Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “アフターダーク” by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
“アフターダーク” by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION is a powerful and melancholic song about trying to find one’s way in a world filled with suffering and pain. The protagonist is struggling to find a way out of the darkness by taking refuge in their own dreams, not knowing if they’re going to find the light at the end of the tunnel. The song is a meditation on the hardships of life and the difficulty of finding sources of hope and happiness.
The lyrics of the song evoke a powerful sense of yearning and desperation, as the protagonist talks of feeling “lost in the shadows of sadness” and struggling “in the vicissitudes of fate”. The verses are an introspective look into the mind of the protagonist, reflecting on the difficultly and pain that they are experiencing in their life. The chorus is a plea to find a way out of this despair, to “step into the light” and “walk through the gates of hope”.
The music of the song is just as powerful as the lyrics. The somber and emotive instrumentals and the vocalist’s passionate delivery of the lyrics set the tone of the song. The instrumentals also reflect the intensity of the song’s lyrics, with a soft piano melody signifying the longing of the protagonist, and a harder rocking section symbolizing the anger and frustration felt by the protagonist.
“アフターダーク” is a stunningly powerful song about coming to terms with the darkness in life and finding courage to carry on. The powerful lyrics and emotive instrumentals help to convey the protagonist’s journey of accepting their place in life and the difficulty of trying to find their way once they’ve reached the lowest point. The song is a heartfelt reminder that although life can be overwhelming and full of pain, we can still find sources of hope and comfort if we take the time to seek them.