The Tugboat Complex Part 3
Aesop Rock Lyrics


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Aesop Rock - The Tugboat Complex Pt. 3

I could make 'em all dance, or I could sleep
I could walk with a limp and make your step feel incomplete
People are made of match sticks, life is but a flame
Note at the craftwork door the last smirk of the the Damien mainframe
My box cost siphon third rail juice from lost poets
Inhabit ocean bottoms with a bitter rotten scapegoat pardons (note to self)
Don't bargain at martyr parliament rallies
Where participants squeeze your last giggle then whittle sacrificial finalies
I can tie my new faces alone, save your knee deep offerings
Sorta bring puke coughing bunk persona to light (I might)
Build anti-malignant railroads, find you, and lay tracks adjacent
Just to scream "fuck off" as the engine pulls out the station
What should we do with a thousand drunken sailors?
"kill 'em all, locate their family address, release a mailer"

(dear sir or madam, your son or daughter's embarrassed human kind
Consuming booze and gut fuel, till they cruised across the line)

I spin gold, your raps are dirty lapsed
Towards the nursery class act impression of a bubble
(yeah I could of been more subtle when polluting paradise gene puddle)
Man huddles make us look like cool peeps and I'm trying to school sheep
Towards the right idea {*c'ya* - 5X}
This basic divine subsidiary bust center syllable logic, fold origami
Plantation shut this picket fence
*TANGLED THROUGH your dream kitten, you'll probably never hear this song
Let alone sip the mission long enough to listen

(I smoke cigarettes down to filter, smoke the filter down to space
Now I'm gonna roll this question tight and smoke that shit up in your face
Now if you were to alter masks every time fame circus approaches
Do you really think your maker wouldn't notice? *THINK ABOUT IT)

Okay, I've died a thousand, and I'll die a thousand more,
I leave footprints in fours, two for bi-peds, two more to break the door
Practically caress the utterings of crushed by drudgery brothers and sisters
Mothering stickler cabin and madden shit
I'll fix the wing for a penny and a *PARABLE, yeah but this friendship
Sunk with a barrel full of ?? pull
I seen guys harbor bad shiners
Then wonder why the culprits sitting at the their rainbows ending
Rocks garbage bag liners
With out the apple seed it's useless (I sat for greed)
Patched for boredom crafts a castle out of toothpicks (I sat to breath)
I breath to hard nearly metamorph castle loose pins
Now I stand to breath as not to disturb the*PLUMMAGE
And I know that's not a story, it no longer turns my stomach
Hollering wolves in the form of one frustrated culprit
But a love tap full of washed up stardom melted trying to milk it
Win a ticket to right white lines highway sideways melt it smelt it
One love to the rungs in my ladder, one love to the gathering of
Laughter bats that hung from my rafters
See the jackal met the badger, they were both such fucking bad asses
That clashing wouldn't make sense (hence my tape deck)
Now I ain't gonna name name's, and I ain't gonna drag others in
But I ain't about to say that I'm the only cat you got bubbling
Your lucky, somehow you managed to befriend some good people
Who will sit and soak the evils you secrete, but why? I'm not really sure

(knock the fuck off, kicking his lip across the floor
'til the archival vinyl venom soak the lure
Anti-clarity mechanism spit flattery burners
Fusing a million majesty murders then stole the crown)

oh wait that's right, you discovered me right?
Offered up the peace pipe, and oh
It's all cotton candy when Aesop Rock the be line
He's actin foolish left in the middle of laying bricks
(oh we weren't building nothing but a great wall around these stones and sticks)
Oh and for the record I've been rhyming since me and Andre thought we could freestyle
Built foundation out of passion and brother dusty tasking
Studied dope rappers, vocab expansion, poems and syllable placement
Your just mad 'cause somewhere in there you came and went (I ain't the type to dwell)
Dismissed it as casually non compatible and bounced
Obtained status where I could straight objectively critique your after projects like
(damn that sounds fresh) or (damn that shit is garbage, what happened?
I'm not even laughing)
Yeah, but the barriers were broken (you choked)
You made comments to the wrong ?? who out of respect and honor leaked your program




