The duo came to people's attention with their first effort, the "Drop Bass" b/w "Bounce" 12" single on Emerge Music in 1999. The follow up release came in 2000 as the "All Word, No Play" vinyl single.
Shortly after the Non-Prophets singles caught a buzz Sage verbally committed to the up and coming label, Anticon for the release of his first solo album. Until Personal Journals official unveiling in 2002, Francis self-released his "Sick Of" series which included Non-Prophets material.
Around the same time Beats created his first compilation of instrumentals, Reverse Discourse. Here Joey introduces his unpaused/uninterrupted style of producing. With Sage's help the album saw the light of day on his label, Strange Famous Records.
Today, the two are established as soloists. In 2004 Sage signed to punk label, Epitaph Records. In 2005 his second solo album, A Healthy Distrust was the first of three records to come out on the Los Angeles label. That same year Joey released Indie Rock Blues on independent label, Arbeid and 24-7 Records. Rumor has it the two no longer talk and refuse to work together.
Cure
Non-Prophets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
let it guide you into high view and move beyond the summit
from peeks to valleys speed through alleys if it's done quick
you'll have time to find the caves where the days are never sunlit
find the scriptures made by a society of blind men
who suggest the best direction's where you most likely will find them..
dead set on checkmates embracing a chess set
in 7 seconds I'll become undone, I'm breaking through
if you're around by the time I reach number one I'm taking you
You're not the traveling type? Then hide your baggage better
before you die a normal death and write the average letter
about your internal furnace
and how life's a sexually transmitted disease that you contracted from her kiss
when a boy writes off the world it's done with sloppy misspelled words if
a girl writes off the world it's done in cursive
I'm searching for the cure
this is a sickness
can you hear me, love?
I kick dirt for what it's worth listening to the birds chirp
the same cryptic speech that the breeze speaks and sea repeats
recognizing the cycles with every passing day
writing full demands in the sand with my toe til crashing waves washed it away
I watch what I say now but I hate it
trying to make my mark, afraid of the dark nature of vague statements
that plague vacant parking lots where shopping carts go uncollected
that sick feeling in my stomach start to leave my heart and soul infected
I won't accept it. I do my best to reject patterns til it hurts
every second making bad turns for the worse
she's getting further away I can feel it in the way my bones ache
The ocean sealed it's lips, now the waves won't break
The secrets it won't say has got us trying to break codes in churches
and lately I've been hating its soul purpose
when a boy writes off the world it's done with sloppy misspelled words if
a girl writes off the world it's done in cursive
I'm searching for the cure
this is a sickness
can you hear me, love?
Now I look for air pockets to pick, walk with a stick, start picking locks with it
opening up heart-shaped lockets with little arguments
the tawdry trinkets start to split and contradict
those who say one thing but think the opposite
I bit the dust tongue kissing documents in a smoke stack
faith is harder to swallow than pride it, turns our throats black
I want my home back. I know that's not an available option
it's the way that I'm walking in between a cradle and coffin
that makes me pace myself. if half the battle is done right
the other half won't take my health while jacking my shadow's sunlight
to crack it open and find the space between my breaths are desolate
life is just a lie with an "f" in it and death is definite
But after I scratched the surface
I never saw the calm before the storm act so nervous
when a boy writes off the world it's done with sloppy misspelled words if
a girl writes off the world it's done in cursive
I'm searching for her
Can you hear me, love?
The song "Cure" by Non-Prophets explores themes of sickness, desperation, and the search for redemption. The first verse talks about acknowledging and embracing the feeling of sickness in your stomach instead of denying it. The lyrics invite you to follow this feeling and move beyond what is comfortable or expected, from peaks to valleys, hiding places, and even caves with no sunlight. The second verse talks about the search for meaning and direction, using the metaphor of finding scriptures written by blind men who suggest the best path. The lyrics also mention death and dying, specifically the scent of death on a wet bedspread and the possibility of writing an average letter about your internal furnace and how life is a sexually transmitted disease contracted from a kiss.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm searching for the cure, this is a sickness, can you hear me, love?" suggesting that the singer is desperately seeking a cure for the sickness inside himself, both literally and metaphorically. The third verse continues the theme of searching for answers and suggests that the singer is actively trying to reject patterns and move beyond vague statements that plague his thoughts. The lyrics mention feeling the distance between the singer and someone he cares about, perhaps a lover or friend, and the frustration of not being able to communicate effectively. The fourth and final verse talks about the difficulty of finding peace and balance in life, the struggle between birth and death. The lyrics also mention the false hope of faith and the fragile nature of life itself.
