After Dark

"After Dark" by Mr.Kitty delves into the complex emotions of intimacy, longing, and reconciliation. The song's title itself suggests events and feelings that emerge during the night, a time often associated with vulnerability and confession. The lyrics narrate a story of two people reconnecting after a period of difficulty. The opening lines, "I see you, you see me," establish a powerful, immediate connection, which is followed by an apology and an admission of missing the other person, indicating a past rift.

The central theme revolves around the anticipation and anxiety of expressing a deep-seated desire. The narrator repeatedly expresses the need to ask a question before being left alone, which is revealed to be about understanding the feeling of kissing their partner: "How it feels to rest on your patient lips." This suggests a yearning for both physical intimacy and the emotional validation that comes with it. The term "eternal bliss" elevates this kiss to a transcendent experience.

The song also touches on themes of personal growth and healing. The line "I've given what I have, I showed you I'm growing" implies that the narrator has worked on themselves, and this reunion is a test of that change. The imagery of "ashes fall slowly" being consoled by a voice suggests finding peace and comfort after a period of turmoil. Some interpretations suggest the lyrics could be about a homosexual romance, pointing to the line "Our laughter, he knows me." The overall meaning is one of profound emotional connection, the vulnerability of expressing desire, and the hope for a blissful union after overcoming past troubles.

The song unfolds as a narrative of intimate connection and unspoken feelings, set against the backdrop of the night. It begins with a simple, mutual acknowledgment between two people: "I see you, you see me." This moment is described as pleasant, and the feeling is amplified by a physical embrace, which is met with the words, "I missed you, I'm sorry." This suggests a reunion after a period of distance or conflict, hinting at a past that was perhaps troubled. The narrator reflects on their personal growth, stating, "I've given what I have, I showed you I'm growing." The imagery of ashes falling slowly while being consoled by the other's voice evokes a sense of peace after a destructive period, a calm after the storm.

As time passes, a sense of urgency builds. The recurring chorus, "As the hours pass, I will let you know, That I need to ask, Before I'm alone," reveals the narrator's deep-seated need to articulate a question, a desire to understand the feeling of "eternal bliss" found in a kiss from their partner's "patient lips." This repetition highlights a fear of being left alone with these thoughts unspoken, emphasizing the importance of this shared moment of vulnerability.

The second verse paints a scene of two people moving together, swaying to drum beats. This physical closeness is both comforting and charged with a quiet tension. The narrator feels their own patience controlling an unasked question, suggesting a struggle between the desire for clarity and the fear of breaking the serene moment. They find solace in shared stories and laughter, where a deep sense of being understood is conveyed: "Our laughter, he knows me." The approach of the other person is described as calming, further solidifying the atmosphere of intimacy and trust.

The bridge of the song marks a climatic point in the narrative. The night itself becomes a protective entity, holding them close while the stars guide them home. The narrator has been waiting for this moment of solitude with their partner. Overwhelmed by anxiety, they turn to finally ask their long-held question. The sensory details are vivid: "Your lips were soft like winter, in your passion, I was lost." This metaphor captures a blend of gentle coldness and intense, consuming passion, a moment where the narrator is completely enveloped by the emotional and physical connection, losing themselves in the experience of finally reaching this point of awaited intimacy.

"After Dark" was written and produced by Forrest Avery Carney, known professionally as Mr.Kitty. It was released on July 8, 2014, as the ninth track on his fifth studio album, Time. The album was released under the Juggernaut Music Group label. Forrest Avery Carney, born March 25, 1992, is an American singer-songwriter and producer from Arlington, Texas.

The song did not achieve mainstream success upon its initial release. However, it gained viral popularity years later. In 2019, a fan-made YouTube video featuring clips of actress Jennifer Connelly from the 1991 film Career Opportunities set to "After Dark" went viral, introducing the song to a much wider audience. Following this, in 2021, the song's popularity exploded on the social media platform TikTok, where it was used as the soundtrack for countless videos. This newfound fame led to "After Dark" becoming Mr.Kitty's breakout single, and it even entered the Billboard Global 200 chart in 2022, peaking at number 195.

In June 2021, Forrest Avery Carney became the subject of controversy when it was revealed he had exchanged explicit messages with an underage fan. He subsequently released a statement admitting to the online relationship. His label at the time, Negative Gain Productions, announced they would discontinue sales of his albums.

The rhyme scheme in "After Dark" is not strictly consistent, often favoring a more free-verse feel that enhances its conversational and introspective tone. However, there are instances of rhyming couplets and near rhymes that provide structure.

For example, in the verses, the structure is more open, focusing on short, impactful phrases. The chorus, however, has a more defined rhyme scheme, with "know" and "alone" creating a sense of closure to the thought, even as it expresses uncertainty. The lines "I will let you know / That I need to ask / Before I'm alone / How it feels to rest / On your patient lips / To eternal bliss / I'm so glad to know" loosely follows a pattern where the end words create a sense of connection.

The rhythm of the lyrics works in tandem with the song's musical rhythm. The verses are delivered in a more fragmented, almost hesitant rhythm, mirroring the cautious intimacy being described. The chorus has a more flowing, driving rhythm that matches the synth beat, creating a feeling of mounting urgency and emotion. The bridge section, with its longer, more descriptive lines, slows the lyrical pace slightly, building tension before the final repetition of the chorus. The overall tempo of the song is relatively fast at 140 BPM, which creates a danceable quality that contrasts with the melancholic and introspective lyrics, a common feature in the synth-pop and darkwave genres.

"After Dark" employs several stylistic techniques, both musically and lyrically, to create its distinctive atmosphere.

Musical Techniques:

• Instrumentation: The song is built around a classic synth-pop and darkwave sonic palette. It features prominent synthesizers that create a dreamy, atmospheric soundscape, a steady drum machine beat, and a driving bassline. This electronic foundation gives the music its characteristic nostalgic and melancholic feel.
• Vocal Delivery: Mr.Kitty's vocal performance is understated and almost whispered at times, enhancing the sense of intimacy and confession. The delivery is melancholic and filled with a sense of longing, which aligns perfectly with the lyrical themes.
• Arrangement: The song structure builds gradually, starting with a more sparse arrangement and adding layers as the emotional intensity increases. The use of a build-up before a "drop" into a more dynamic section with vivid imagery creates a compelling listening experience. The tempo is an allegro 140 BPM with a 4/4 time signature, creating a danceable yet melancholic rhythm.

Literary Techniques:

• Repetition: The chorus, with its plea to ask a question before being alone, is repeated several times. This repetition emphasizes the narrator's anxiety, fear of loneliness, and the paramount importance of the moment.
• Imagery: The lyrics are rich in sensory imagery, such as "The ashes fall slowly," "patient lips," and "lips were soft like winter." These images create a vivid and emotionally resonant narrative.
• Personification: The night is personified as a comforting entity that will "hold us close" and the stars as guides that will "guide us home," adding to the song's dreamlike and romantic quality.

"After Dark" has had a significant cultural impact, largely due to its viral resurgence years after its initial release. Originally released in 2014 on the album Time, the song remained relatively unknown in the mainstream. Its rise to prominence began in 2019 with a fan-made YouTube video that paired the song with scenes from the movie Career Opportunities. This video and others like it, such as montages from Blade Runner 2049, helped associate the song with a specific nostalgic and cinematic aesthetic.

The song's popularity exploded in 2021 on TikTok, where it became a viral sound used in countless videos, often for content with an aesthetic, introspective, or melancholic theme. This viral success propelled "After Dark" onto the Billboard Global 200 chart in 2022, a rare feat for a song released eight years prior. It has been described as a "comfort song" by some listeners and is often associated with late-night driving and feelings of nostalgia.

The song's moody and atmospheric sound has also led to its use in fan edits for various media, notably for the video game Elden Ring, where it has been called the game's unofficial theme song by some fans. Despite the controversy surrounding the artist, "After Dark" remains a popular and influential track within online communities and the dark synth-pop scene, a testament to its powerful and enduring emotional resonance.

"After Dark" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that deepen its emotional landscape.

• Night and Darkness: The title itself, "After Dark," establishes the night as a primary symbol. It represents a space of intimacy, vulnerability, and introspection, where conversations and connections happen away from the public eye. The night "holds us close," acting as a comforting and protective force for the two individuals.
• Ashes: The line "The ashes fall slowly" is a powerful metaphor for the aftermath of a conflict or a painful period. Ashes symbolize destruction and loss, but their slow, gentle falling, coupled with the consoling voice, suggests a process of healing and the quiet settling of past troubles.
• Patient Lips: Describing the partner's lips as "patient" is a significant metaphorical choice. It implies a gentle, understanding, and non-demanding affection. It suggests that the partner has waited, possibly through difficult times, for this moment of intimacy, reinforcing the theme of reconciliation.
• Winter: The simile "Your lips were soft like winter" is a striking and complex image. Winter can connote coldness and harshness, but in this context, combined with "soft," it creates a sense of delicate, cool tenderness that is overwhelmed by the heat of "passion." It captures a moment of intense sensory experience that is both gentle and all-consuming.

The most prominent recurring phrase in "After Dark" is the chorus: "As the hours pass, I will let you know, That I need to ask, Before I'm alone, How it feels to rest, On your patient lips, To eternal bliss, I'm so glad to know."

This entire section acts as the central motif of the song. Its repetition underscores the narrator's primary emotional state: a mixture of longing, anxiety, and a desperate need for connection and reassurance. The phrase "before I'm alone" is particularly significant, as it reveals a deep-seated fear of isolation and the potential for this precious moment of intimacy to be fleeting.

The repetition of this chorus serves to build emotional tension throughout the song. Each time it returns, it reinforces the central question and the high stakes of the moment for the narrator. There are no significant variations in its recurrence, which suggests the persistence and unchanging nature of this core desire and fear.

Another recurring image is the idea of direct, mutual acknowledgment, established at the very beginning with "I see you, you see me." This sets the stage for the entire song, emphasizing a connection that is both seen and felt, and this theme of mutual recognition underpins the more complex emotions that are explored later in the lyrics.