99 Red Balloons
AFI · Other Songs - AFI
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got
Set them free at the break of dawn
Til one by one, they were gone
Back at base bugs in the software
Flash the message, something's out there
Floating in the summer sky
99 red balloons go by
99 red balloons
Floating in the summer sky
Panic bells it's red alert
There's something here from somewhere else
The war machine springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
Focusing it on the sky as 99 red balloons go by
99 Decision street
99 ministers meet
To worry, worry, super scurry
Call the troops out in a hurry
This is what we've waited for
This is it boys, this is war
The president is on the line
As 99 red balloons go by
99 knights of the air
Ride super high tech jet fighters
Everyone's a super hero Everyone's a Captain Kirk
With orders to identify
To clarify, and classify
Scramble in the summer sky
99 red balloons go by
99 dreams I have had In every one a red balloon
It's all over and I'm standing pretty
In this dust that was a city
If I could find a souvenir
Just to prove the world was here
And here is a red balloon
I think of you, and let it go
99 Red Balloons
AFI's cover of '99 Red Balloons' stands as a defining moment in their early discography, blending the original's whimsical melody with the band's signature post-hardcore intensity. Released during their formative years, the track exemplifies the group's ability to reinterpret classic material through a darker, more aggressive lens while retaining its nostalgic core. The recording captures the raw energy of the era, showcasing AFI's evolving sound as they moved from alternative rock toward the melodic heaviness that would characterize their later work. This version remains a staple in their catalog, illustrating their commitment to revisiting iconic songs and injecting them with their unique sonic identity. It serves as a testament to their skill in transforming familiar melodies into powerful statements within the alternative rock landscape.