Overall, "Cure" is a deeply introspective and melancholic song that reflects on the struggle of being human and the constant search for meaning and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't deny that sick feeling in your stomach you can't run from it
Acknowledge the discomfort in your gut, it cannot be escaped
let it guide you into high view and move beyond the summit
Use the feeling to propel yourself to a higher state of being and surpass obstacles
from peeks to valleys speed through alleys if it's done quick
Move quickly through challenges, taking shortcuts when necessary
you'll have time to find the caves where the days are never sunlit
There will be time to explore the dark places in life
find the scriptures made by a society of blind men
Discover the writings of those who cannot see the world as it is
who suggest the best direction's where you most likely will find them..
They recommend following the path that is most probable to lead to truth
dead set on checkmates embracing a chess set
They are focused on winning and play the game strategically
when bedspreads get wet they're left with the scent of death threats
When things get serious, there is an imminent danger that cannot be ignored
in 7 seconds I'll become undone, I'm breaking through
In a short amount of time, I will break through and change
if you're around by the time I reach number one I'm taking you
If you stick around long enough, I will take you with me on my journey
You're not the traveling type? Then hide your baggage better
If you are not ready to explore, keep your issues hidden
before you die a normal death and write the average letter
Before you die a mundane death and leave a typical legacy
about your internal furnace
About the inner workings of your being
and how life's a sexually transmitted disease that you contracted from her kiss
How life is passed from one person to the next like a contagious illness
when a boy writes off the world it's done with sloppy misspelled words if
Male despair is usually expressed in a crude, careless manner
a girl writes off the world it's done in cursive
Female despair is expressed with more elegance and finesse
I'm searching for the cure
I am desperately seeking a remedy
this is a sickness
This state of being is an illness
can you hear me, love?
Are you listening to me, my dear?
I kick dirt for what it's worth listening to the birds chirp
I take pleasure in small things, like the sound of birds and the feeling of dirt beneath my feet
the same cryptic speech that the breeze speaks and sea repeats
The natural world communicates in mysterious ways
recognizing the cycles with every passing day
Noticing the patterns that emerge over time
writing full demands in the sand with my toe til crashing waves washed it away
Asserting my desires but understanding they may not come to fruition
I watch what I say now but I hate it
I am cautious with my words but hate the restraint
trying to make my mark, afraid of the dark nature of vague statements
Attempting to leave a lasting impact while avoiding ambiguity
that plague vacant parking lots where shopping carts go uncollected
The sense of despair and abandonment that haunts empty parking lots
that sick feeling in my stomach start to leave my heart and soul infected
The discomfort I felt has consumed me entirely
I won't accept it. I do my best to reject patterns til it hurts
Refusing to accept the norm and willing to endure the pain of resistance
she's getting further away I can feel it in the way my bones ache
The one I love is slipping away and I feel it deep within me
The ocean sealed it's lips, now the waves won't break
The truth has been silenced and there is no longer any movement or progress
The secrets it won't say has got us trying to break codes in churches
The undisclosed information leaves us searching in unlikely places for answers
and lately I've been hating its soul purpose
Recently, I have become disillusioned with the purpose of it all
Now I look for air pockets to pick, walk with a stick, start picking locks with it
Finding creative solutions to everyday problems
opening up heart-shaped lockets with little arguments
Examining relationships with minor disagreements
the tawdry trinkets start to split and contradict
The cheap possessions begin to fall apart and conflict with each other
those who say one thing but think the opposite
People who do not say what they truly mean
I bit the dust tongue kissing documents in a smoke stack
Succumbing to the harsh reality while attempting to understand it better
faith is harder to swallow than pride it, turns our throats black
Belief is more difficult to accept than arrogance, and it can be suffocating
I want my home back. I know that's not an available option
I long for familiarity and comfort but I acknowledge it may not be possible
it's the way that I'm walking in between a cradle and coffin
Life is the path between birth and death
that makes me pace myself. if half the battle is done right
This reality forces me to take my time and be cautious
the other half won't take my health while jacking my shadow's sunlight
Although the second half is uncertain, I will not let it consume me and erode my soul
to crack it open and find the space between my breaths are desolate
To confront the reality that there may be a void within me
life is just a lie with an "f" in it and death is definite
Life can sometimes feel like a falsehood, but death is a definite reality
But after I scratched the surface
After exploring the superficial aspects of life
I never saw the calm before the storm act so nervous
The quiet moments leading up to chaos were never so tense
when a boy writes off the world it's done with sloppy misspelled words if
Male despair is usually expressed in a crude, careless manner
a girl writes off the world it's done in cursive
Female despair is expressed with more elegance and finesse
I'm searching for her
I am desperately seeking companionship
Can you hear me, love?
Are you listening to me, my dear?
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind