does back up on this song? Just curious, listen to the end...
    darkLIGHT313on July 03, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    that is dexter at the end of the song, i love the contrast of their voices
    tryandlive1203on July 04, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    it's not just clove smoke. dexter does the backup vocals for a couple of AFI songs - granted he's most audible in clove smoke - prayer position and god called in sick are two others. not only that but davey havok does backup vocals for a number of offspring songs, he's credited in the liner notes for backup vocals on both ixnay on the hombre and americana
    rabbitatreston July 10, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    smoking a clove ciggarette. i know it has deeper interpretations, but hey. if only pure sweetness was offered why's a btter tatse left in my mouth? pretty obvious. cloves tatse so sweet until they're gone and you get a bitter taste on the back of your tounge. when you hold a hit in too long, your lungs bleed. it's one of my fave AFI songs, i always sing the chorus and woah oh oh part after i finish a clove
    antisoapon July 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I love Dexter's back up in this song, and even though this isn't my favorite AFI song, it is still awesome. I love the line "If only pure sweetness was offered, Why's this bitter taste left in mym mouth?" That line can be applied to so many different aspects of life.
    Madcappunkon August 15, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    what i get out of this song is a relationship. you can hear it in the chorus...it's like he had the most perfect (for example) girlfriend but something just wasn't there. and if he stayed with her too long he'd just end up hurting her. you may not agree, but this is what i get of it.
    ruby sohoon August 21, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I have a basic idea of what this song is about, but I'm sure it would be waayyy too long to type into here. Just like to say that this song is absolutely amazing, as well as, hands-down, one of the best AFI songs ever. But I agree with madcappunk, kiefy, and minigimp on this one.
    sickb0y82on August 28, 2002   Link

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