"I Won't See You Tonight" is a two-part song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. The songs appeared on their second studio album, Waking the Fallen, as tracks 9 and 10 respectively. The song peaked at #2 on the overall US song sales chart in 2014.

"I Won't See You Tonight"
Song by Avenged Sevenfold
from the album Waking the Fallen
ReleasedAugust 26, 2003
RecordedApril – June 2003[1]
Studio
  • Third Stone, Hollywood, California
  • Mates Inc, Hollywood, California
Genre
Length
  • 8:59 (Part 1)
  • 4:45 (Part 2)
LabelHopeless
Songwriter(s)Avenged Sevenfold
Producer(s)
Waking the Fallen track listing
12 tracks
  1. "Waking the Fallen"
  2. "Unholy Confessions"
  3. "Chapter Four"
  4. "Remenissions"
  5. "Desecrate Through Reverence"
  6. "Eternal Rest"
  7. "Second Heartbeat"
  8. "Radiant Eclipse"
  9. "I Won't See You Tonight Part 1"
  10. "I Won't See You Tonight Part 2"
  11. "Clairvoyant Disease"
  12. "And All Things Will End

Composition

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The first portion, "I Won't See You Tonight Part 1" is a power ballad,[3][4] while "I Won't See You Tonight Part 2" is much faster, and more in line with the metalcore sound the band played in their early days.[5] The Rev's drumming on (Part 2) was reportedly inspired by the work of drummer Paul Bostaph from Slayer.[6]

The song's lyrical matter was inspired by the band's former bassist Justin Sane. Around August 2001, Sane attempted suicide by drinking excessive amounts of cough syrup.[7] During Sane's hospitalization, he remained in poor condition and had to leave the band.[7] In an interview, lead singer M. Shadows said of Sane that "he perma-fried his brain and was in a mental institution for a long time, and when you have someone in your band who does that, it ruins everything that's going on all around you, and it makes you want to do something to prevent it from happening to other people."[7]

Critical reception

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In 2021, Return of Rock ranked the song(s) at number 19 on its list of the 20 greatest Avenged Sevenfold songs.[8] It was also features on Revolver's list of the best non-hair metal power-ballads.[4] It was described on the latter list as "the most powerful (ballad) in (the band's) repertoire."

Charts

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Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[9] 2

Personnel

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Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold website". 2003-06-24. Archived from the original on June 24, 2003. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  2. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold — Waking the Fallen". sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  3. ^ M, Jordan (August 30, 2014). "Review: Avenged Sevenfold - Waking the Fallen | Sputnikmusic". sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "16 GREAT NON-HAIR-METAL POWER BALLADS". Revolver Mag. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Waking the Fallen Songs Ranked". Return of Rock. October 4, 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  6. ^ "KERRANG!'S 101 SECRETS BEHIND THE SONGS: AVENGED SEVENFOLD'S "I WON'T SEE YOU TONIGHT PART 2."". AvengedSevenfold.com. April 24, 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "Thursday, Avenged Sevenfold, Poison The Well Take Action Against Suicide". mtv.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  8. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold Songs Ranked". Return of Rock. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Hot Singles Sales: September 13, 2014". Billboard. September 13, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  10. ^ Waking the Fallen: Resurrected liner notes. Hopeless Records. 2014. p. 9.