Busdriver guested on upward of 20 singles, and by 2001 he could no longer be contained by guest spots, releasing his first full-length, Memoirs of the Elephant Man (1999). There were just as many detractors as supporters for his singular style, which was so densely packed it made his chosen name seem a reference for multiple-personality disorder, and the lo-fi production also left more listeners scratching heads than nodding them.
His next album, This Machine Kills Fashion Tips (2002), continued in a similar manner before being trumped by better production and more focused rhymes on Temporary Forever the same year. Joined by another West Coast avant-garde MC, Radioinactive, and the breezy, fractured pop of electronic producer Daedelus, Busdriver released yet another odd puzzle piece in 2003, The Weather. Fear of a Black Tangent followed on Mush in 2005. After moving to Anti-/Epitaph, the rapper issued RoadKillOvercoat, which featured production from Nobody and Boom Bip. His second Anti- release, Jhelli Beam, appeared in 2009. In 2010 he put out a full-length mixtape of unreleased gems and illegal remixes called Computer Cooties. It was released as a free album. 2010 saw Bus toiling over a new album that will shock fans and confuse the unconverted into unwilling servitude. It is called Beaus$Eros and was released on February 21, 2012 on Fake Four. Beaus$Eros forgoes the lightening-speed rhyming that defined his style in favor of a diverse, off-kilter brand of pop and post-hip-hop.
World Agape
Busdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Art rap, art rap, art rap, art rap!
Whoo!
Who better qualified to mediate in the larp discord
With my dewy moleskin brewing cauldron and karmic orb
I'm fully pantsless like the wooly mammoth from the tar pit gorge
Yet I'm David Carradine taking thorazine off the starship oars
No tasteful tunes, just tablespoons of parsnip porridge
Of the bleeded ether from the Greenpeacer's alarmist lore
(Chorus)
I'm dashing and windblown
When the world's agape
And I bookend your smiles with unhappy endings
I'm dashing and windblown
When the world's agape
Drop orange rind on the war crime set in the crowded ballot
With my in-laws and Limbaugh singing a power ballad
Their price gouging funds their night outings and flowered phallice
More than spider bites we give them writer's strikes and an endowed outage
The ulcer gargle and dulcimer drone are character-driven
Like the "no sir" art show, sulfur marble and American women
This bonus disk shows my showmanship and parenting acumen
(Chorus)
I'm dashing and windblown
When the world's agape
And I bookend your smiles with unhappy endings
I'm dashing and windblown
When the world's agape
Oh what to do
Oh what to do when the world we service is a whirling dervish
And my sidekick aids his surly cervix he's burly and girlish
And I'm Isaac Hayes on a gurney in Zurich saying
"Man up puss! Right now!"
We're telling kids
"Oh yes, you can't"
I'm rushed to hair and make-up on the war-torn beachfront
Where I narrate stuff like a foreign-born creampuff
But I forewarn the teen pups that their core's worn and pre-shrunk
Then in poor form, I triple lutz and I land on my gristle hump
But really
I'm into spooning and spoonerisms
And I make a splash like my hands are two-thirds fish fin
Because when I talk it's like nuclear fission yet it resonates
Like a Ferris Bueller ditch party
Apply the oil-slick sheen of the Blue Man Group
Eat Soylent Green by the two-hand scoop
When you see my face at the newsstand booth
With plutonium in his thermos
I got Obi-Wan discharged
With my phony gun and lip service
I earned the large gift card
To stir up the stern class kings and nurture the saplings
I earn medals dirt-pedal with the facial hair of Burt Reynolds
Burnt kettles on my turntables
Make sheet music leak coolant
When I speak to it
In Busdriver's song "World Agape," the artist expresses his disillusionment with society and its norms. He mentions his role as a mediator in the live-action role-playing game (larp) community, highlighting his unconventional personality traits such as being fully pantsless and having a dewy moleskin brewing cauldron and karmic orb. Busdriver then juxtaposes this with references to mainstream American culture such as Rush Limbaugh and power ballads. He emphasizes the dissonance between his beliefs and those of the mainstream by including the line, "We're telling kids 'Oh yes, you can't.'" Throughout the song, Busdriver presents himself as a nonconformist and disruptor of societal norms, questioning the values and beliefs that dictate what is considered "appropriate" or "normal."