Now like were both trying to sit and breath another dawn so my advice
To you is when I say just "move on" {*move on* - 5X}

Overall Meaning

The Tugboat Complex Pt. 3 is a song by Aesop Rock that begins with him questioning the choices he has in regards to his music. He could either make music that makes people dance or just do nothing at all. He then dives into the idea that people are like matchsticks and that life is just a flame. He notes that at the door of the craftwork, the last thing to see is the smirk of the Damien mainframe. This seems to indicate that no matter what you do, life is going to end at some point. The song then goes on to reveal Aesop’s insecurities and the fact that he is struggling to make his way in the music industry.


The Tugboat Complex Pt. 3 is a song that is difficult to interpret but has different layers of meaning. At its core, the song is about the struggles that artists face in the music industry. The lyrics are complex and require interpretation, but they describe the frustration of trying to make it in an industry that doesn’t always value artistry or originality. The song is also about the insecurities that artists face and the struggle to be recognized for their talent. Ultimately, the song is a critique of the music industry and the challenges that artists face when trying to make their art.


Line by Line Meaning

I could make 'em all dance, or I could sleep
I have the power to control people, but I could also choose to ignore it


I could walk with a limp and make your step feel incomplete
Even the smallest of things could have an impact on someone else's life


People are made of match sticks, life is but a flame
People are fragile, and life is fleeting


Note at the craftwork door the last smirk of the the Damien mainframe
See the last smile of the computer program that once destroyed the world


My box cost siphon third rail juice from lost poets
My music is inspired by artists who have been forgotten by the mainstream


Inhabit ocean bottoms with a bitter rotten scapegoat pardons (note to self)
I sometimes feel trapped and alone with my negative thoughts (reminder to myself)


Don't bargain at martyr parliament rallies
Don't make deals with those who are willing to die for their beliefs


Where participants squeeze your last giggle then whittle sacrificial finalies
People will make fun of you until it becomes serious and deadly


I can tie my new faces alone, save your knee deep offerings
I can reinvent myself without anyone's help, and I don't need your phony gestures of support


Sorta bring puke coughing bunk persona to light (I might)
I might reveal my true self, even if it's disgusting and unpleasant


Build anti-malignant railroads, find you, and lay tracks adjacent
I will fight against evil and injustice, and I will come after you and your corrupt ways


Just to scream "fuck off" as the engine pulls out the station
I will express my anger and frustration even if it's too late for you to hear it


What should we do with a thousand drunken sailors?
What should we do with people who are out of control and causing havoc?


"kill 'em all, locate their family address, release a mailer"
Kill them and send letters to their family informing them of their disgraceful behavior


(dear sir or madam, your son or daughter's embarrassed human kind Consuming booze and gut fuel, till they cruised across the line)
Informing families of their loved one's shameful actions while under the influence of alcohol


I spin gold, your raps are dirty lapsed Towards the nursery class act impression of a bubble
I create art that is valuable and timeless, while your work is shallow and immature


(yeah I could of been more subtle when polluting paradise gene puddle)
I could have been more discreet when spreading my negative influence


Man huddles make us look like cool peeps and I'm trying to school sheep Towards the right idea {*c'ya* - 5X}
Hanging out with friends might seem cool, but I am trying to educate people and lead them towards positive change


This basic divine subsidiary bust center syllable logic, fold origami Plantation shut this picket fence
Using simple but powerful language, I want to dismantle the structures that oppress us


*TANGLED THROUGH your dream kitten, you'll probably never hear this song Let alone sip the mission long enough to listen
This song might never reach you, and even if it does, you might not understand the message


(I smoke cigarettes down to filter, smoke the filter down to space Now I'm gonna roll this question tight and smoke that shit up in your face
I smoke a lot, and now I am going to ask you a pointed and confrontational question


Now if you were to alter masks every time fame circus approaches Do you really think your maker wouldn't notice? *THINK ABOUT IT)
If you are not true to yourself and change who you are to fit in with a crowd, do you think your true self will still exist?


