What does This Time Imperfect mean?

AFI: This Time Imperfect Meaning

Album cover for This Time Imperfect album cover

This Time Imperfect Lyrics

I cannot leave here, I cannot stay,
Forever haunted, more than afraid,
Asphyxiate on words I would say,
I'm drawn to a blackened sky as I turn blue,

There are no flowers, no not this time,
There'll be no angels gracing the lines,
Just...

  1. JackG
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    Sep 24th 2022 !⃝

    I'm pretty sure this song is in reference to Cormac McCarthy's novel "The Road". The two opening monologs that paint a sort of post-apocalyptic nightmare, the first by a child and the second by a man, sort of give it away.

  2. anonymous
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    Aug 13th 2019 !⃝

    This song was written for a friend of davey and jade who took their own life ....

  3. anonymous
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    Apr 3rd 2017 !⃝

    I think this song is relating to the person being really confused on what he wants. He loves her and wants to be with her but she makes it hard to stay there. If he does leave he leaves the one he loves and he can't do that because he feels he can't live without her or doesn't want to. In her presence he can't even smile anymore because it hurts him to be there for whatever reason but he loves her to much to walk away. I'm thinking the love with her for some reason isn't there anymore and he knows that and it hurts him because he loves her do much. At the end if the song when he stops at just how much you...I get the feeling one if them more than likely her has walked away.

  4. anonymous
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    Jul 15th 2014 !⃝

    Before I begin, I would like to thank A.F.I. for writing this song. My wife and I were on the brink of divorce and this song really helped me through it.

    Verse 1:
    "I cannot leave here, I cannot stay."
    He is in a situation where he feels he has two options. However, both are hard to carry out.

    "Forever haunted, more than afraid."
    The situation he is in will forever be in his memory. And it's not that he is afraid to make a decision. It's more that he can't decide what is the right path to take.

    "Asphyxiate on words I would say,"
    The words he wishes to say will only make things worse.

    "I'm drawn to a blackened sky as I turn blue."
    The decision he is leaning towards causes him to be depressed.


    Chorus:
    "There are no flowers, no not this time,"
    This time, he doesn't believe there will be a happy ending.

    "There'll be no angels gracing the lines,"
    There will be no guidance from anyone. He has to do this on his own.

    "Just these stark words, I find."
    The only thing he sees coming out of this situation is very harsh.

    "I'd show a smile, but i'm too weak,"
    I think this is very literal. He would try and smile, however the situation has drained him of happiness.

    "I'd share with you could I only speak, Just how much this hurts me."
    He would share his feelings, however he feels he can't speak of them. That he might be cast down for having them. And this situation, deeply troubles him.


    Verse 2:

    "I cannot stay here, I cannot leave,"
    He is in a situation where he feels has two options. However, both are hard to carry out.

    "Just like all I loved, I make believe."
    Like before, he pretends his is happy. He tries and makes himself believe that things can be better.

    "Imagine heart, I disappear,"
    I think he is talking to someone. (Imagine heart) or Imagine love, what if I were to disappear or leave or even die?

    "seems, No one will appear, here and make me real."
    It seems no one will come and make him feel better, or help bring him back to how he was before.


    Verse 3:

    "I'd tell you how it haunts me, I'd tell you how it haunts me, (cuts through my day, and sinks into my dreams.)"
    He finally is going to open up about his feelings or situation. These feelings have been disrupting his daily life and his dreams.

    "I'd tell you how it haunts me, (cuts through my day, and sinks into my dreams.) You don't care that it haunts me."
    Here are my feelings that disrupt or bother me, however you don't care about what hurts me.


    The songs ends with:
    "Just how much you..."
    The situation he has been talking about, is all caused by one person.

  5. anonymous
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    Oct 20th 2012 !⃝

    I think this song has to do with someone who is depressed and really wants to take their life but they know if they do everybody will feel guilty and sorrowful and he will have to watch it till the end of time

  6. anonymous
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    May 28th 2012 !⃝

    i think this more had to do with nobody loving the person in the song and that theres no hope or help anymore but afi rocks so who cares

  7. anonymous
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    Mar 16th 2011 !⃝

    This one is pretty basic. It seems to me like it's about giving up something you really don't want to. Maybe a relationship, "I cannot stay here, I cannot leave", the speaker KNOWS they can't have this, but they don't want to give it up. "Just like all I've Loved I'm Make-Believe", this could mean that a lot of the emotion was manufactured, maybe the speaker wants whatever he is trying to leave to be real despite the fact that he knows it isn't.

    It could also refer to religion, The "I cannot leave here" part means that the speaker REALLY wan't to keep his beliefs but he can no longer justify it. The Just like all i've loved part refers to how devoted one can get to their beliefs. And the "there'll be no angel's gracing the lines, just these stark words i find" part refers to just that, and the start words are the stark truth.


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