What does Afterlife mean?

Avenged Sevenfold: Afterlife Meaning

Album cover for Afterlife album cover

Song Released: 2008


Get "Afterlife" on MP3: Get MP3 from iTunes

Afterlife Lyrics

Like walking into a dream, so unlike what you've seen
So unsure but it seems, cause weve been waiting for you
Fallen into this place, just giving you a small taste
Of your afterlife here so stay, you'll be back here soon anyway

I see a...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 19th 2008 !⃝

    Aight, in my opinion, your kinda close, but a little mixed up. The problem with the idea that he was seeing hell is that it says "a place of hope and no pain, perfect skies and no rain...this peace on earths not right, no pain or sign of time...this place is full of peace and light". I don't know about you, but that's not exactly how I picture hell, that sounds more like heaven. I've never heard hell described as a place of hope, no pain, and full of peace and light. I believe that part of the song may be referring to hell, and part of it to heaven. I think that he has a dream or vision and he sees himself in hell, but he doesn't think that's where he belongs, that there's no way he should be here. He says "I've come to grips with life and realize that this is going to far" showing that he realizes he's been living wrong and if he doesn't change, this is where he's gonna end up. Then he sees heaven, and he realizes that he's been in to much sin to belong here. "so out of place don't wanna stay, I feel wrong and that's my sign, I've made up my mind". he doesn't feel rit there because he doesn't deserve to be there. he decides that if he gets back, he's gonna turn is life around. when he says "give me the chance to be the person I want to be...o lord ill try so hard but you gotta let me go...i need another chance to live", he's asking god for another chance to change his life.

    if you think I'm wrong, don't slam me for it, its just my opinion
    either way, I'm sure we can all agree on one thing...this is a freaking awesome song
    anyway, god bless a7x

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Nov 7th 2008 !⃝

    I've actually done a report on this song for one my classes. This song to me is about someone who got a glimpse of their afterlife and much of the song leads us to believe it is heaven, and how it's perfect. Now he's just having a hard time choosing leaving in total bliss and harmony or stay in an imperfect but with his loved ones. It never really tell what he chooses so in a way they leave the choice up to do decide what is more important to you.

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Sep 12th 2008 !⃝

    For the above I was wondering if you have any proof or reference sites?

  4. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jan 4th 2021 !⃝

    The song is basically about a man arguing with god about he died too early and wants to go back. Some of the lyrics are also god talking but you guys get that.

  5. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Apr 4th 2020 !⃝

    So I have a very different reading of this song than most people. I don't think that Afterlife is literally referring to the actual afterlife. I instead read this as a man who is a relationship he feels he's not good enough for.

    "but girl this can't be right." Girl? What girl? He didn't mention girl before. What can't be right? "this peace on Earth's not right." Okay. So clearly we're still on earth. Not heaven.

    "So why did this come to be? Arrived too early" Most people say that this means that he died young, but I see it as he's not grown enough as a person to have the kind of relationship that he has with this person.

    "I don't belong here, we gotta move on dear..." Dear? There's the girl again. Who refers to God as dear? It's something that people really only say to women they love.

    "loved ones back home all crying cuz they're already missing me." Someone you're mad in love with will take all the life from you. Suddenly you stop going to your friends' and family's houses. They haven't seen you in a long time and they miss you.

    "Give me a chance to be that person I want to be." Again, being mad in love will make you be someone you're not and suddenly you do everything with them on your mind and factor them into it. Perhaps this is referring that he wants to be his own person again and not factor this girl back into it.

    "I pray by the grace of God that there's somebody listening." When you're mad in love, and away from your friends and can't get over your partner, you do truly feel alone. You do pray to god that somebody is listening to your cries and desires to feel happy again. He says "oh lord I try so hard but you gotta let go of me..." I don't take this to mean that God wont let him go, I think he's using Lord as an interjection. Like, "oh lord I hate broccoli!" You aren't actually talking to god, it's just something you outloud as an interjection.

    Near the end of the Album, they have the song, A Little Piece of Heaven. If you've heard the lyrics to that song, you'll know that there's nothing heavenly about it. I think that Afterlife is actually that he sees his relationship as when he's with his "little piece of heaven." This 'perfect relationship' is his Afterlife of peace and light. Even though she makes him feel so good and is everything that a relationship should be, he still has friends he loves and he wants to grow more and live his own way before he comes back because he knows he'll never be able to let her go. "And I hope you'd might, take me back inside when the time is right."