Okay, I've died a thousand, and I'll die a thousand more, I leave footprints in fours, two for bi-peds, two more to break the door
I have faced many challenges and failures, but I keep going and making my mark


Practically caress the utterings of crushed by drudgery brothers and sisters Mothering stickler cabin and madden shit
I empathize with those who are suffering and try to help them


I'll fix the wing for a penny and a *PARABLE, yeah but this friendship Sunk with a barrel full of ?? pull
I am willing to help others even if it's for a small reward, but sometimes friendships are destroyed by greed


I seen guys harbor bad shiners Then wonder why the culprits sitting at the their rainbows ending Rocks garbage bag liners With out the apple seed it's useless (I sat for greed)
I have seen people hide their bad deeds, and then be surprised when they face the consequences. Without the necessary tools and resources, even the best intentions won't succeed.


Patched for boredom crafts a castle out of toothpicks (I sat to breath) I breath to hard nearly metamorph castle loose pins Now I stand to breath as not to disturb the*PLUMMAGE
When I am feeling bored, I create something out of nothing. I sometimes put too much effort into small details, and I am now standing carefully so as not to ruin my masterpiece


And I know that's not a story, it no longer turns my stomach Hollering wolves in the form of one frustrated culprit
I have heard so many negative stories that they no longer surprise me. Sometimes, people act out of frustration and cause harm to others


But a love tap full of washed up stardom melted trying to milk it Win a ticket to right white lines highway sideways melt it smelt it
Sometimes, people use their fame and status for their own gain, but it doesn't last forever. Winning a contest won't solve your problems


One love to the rungs in my ladder, one love to the gathering of Laughter bats that hung from my rafters
I am grateful for the people who have helped me succeed, and I cherish the memories of good times


See the jackal met the badger, they were both such fucking bad asses That clashing wouldn't make sense (hence my tape deck)
Sometimes, seemingly incompatible people can get along and form a bond. Just like how my music collection has a variety of different styles and genres


Now I ain't gonna name name's, and I ain't gonna drag others in But I ain't about to say that I'm the only cat you got bubbling
I won't call anyone out specifically, and I won't involve other people. But I won't deny that there are others out there making great art


Your lucky, somehow you managed to befriend some good people Who will sit and soak the evils you secrete, but why? I'm not really sure
You are fortunate to have friends who tolerate your negative actions, but I don't understand why they do it


(knock the fuck off, kicking his lip across the floor 'til the archival vinyl venom soak the lure Anti-clarity mechanism spit flattery burners Fusing a million majesty murders then stole the crown)
Stop talking and stop lying. My music is pure and powerful, and it will destroy anything fake or negative


oh wait that's right, you discovered me right? Offered up the peace pipe, and oh It's all cotton candy when Aesop Rock the be line He's actin foolish left in the middle of laying bricks (oh we weren't building nothing but a great wall around these stones and sticks)
You act like you discovered me, but all you did was offer me drugs. You only care about me when I am popular and successful. Our collaboration was pointless and aimless


Oh and for the record I've been rhyming since me and Andre thought we could freestyle Built foundation out of passion and brother dusty tasking Studied dope rappers, vocab expansion, poems and syllable placement Your just mad 'cause somewhere in there you came and went (I ain't the type to dwell)
I have been making music for a long time, and I have honed my skills through hard work and dedication. You are jealous because you were once in my position but lacked the commitment to stick around


Dismissed it as casually non compatible and bounced Obtained status where I could straight objectively critique your after projects like (damn that sounds fresh) or (damn that shit is garbage, what happened? I'm not even laughing)
You dismissed my talent and left, but I have since achieved success and can now evaluate your work without bias


Yeah, but the barriers were broken (you choked) You made comments to the wrong ?? who out of respect and honor leaked your program Now like were both trying to sit and breath another dawn so my advice To you is when I say just "move on" {*move on* - 5X}
The barriers to success were broken, but you couldn't handle the pressure and made a mistake. Someone who respected you leaked your secret, and now we both have to move on and start fresh




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