Merit
Aesop Rock Lyrics

All right
The singer is ready to begin his message

I can hear the ocean in a shell, but, For the life of me, I never heard your surges More than raindrops in a well.
The singer can't understand the meaning behind the other person's words, despite the fact that they seem clear to others. He feels like he is missing something

Paladin tribe, break beat elitists. Element five, Fully sold on operation, Jeopardized on my survival.
The singer is part of a group that is focused on the art of hip hop. He believes in the power of their music, but recognizes the challenges that they face to survive and thrive

I will survive when sprayed by heavens liquid ammunition, I'll survive when betrayed by my brethren's wicked ambitions, I'll survive when grated with shut-eye sticky thickets and thorns, Born clutching a fistful. It hurts, morbidly blissful, Forms spiraling.
Despite the challenges the artist faces in life, he perseveres and finds strength in his struggle. The pain he experiences is both unpleasant and strangely satisfying, and it leads him to create new things

Sovereigns bring the rise from the funnel; A chorus line of blind crazes Tap the water, find the tunnel.
The artist believes that those in power often manipulate the masses to do their bidding. He trusts his own intuition to guide him through the chaos

As skinny clique mechanics flock to block pick of the land, We stretch the earth around the canvas Dragging stick in the sand And pan the hell out!
The singer and his group are determined to make their mark in the world, despite the obstacles in their way. They are determined to create something meaningful and lasting

Amid your tireless bold, Behold that iris spits clips Subtly on supremacy, therefore, blemishes me.
The singer sees through the facade of those in power, and recognizes that their actions have negative consequences on him and his community

Oh, the treacherous penalty centers me, renders me vague, Skating slalom through this churning murder columns I am not entirely trained to undo the shame, And all I got's three pennies and a rusty mic unto my name, Unto my game, the father Siamese approach To whose delinquent dichotomy Cops Emerald City in wondrous novelty.
The artist struggles with the weight of his own guilt, and feels ill-equipped to fight against the corrupt system that surrounds him. He feels like an underdog and recognizes that his own journey is like that of a child trying to make it in a harsh world

Drink drum, sip a snare to spit a rigid sequence, That's when freak sons Fade to Black, Like these pretty pink lungs, slugger.
The artist draws inspiration from the music around him, and uses it to create something new and powerful. He recognizes the fleeting nature of life and is determined to make the most of it

Paper dolls facade as swash buckler. (yeah) Bounty hunt the front to document the frosh cluster.
The artist recognizes the superficiality of those who are obsessed with fame and status. He is determined to be authentic and create something of true value, rather than just chasing after social status

I am structure with a smoke ring, militant distinction With a cloak-and-dagger stagger prime directive, And all else burrows itself amongst drunken perspective (c'mon)
The singer has a clear vision of what he wants to create, and is determined to see it through to the end. He recognizes that others may be distracted by drugs or alcohol, but he stays focused on his goals

Build me (me) Kill me (me) We cadets hold determination As property undeniably divine We leak passion for the noise.
The artist and his group are determined to create something of lasting value, and they recognize that their passion is their greatest asset

There is not a track to cherish From he who lacks merit.
The singer believes that true art comes from those with a strong sense of merit and passion. He is critical of those who create without meaning

And all I think about's the motion, Exerted to color mavericks alerted. Herd a billion nervous lost child prodigies home to flourish.
The singer is focused on the process of creating new art, and on empowering others to do the same. He believes that everyone has something of value to contribute, and wants to encourage them to do so

Now taciturn facets burn open to yield malarkey navigator When wrestled on fancy driftwood out the vessel And I settle.
The singer's mind is opened to new possibilities when he is confronted with difficult situations. He finds a sense of peace through his struggle

A conquest Stamp it, Label it Fresh (fresh) I, in turn, apply policies which require intrinsic merit. (uh)
The artist is determined to create something new and exciting, and wants to label it as fresh and different. He believes that true art should be based on intrinsic merit, rather than on commercial success

Try to wallow down these yellow bricks with yesterdays appendix on hold; Spot it like sky horizon, exposed to bar-codes.
The artist is determined to break free from the constraints of the past, and to create something of true value. He recognizes that the future is uncertain, but he is determined to keep moving forward

Load your fantasy. Interject a bad dream candidly, Blue in the face, through in the chase Between myself and fame's embrace.
The singer sees through the superficiality of fame and recognizes that it can be harmful. He is determined to stay true to himself, even if it means rejecting the temptations of fame