  6. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 17th 2017 !⃝

    The singer/narrator/story teller has passed on & sees how harmonious Heaven/afterlife is. BUT like many of us, they have unfinished business back on their planet & they want to go back to fix things as best as possible. I love this song & this band. Bravo & thank you A7X.
    Chris Wilson

  7. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 14th 2016 !⃝

    Well, I know it's 2016 and probably no one is going to read this, but I am very addicted to this song and I have created my self interpretation about it:
    I think it's all a metaphor. The man thinks that he's in heaven and it's a perfect place (this is a metaphor about how does a close relationship with someone means), but he wants to leave it because, in his opinion, he doesn't deserve to be there and it's too much comfort for him. So, I personally think that the man want to be free, have a good life with no ropes to blind him to nobody, find himself and be happy without a partner.
    Actually, this is my situation right now, so this song it's very important to me :)

  8. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 5th 2014 !⃝

    Ironic cause the song seems like it's about the way the world is and matt's decision to not be a part of it by being an artist in a band, not participating in the rat race set by the powers who are ruining this world by creating a selfish unconscious population. It would make sense as most of theit songs are an outside perspective of our society.

  9. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 25th 2014 !⃝

    Really I think this is about a guy who is in an accident and gets put in a coma. During this he witnesses his afterlife but he wants to 'escape from this afterlife' or wake up from his coma. This would explain him saying 'and I'd hoped you might take me back inside, when the time is right' which is him saying once he has lived out his life he wants to return there. The part where The rev and shadows are singing is the man arguing with god to give him a second chance at life and c he does so. And in the end of the song he wakes up.

  10. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 22nd 2014 !⃝

    As per an interview with Zacky V, this song is about dying before your time, finding yourself in the afterlife and escaping it to right the wrongs you have done while you were alive. In the end just being a better person and doing the "right thing" (in general)before you die.

  11. enichridion
    click a star to vote
    Jan 17th 2014 !⃝

    ok the song co-written by rev or fans known of the pervious drummer (that died of a lethal dosage of pain and anxiety pills mixed with alcohol), James Owen Sullivan. a little bit of a song fact is he sings most of the song saying he wants to start anew. so in a way he saying sorry but this is were my pain doesn't go and i want peace, sorry.
    =,( RIP J.O.S rev

  12. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 2nd 2013 !⃝

    In my opinion I think he in Heaven and wants to be reborn to have a life again, and so he hopes he won't mess up and go to hell, he hopes Heaven will accept him back again, and he'll miss being in Heaven, but he still wants to live. I hope my theory sounds okay.

  13. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Nov 15th 2012 !⃝

    We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  14. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 16th 2012 !⃝

    This isn't about dying at all. It's about a guy who is really in love with a girl, yet he realizes the love is consuming him and he needs to break it off. He isn't ready for "the afterlife" which is being in love and staying that way, worry free. He has spent so much of his time with this girl that he has neglected his family "loved ones back home missing me." bottom line: he loves the girl but has to put an end to their relationship because it isn't the right time in his life for it.

  15. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 14th 2012 !⃝

    I believe that this song is about a guy who sees himself in heaven, but realizes that he isn't ready to die and that he hasn't lived a good life so he doesn't belong there, but wants to change so when he dies he will be able to go

  16. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jul 16th 2012 !⃝

    I think it's about getting married at an early age.... Think about it

  17. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 29th 2012 !⃝

    In my opinion the song is about a person who dies and goes to heaven. It is beautiful but he feels that he has unfinished business on earth and that he died too early. He is given the chance to return to earth and he hopes that they will let him return when his work is done: "Got nothing against you and surely I'll miss you
    This place full of peace and light, and Id hope you might
    Take me back inside when the time is right." The song could also be applied to a relationship where two sole mates find each other at a young age. They do not feel ready to commit but they want to return to each other when they have experienced more of their lives.

  18. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 20th 2012 !⃝

    Afterlife is about a person who dies early and begs for god to let him out of his afterlife and bring him back when it is his time to die... it says most of that stuff i listed in the making of video so there is my interpritation

‹ prev 1234



More Avenged Sevenfold songs »


 


Latest Articles

 


Submit Your Interpretation

[ want a different song? ]




Blog posts mentioning Avenged Sevenfold

Just Posted

Mad Hatter anonymous
Fire Lake anonymous
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead anonymous
We Gotta Get out of This Place anonymous
Jealous anonymous
Won't Get Fooled Again anonymous
Smokestack Lightning anonymous
True Colors anonymous
Future Love Paradise anonymous
Adios, Adios anonymous
Strangers anonymous
Possibility anonymous
Jailbreak anonymous
Sour Girl anonymous
Cornflake Girl anonymous

(We won't give out your email)