Afterlife

alright lets settle this. Straight from M.Shadows mouth. Afterlife is about a man who died but as he gets into his afterlife, he realizes that there's too much stuff back on earth for him to do so he tries to escape from his afterlife.

Okay, so the band actually stated that this song is in fact a song about someone who goes to the afterlife (Heaven to some), and realizes that even though it is beautiful and perfect, he has unfinished business on earth and wants to go back.

Also, to me this song defines who Avenged Sevenfold are. This is, and always will be, my favorite song because it so beautifully performed, and the vocals, instrumentals, and just the way it is done makes me feel exhilarated. Then there is the guitar solo... My ears had orgasms when I heard the full thing. Better then Dragonforce and Slasher put together. By the time the Rev starts laughing, I am always smiling to this song. (Which creeps people out around me mind you). Six stars to this song, and I thank the band for making it to much.

Oh my god! I love The Rev's backing vocals!

On first listening to this album, other than the first song (critical acclaim, an antiwar song) it really sounds like the whole album is an ode to the girl that he's breaking up with. It's hard, and he doesn't want to do it, but he realizes that it's the best thing to do. The afterlife referred to in this song is his life after leaving this girl. Maybe, though, just maybe, the time in their lives will be right and they will get back together. But now, it's not right.

All references to song lyrics in the above paragraph are intentional.

personally i think this song is about suicide and when he gets to his afterlife hes realizes that he was really loved by many people which is why the line "loved one's back home all crying cuz they're already missing me" and he sees that all these people are grieving and he wants to go back and fix it and help them get them through everything i dont know thats just how i percieve it

This is about a guy who has a near death experience and goes into heaven where he is met by a loved one. He thinks he's still on earth but then he starts to notice little things like there's no sense of time or any hurt, everyone is at peace with each other. That's when he makes a list of all the pplaces he doeanst belong and realises that he's in heaven and he doesnt belong there yet so he has to 'escape from this afterlife.' He has to leave but when his time comes to return permenantly they won't hold it against him and will instead except him with open arms.

At first I saw this song as it is on the surface: guy goes to afterlife, realises he has stuff to do, goes back to earth. HOWEVER! I listened to this song a few more times and came to the conclusion the 'afterlife' is metaphorical (like much of A7x music).

He talks about this other girl being there, the implication being she is a girlfriend/wife as he refers to her as 'dear' and 'darling'. He wants to stay in the afterlife with her forever, but he really has got stuff to do 'loved ones back home all crying cause they're already missing me'. So he goes, hoping she'll 'take him back when the time is right' when he dies.

Well, I believe this afterlife is actually a metaphor for him mourning over losing her, distancing himself from his loved ones (All crying cause they already miss him). He wants to keep mourning over her as she is important to him, but he also needs to focus on his life rather than living in a dream.

No matter what the bands says, music have different meanings for each one, and they know. For me its about love and sacrifice. The "afterlife" represents a passionate and fulfilling love that the person has experienced, but ultimately he decide to leave it behind to fulfill their responsibilities and commitments. It highlights the struggle between pursuing personal desires and fulfilling obligations to loved ones, emphasizing the complexities of decision-making and the sacrifices people may make in their lives.

'Like walking into a dream, so unlike what you've see..... ...Of your afterlife here so stay, you'll be back here soon anyway" the man describes the feeling of being in love as akin to "walking into a dream" and something unlike anything he's ever experienced. He feels uncertain but drawn to this intense love because he's been waiting for it. It's a taste of an "afterlife," symbolizing a passionate and fulfilling love he never expected to encounter. "I see a distant light, but girl this can't be right... ...I've come to grips with life and realize this is going too far" The man he questions whether this intense love is right for him, as it may conflict with his obligations to his old family. He realizes that he might have entered into this love too soon. The old family could be his ex-wife with a couple of kids, or his parents. Then he realizes it's going "too far" from the life he should be leading.

"This peace on earth's not right (with my back against the wall) ... ...Please understand I have to leave and carry on my own life" He acknowledges that in this love, there is no pain or sense of time, but he also feels that the time is not right to fully embrace this new love. The man asks for understanding and compassion from the person he loves.

"I don't belong here, I gotta move on dear escape from this afterlife ... ...Take me back inside when the time is right" The chorus reflects the man's inner struggle. He knows he needs to move on from this intense love because he's made a decision to return to his old family. The "afterlife" of love is not where he belongs, and he feels the weight of his responsibility. But he may go back to her in a future , "when the time is right" .

"Loved ones back home all crying 'cause they're already missing me... ...But you gotta let go of me (I need another chance to live) " The bridge introduces the idea of loved ones back home who are already missing him. The man prays for a chance to be the person he wants to be, suggesting that he fight now another struggle inside him. The true love now is so far away. But this is a story for another song !!

How do you know the lyrics when the cd isn't even out yet????????

simple. it about an accidental drug overdose. and the narrarator wants to go back to earth.