Face engaging, Presence resonant with Chiaroscuro atmospheric traps Inhabit the land of denied clearance. (Yeah)
The singer's presence is strong and powerful, and he is determined to make his mark on the world. He recognizes that there may be forces arrayed against him, but he is determined to push forward

Pigeon hold styles, drop similar. The course the corpse patients Lacing non sequitur's that spittle off the chin. (spittle of the chin)
The artist is critical of those who create art without meaning or purpose. He sees a lack of authenticity in their work, and feels that it is a waste of time

Upon the recognition, pilot soften up the grin Spinning me dizzy, cold. Bending my city to hold water.
The artist is sometimes overwhelmed by the challenges he faces, but he vows to never give up. He is determined to succeed, even if it means bending the world to his will

Yeah, we got affiliates. Cadet merit and brilliance. Clever corporal ? king-thing, crooked I shrink, I sink into my book.
The artist is part of a group of like-minded artists who share his values and passions. He recognizes their talent and brilliance, but also feels that he needs to withdraw into his own thoughts to create something truly unique

It's, like, fury blew the scaffolding askew, And tainted curiosities allowed the freak show to continue.
The singer is critical of the state of the world around him, and feels that many things are out of his control. He sees a world that is twisted and distorted by people's curiosity and desire for the bizarre

Forty thieves received the cue: commence blending a plan (yeah and that was spooky) And decorate the dusk like henna to hand. We unknowingly sketched the pentagram by sending clans Of caffeinated couriers upon a quest to run the perfect circle around a star.
The artist sees the world as a place filled with hidden agendas and conspiracies. He feels like people are always plotting against him, and he is never quite sure who he can trust

Bizarre pattern with a bad vibe Like Jafar to Aladdin Pardon the carbon-based blaze Amongst the stagnant trend frenzy, It offends me.
The singer is critical of the way that society values superficial qualities over true merit. He sees a world that is obsessed with trends and fads, and feels that it is harmful to true creativity

Wait, ain't it the liquid soul therapy? I sip to grip a stationary pillar Yet we slipped these boogie nights, Sucked wattage from rookie lights.
The singer turns to art as a way to cope with the difficulties of life. He recognizes that there is healing power in music and other forms of art. He has been through many challenges in his life, but continues to persevere

Now you proud. I'ma be there when you rush in, Just to touch the mushroom cloud.
The singer recognizes that there are many people who are motivated by superficial desires, like fame and money. He is willing to stand by and watch them make their own mistakes

Drink failure Lord have mercy on their dreams Pretty pixels tend to trickle down the screen. Know what I mean? (I scream)
The artist recognizes that the world is full of people who have failed to achieve their dreams. He sees a world that is obsessed with surface-level qualities, and believes that it is harmful to true creativity

We consider fresh sound play we seek frighteningly close to extinct My life line is an assignment To feed the arts my spirit and to bleed merit The conclusion is subtle: Huddled amongst hermetic gutter-bugs, Peasants, and drunks, Junkies to critics, Sick dictators, haters, Kings to alley urchins, Monarchs, narcs to liars Circling the wild fires, (fires) Live wires; I tend to plan an action less than orderly In, with an otherwise uncommonly primer to normalcy torn, (torn) These trades fade as cadavers due to conflicting data matter. First heard as remarkable is now labeled as unmarketable. Damn, thorn in my side Now the high five hives despised from feedings of alien seedlings, retreating Burst the threshold, make the vessel capsize, Then the hollerings of buoyant survivors Treading evoke dreaded Leviathan! Dead it. Headed to crunch the world of MC etiquette By dismantling mics prior to passing towards degenerates. How do you like that settlement? You feel that? A maverick like myself bottles the creativity Till the cocoon naturally peels back. This little light of mine shines At a hundred billion times The magnitude of every star Within an ample sky sample. I alerted My sole crusaders To trade the games; Prescribed them strict diets of DDT and Kelthane It fester when ingested, Glorious vellum Addressing helots to zealots, To Jezebel's to hellish felons, Granted my span of attention is not what it used to be, But most of y'all delinquents ain't amusing me no more
The artist believes that true creativity is under threat, and that the world is becoming increasingly obsessed with superficial qualities. He sees himself as a crusader for true art, and is willing to take risks to make his voice heard. He is critical of those who have sold out their creativity for commercial success, and believes that true art comes from those who have a true sense of merit and passion