One of the central themes of this song is the idea that the world is "agape," meaning open or vulnerable. Busdriver suggests that the world is in a state of crisis and chaos, and that he is dashing and windblown as a result. He recognizes that there is much work to be done to fix the issues facing society, but he also acknowledges the difficulty of achieving lasting change. Despite this, he remains committed to his role as an artist and activist, using his platform to stir up the "stern class kings" and "nurture the saplings" in order to effect meaningful change.
Line by Line Meaning
Who better qualified to mediate in the larp discord
I am confident in my ability to mediate conflicts in live action role-play communities.
With my dewy moleskin brewing cauldron and karmic orb
I am creative and imaginative, using my journal and spiritual practices to fuel my work.
I'm fully pantsless like the wooly mammoth from the tar pit gorge
I am vulnerable and unguarded in my artistic expression.
Yet I'm David Carradine taking thorazine off the starship oars
Despite this vulnerability, I remain in control and focused on my work.
No godhead in the blog thread stringing this harpsichord
I am not influenced by popular opinion or trends in my creative output.
No tasteful tunes, just tablespoons of parsnip porridge
My work is unconventional, not conforming to traditional standards of taste or style.
Of the bleeded ether from the Greenpeacer's alarmist lore
My work is inspired by ethereal and abstract concepts, such as environmental activism.
I'm dashing and windblown
When the world's agape
And I bookend your smiles with unhappy endings
I am a dynamic and captivating performer, evoking intense emotions and alternate perspectives.
Drop orange rind on the war crime set in the crowded ballot
I critique political events and societal issues in my artistic expression.
With my in-laws and Limbaugh singing a power ballad
I use unlikely themes and collaborators in my work for creative effect.
Their price gouging funds their night outings and flowered phallice
I call out the greed and excesses of those in power in my creative expression.
More than spider bites we give them writer's strikes and an endowed outage
I use my platform to advocate for writers' rights and social justice causes.
The ulcer gargle and dulcimer drone are character-driven
My creative choices are rooted in character development and storytelling.
Like the "no sir" art show, sulfur marble and American women
I incorporate diverse and unexpected elements into my work to challenge preconceptions.
This bonus disk shows my showmanship and parenting acumen
I am proud of my skills as a performer and my personal values as a parent.
Oh what to do when the world we service is a whirling dervish
I am deeply aware of the chaotic nature of the world and the challenges it presents.
And my sidekick aids his surly cervix he's burly and girlish
My creative collaborators defy gender norms and push the boundaries of identity.
And I'm Isaac Hayes on a gurney in Zurich saying
"Man up puss! Right now!"
I draw on pop culture icons and provocative language to make a bold artistic statement.
We're telling kids
"Oh yes, you can't"
I challenge the harmful messages and limitations imposed on young people in our society.
I'm rushed to hair and make-up on the war-torn beachfront
I am committed to my craft and put in the effort required to create impactful work.
Where I narrate stuff like a foreign-born creampuff
I use my unique perspective and storytelling abilities to great effect.
But I forewarn the teen pups that their core's worn and pre-shrunk
I encourage others to reflect on their own experiences and identities, and to take care of their emotional well-being.
Then in poor form, I triple lutz and I land on my gristle hump
I use humor and unexpected physicality to engage and entertain audiences.
But really
I'm into spooning and spoonerisms
I have a playful and creative approach to language and human connection.
And I make a splash like my hands are two-thirds fish fin
My artistic expression has a big impact and resonates strongly with audiences.
Because when I talk it's like nuclear fission yet it resonates
Like a Ferris Bueller ditch party
My words and ideas have a powerful and contagious effect on others.
Apply the oil-slick sheen of the Blue Man Group
Eat Soylent Green by the two-hand scoop
I use pop culture references and satirical commentary to challenge societal norms and expectations.
When you see my face at the newsstand booth
With plutonium in his thermos
I use shocking or unexpected imagery to provoke curiosity and attention from audiences.
I got Obi-Wan discharged
With my phony gun and lip service
I earned the large gift card
I use my wit and creativity to subvert authority and challenge the status quo.
To stir up the stern class kings and nurture the saplings
I aim to disrupt power structures and inspire new voices and perspectives to emerge.
I earn medals dirt-pedal with the facial hair of Burt Reynolds
I celebrate unconventional and bold individuals who defy societal norms.
Burnt kettles on my turntables
Make sheet music leak coolant
I use unusual sounds and found objects in my music production to create unique and innovative compositions.
When I speak to it
I am deeply committed to my creative work and use my voice to make a difference.
Contributed by Isabelle V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Thomas Amish
Simply hypnotic.
NervousAneil
this is amazing.