Habeas Corpses
El-P Lyrics

I found love on a prison ship
Despite being in a place of confinement and despair, I discovered love.

Number 247681-Z, step to the line
Being identified and categorized by a numerical code, stand in line.

Two types of people in this world to recognize
There are only two distinct groups of people that we should acknowledge.

Conquered, and the one holding the rifle at the next in line
The oppressed and the oppressors, those with power and those at their mercy.

The cross hair in my eye is a vessel to god
The sight of the crosshair in my eye connects me to a higher power.

The container that kept you around is in a hole in the yard
The place that held you captive is now buried in the ground.

Sail the cemetery seas, half the crew leaves then move on
Navigating through the seas of death, half the crew departs and continues their journey.

You have no idea how right my head is screwed on
You have no comprehension of how well my mind functions.

When I wake up and put this suit on, I feel escape begin
Every morning when I dress in this uniform, I sense the beginning of liberation.

Expirations are needed, I facilitate the end
Death is necessary, and I play a role in bringing it.

There are two types of mornings in this life I can surmise
In life, there are two distinct types of mornings I can infer.

I wake early in the first to help supply the second type
I rise early in one type of morning to contribute to the possibility of the other.

Technician of repetition clips in the numbest of traditions its
Skilled in recurrent actions, attaching on repetitive mechanisms even when they have lost their impact.

The little wondrous blunders that can summon one's demise
The small and marvellous mistakes that can lead to one's downfall.

I know the line to walk, talk softly, punch a clock, aim, done
I am aware of the path to follow, speaking gently, fulfilling my duty, and finishing with precision.

I see the shelter in contrition, best to limit wagging tongues
I find solace in expressing remorse, and it is advisable to curb loose talk.

But today's a confrontation with a thought that's not assured
However, today brings a confrontation with an uncertain idea.

She's inching closer to my services and further from my world
She is gradually approaching me for assistance, while simultaneously distancing herself from my reality.

Does this job ever bother you, darkly creep up in your conscious too?
Do you ever feel uneasy or disturbed by this job, intruding on your conscience?

Nope, in fact I'm so enamored with the standard
No, in fact, I am so captivated by the norm.

Of being handed a command to, it's almost romantic
Being given a task feels almost like a romantic gesture.

The lead giveth, I take it, if I didn't understand it
I receive the authority and act accordingly, assuming I comprehend it.

I'm saying during the tenure of your gig, have you ever herded a pris
I mean, have you ever directed a prisoner during your time on this job?

Who despite the traitorous label, makes you nervous as a kid
Someone who, despite being labeled as treacherous, evokes anxiety like a child.

Maybe beyond a date with the lead, there's something else meant for
Perhaps, beyond the expected outcome, there is another purpose.

A prisoner with the beauty of 247290-Z
A prisoner possessing the beauty represented by the code 247290-Z.

Oh God, you gotta be joking, I get it she's smoking
Oh God, you must be kidding, I understand she's attractive.

Go get a taste, I'll hold you down for thirty, she must be purty, you're open
Go take a chance with her, I'll provide cover for thirty seconds, she must be pretty, you're interested.

Your secret's safe with me, go on a raping spree
I guarantee your secret will remain confidential, go ahead and engage in a violent spree.

I gotta couple numbers of my own, just return the courtesy
I have a few targets of my own, just reciprocate the favor.

No, nah man, that's actually not on my mind
No, actually, that's not what I'm thinking about.

Somehow its different this time
In some way, it feels distinct this time.

I mean
I intend to convey.

Should a creature so sublime and young really be in line for the gun
Should such a magnificent and youthful being truly face the prospect of death?

And am I the one to dispense it? She seems almost defenseless
And am I the one to execute it? She appears nearly powerless.

And her eyes have the surprising effect of rendering me restless
And her eyes have an unexpected impact, causing me to feel disturbed.

You know, you look really pretty without handcuffs on
You know, you appear truly beautiful without restraints.

Without the dirt on your face
Without the grime on your face.

Like the piss and stench of the huddled traitors evaporates from the room
Similar to the repugnant smell of the huddled traitors dissipating from the room.

And in that moment I can see her truly, and she can see me too
And at that instance, I can genuinely perceive her, and she can truly perceive me as well.

Beneath the body armor and weaponry, my heart quietly thumps and whispers
Beneath the protective gear and weapons, my heart beats softly and speaks.

"Drop the guns and grab her, now's the time to make your run"
"Discard the firearms and seize her, it is the opportune moment to escape"

Sitting in my transport as we slip through traffic veins
Sitting in the vehicle as we smoothly navigate through streams of traffic.

She doesn't ask me where we're going, only holds my hand and gaze
She doesn't inquire about our destination, but simply grasps my hand and gazes at me.

She's my only reason now, and my only hope to live
She is now my sole motivation and the only chance I have to survive.

We pull up to the cabin way above this damn metropolis
We arrive at the cabin located high above this cursed city.

Me and prisoner 247290-Z
Together, the prisoner with the code 247290-Z and I.

Somewhere that is Soylent Green, we're living life instead
Somewhere reminiscent of Soylent Green, we are truly experiencing life.

No more war on traitorism, only me and her
There is no longer a battle against treachery, only the two of us.

She can clean my gun and I could help her clean the floor
She can handle the maintenance of my firearm, and I can assist her in cleaning the floor.

Back to something natural, we'll live off of the land
Returning to a more primitive state, we will survive by relying on nature.

When Radon levels drop we walk the trails and talk and laugh
When the Radon levels decrease, we stroll along the paths, conversing and laughing.

I tell her she's innocent, and she'll show me she's not
I reassure her of her innocence, while she demonstrates her true nature.

I kiss the number on her arm and lay her on the cot
I kiss the identification number on her arm and place her gently on the bed.

I'm the first to touch her without gloves on
I am the initial person to touch her without wearing protective gloves.

She's the first to kiss me without crying
She is the first to kiss me without shedding tears.

Life before this was just dying
The time prior to this was merely a process of dying.

Away from all this violence, live inside each other's heads
Escaping from all this brutality, we find solace in each other's thoughts.

"Dammit Lindt, fire your weapon!"
"Damn it, Lindt, shoot your weapon!"

"Yes, sir"
"Yes, sir"

"She's dead Lindt, just how we wanted it, great"
"She's dead, Lindt, just as we desired, excellent"

"Just how we wanted it"
"Exactly as we intended"

"You shot the shit out of her Lindt, I'm proud of you, go home"
"You shot her extensively, Lindt, I'm proud of your actions, now go home"