AFI: The Days Of The Phoenix Meaning
Song Released: 2000
The Days Of The Phoenix Lyrics
The figure on the bed all dressed up in roses, calling
Beckoning to sleep,
Offering a dream
words were as mystical as purring animals
The circle of...
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1TOP RATED
#1 top rated interpretation:Ok I found this on the requests list. It is a tough one to interpret, but I think it's about a loss of childhood and a loss of innocence that comes with it. "Oh, I fell into yesterday, oh, our dreams seem not far awayh..." as a kid anything seems possible, but as we grow up we lose that magic, and start to realize limitation. another line comes to mind "the time was so tangible I'll never let it go"- one should always hold memories dear, without them, the happy times just don't count. "the words were as mystical as purring animals"- every story, everything seems happy, and full of mystery but as an adult, everything is cut and dry, and the title alone "days of the phoenix" so many people want to believe in a phoenix, and in the days of childhood, its easier.
In a way, this song is very sad, we lose the magic, the ability to believe in every magical story we hear, but as we grow we lose that magic to "Logic", and The Days Of The Pheonix fade into dusk... -
This is my personal interpretation.
Verse 1:
"I remember when I was told of story of crushed velvet,
candle wax, and dried up flowers"
He reminiscing of the days when he was younger. These days he was told stories of the death of king (crushed velvet - in the old days velvet symbolized nobility), a loving father (candles symbolize wisdom and love) and death (dried up flowers.) I personally think he is talking about the father, the son, and the holy spirit.
"The figure on the bed all dressed up in roses, calling Beckoning to sleep, Offering a dream"
He is recalling a figure (perhaps a sculpture or painting) lying on a bed of roses. Maybe this figure is a martyr because roses are a symbol of martyrdom. Or maybe it is Mary of Guadalupe. The figure seems to be asleep but is holding up a gesture (beckoning) offering hope. Or perhaps a promise.
"words were as mystical as purring animals"
The words in the stories were spiritually mysterious, like the purring of an animal is mysterious and beautiful.
"The circle of rage,"
The stories he heard demonstrated God's wrath over and over again. Perhaps he is speaking of the old testament.
"The ghosts on the stage appeared"
When hearing these stories, he could visualize a scene like a play. The ghosts are the characters in the bible.
"The time was so tangible, I'll never let it go"
This time he is reminiscing about was so dear to him, that he'll never let it go.
"Ghost stories handed down, reached secret tunnels below, No one could see me"
The stories of the past have been handed down to him and they reached a place in his heart that no one can see or get to.
Chorus:
"I fell into yesterday, Our dreams seemed not far away"
He remembers the days of the past, his dreams back then seemed possible.
"I want to, I want to, I want to stay. I fell into fantasy"
He wishes he can keep that state of mind that he had back then. Like back in the day when his imagination had no limits. Maybe he is stating that he no longer believes the stories because he lost his imagination. However, he wishes he could still believe.
Verse 3:
"The girl on the wall always waited for me, And she was always smiling"
There was a picture on the wall back then. It was of a girl and she was smiling. It was a picture that he could always look towards for hope. Perhaps the martyr or Mary of Guadalupe that he spoke of previously.
"The teenage death boys, The teenage death girls"
Young men, young women. Their teenage years were coming to an end (teenage death). So maybe he is reminiscing about his late teenage years, 16, 17 or 18 years old.
"And everyone was dancing"
Back then, they were always were happy and cheerful.
"Nothing could touch us then, No one could change us then"
Nothing could change their minds then. Nothing could change their spirits.
"Nothing could hurt us then, No one could see us then"
No matter what people said about them, they did not care. No body could see who they really were nor could they judge them. They were innocent.
Song Title:
"Days of the Phoenix"
The phoenix symbolizes re-birth or renewal. He is recalling the days before his re-birth. The days he went from a teenage boy to a man. -
The song is about the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, CA. I was one of those "teenage death girls." At the Phoenix, nothing mattered but the music. The Phoenix was, and still is, very important to the music scene in The Bay Area.
As someone stated above:
"Teenage death boys, teenage death girls" - The punk rock kids at the shows."Everyone was dancing, nothing could touch us then" - every one moshing and having fun at the show, nothing else in the world mattered at that moment.
Couldn't be truer. -
This song is about the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, Ca. The chorus refers to a ghost, nicknamed Big Chris by the theater employees, which has been heard walking around on the stage, knocking over equipment in the middle of the night. The lower tunnels below the theater are also believed to be haunted by numerous ghosts. "The girl on the wall always waited for me" is believed to refer to a mural of a girl painted on the back wall facing the stage, however it could also refer to another ghost which haunts one of the bathrooms, who is frequently seen in the mirror when there is only one person in the room.
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I think this song is talking about being so engrossed in stories and fiction that they forgot the real world and fell into fantasy with all the other people who did the same thing.
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This song is about the Phoenix theater in the bay area of California, where AFI played most of their shows when they were starting off as a band. At one point early in their career, AFI was considering breaking up, but after playing a show at the Phoenix, they decided to continue as a band.
Some lyric analysis:
"The circle of rage" = Mosh pit.
"The ghost on the stage" = The singer of the band. someone who is there, but you can't touch.
"Ghost stories handed down, reach secret tunnels below" - The Phoenix theater is believed to be haunted, particularly the basement. It is said there is secret tunnels under the club.
"No one can see me" - Because is is such a part of the music and the moment he blends into everything, he doesn't stick out.
"Our dreams seemed not far away, I want to stay" - AFI realizing that they shouldn't break up, they should stay a band.
"I fell into fantasy" - Davey has been quoted as saying that in life all he has ever wanted to do was be in a band. his fantasy is a reality.
"The girl on the wall is always waiting for me, she was always smiling" - in the phoenix theater, there is a girl who is smiling, painted on the wall. It can be seen from stage.
"Teenage death boys, teenage death girls" - The punk rock kids at the shows."Everyone was dancing, nothing could touch us then" - every one moshing and having fun at the show, nothing else in the world mattered at that moment.
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