Prelude 12/21

I freaking love the new-school hip-hop beat in this. Also, the lyrical structure and repeating melody in a minor key give it this haunting, solemn, ancient-sounding quality that remind me of really old Appalachian folk songs, plus the Gregorian chanting, which is even more ancient. The very, very old meets the very very new. I'm eating it up with a spoon and a fork. Oh, and I totally agree with whoever said that this is a Direct Message from Davey (along with "The Interview"). I think this might be kind of a Bitter, angry message to the old fans who have turned their backs on them in light of the new sound. "This is what I brought you, this you can keep/ This is what I brought, you may forget me." I take this to mean that AFI has given us music that they have put everything into, and it's all they have to give, but still, it is what it is, and we can "keep" it or "forget" it. "I promise you my heart, just promise to sing" When Davey writes, he writes from his heart, and here he's saying that his songs ARE his heart, the epitome of his very being (a lot of poets or songwriters, myself included, feel that way). He will give you the songs, the music, his very soul, just promise to sing those songs, and emerse yourself in those words. Now for the actual implications toward the Fan "betrayals", if you will: "I promise to depart, just promise one thing/Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep" This says: "to the fans who don't like the new sound, and who want to abandon the band, we won't hold it against you, you don't have to listen anymore, but just keep us somewhere in your heart, and don't disrespect the Band." ....Yeah, I know that's a little deep, but that's what I get out of it. So sue me. Moving on. "This is what I thought, I thought you'd need me/ This is what I thought, so think me naive/ I promised you a heart you promised to keep/ Kiss my eyes and Lay me to sleep." These are (not that you asked) my favorite lyrics from the song, and the most clear cut shot at those who have abandoned the Band, and now gallavant around the Internet saying things like "AFI sold out" or "AFI were better when they were punk" or "Davey went gay and that's why they Suck now" or "More like A Faggot Inside." Line by Line breakdown: "I thought you'd need me... so think me naive". Davey is quoted as saying, "Don't let anyone, even your parents, break you. Find good people who care about you and surround yourself with just them. If you can't find them at first, find good music and fall into it, let it hold you until they come." This implys to me that dXh views music as a catharsis, as something that people need to keep themselves sane and whole, and that he viewed the fans as "needing" AFI and their music. In light of "old-school fans" having such a quick, violent shift in opinion toward the band, such romantic thoughts about AFI fans as a whole might be overly optimistic, or even "naive". Whether it is or not, Davey still feels betrayed, because he promised all who would listen to his music, from the Dork 7" to DecemberUnderground, From "Two of a Kind" to "Endlessly, She Said", his HEART, which they promised to Keep, and not abandon once he grew up and wrote something more complex then "I Wanna Get a Mohawk". ...Not that there's anything necessarily wrong with the really old AFI stuff either. I love that shit. The difference lies between young, angry-at-the-world AFI and grown-up, introspective, why-am-I-here AFI. If you like new AFI, you should go listen to their old stuff, just to get a background on where they came from. Plus you'll probably end up liking Answer That as much as you like Sing the Sorrow. If you're an older fan and you don't like the new sound, please don't start ripping on the Band. Bands change sometimes, and Punks grow up. So why do we have to bring ignorant comments into it? I swear, if I hear one more khaki-short wearing, Bald Headed Metal-loving Mall-Punk say something about "A Fag Inside", I'm going to lay THEM to sleep, if you catch my drift. Thanks for reading. -hyperview

End of the world? I have to disagree. The album is Decemberunderground; December 21st (12/21) is the beginning of winter. It's a clever way of naming the intro to the album. "Miseria Cantare -- The Beginning" from Sing the Sorrow is the same way. "Miseria cantare" means "sing the sorrow," so the song title means "Sing the Sorrow -- The Beginning." The band doesn't like to do things the way everyone else does. That's what makes them great.

The song itself I think is in fact a message from Davey Havok and the rest of AFI to the fans. It's to all the fans: the fans that left because they believed AFI sold out as well as the fans that stayed faithful.

The first verse is just a general statement.

"This is what I brought you this you can keep This is what I brought you may forget me I promise to depart just promise one thing."

Everyone who listens to AFI can keep whatever they get from it. It's not about the band, it's about the fans, and what the band can do for the fans.

The second verse is for the faithful fans.

"This is what I brought you this you can keep This is what I brought you may forget me I promise you my heart just promise to sing."

He's bringing his songs, and saying that if we have the songs, then he's not as important. He promises to give us his heart as long as we promise to sing.

The third verse is for the unfaithful fans.

"This is what I thought I thought you'd need me This is what I thought so think me naive I promise you my heart you promise to keep."

He thought they'd need him, but apparently they didn't so he feels naive. He promised them his heart and they promised to keep it, but they haven't.

"Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep."

This is the mantra throughout the song. He wants all the fans, new and old, to care about the band. They want a connection with the fans; that's the basis of the Despair Faction.

Hopefully all your curiousity has been satisfied.

beautiful. This has to be my favorite opening album song ever.

its good...although the beat sounds a bittt like it might be straight out of the Eminem Show....but, i like the new album and this is a good opener

I want to have sex with this song. Most definitely my favorite opening song. The beat makes me want to prance around.

yeah, i like it a lot, but what's with the beat?

amazing amazing Im speechless. this is so so good.

"I promise you a heart, You promise to keep. Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep."

fave part

It's so much DIFFERENT from any of their previous album openings. I love it, it really grows on you.

Likewise, this is truelly AFI displaying their talents

Decemberunderground will be huge. This is a beautifully ominous opening. Roll on May 29th.