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.
The 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 "The Cure" by Non-Prophets is a contemplative and complex piece about the search for a cure to the sickness of life. The lyrics illustrate the idea that life is a sexually transmitted disease contracted by simply existing, and the search for a cure is a constant journey towards finding meaning and purpose. The song suggests that the path to finding a cure involves acknowledging and embracing the deep, unsettling feelings present within oneself and using those feelings to move forward on a path towards enlightenment.
The artist uses vivid imagery in the lyrics to create a sense of urgency and isolation, suggesting that finding the cure is a solitary process that requires perseverance and dedication. The concept of the sickness of life is explored further in lines like "I watch what I say now but I hate it/ trying to make my mark, afraid of the dark nature of vague statements." These lines suggest that speaking the truth about the realities of existence is difficult because it requires acknowledging the painful truths about oneself and the world at large.
Overall, "The Cure" is a powerful and introspective song that encourages listeners to confront their own uneasy feelings about existence and begin the journey towards finding a cure.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't deny that sick feeling in your stomach you can't run from it
Acknowledge the negative emotions within you and don't try to escape them
let it guide you into high view and move beyond the summit
Use those emotions to reach a better place than you ever thought possible
from peeks to valleys speed through alleys if it's done quick
Move fast through life's ups and downs and you'll have time to explore hidden paths
you'll have time to find the caves where the days are never sunlit
The hidden paths you discover can lead to dark places, where the light of happiness doesn't reach
find the scriptures made by a society of blind men
Look for wisdom in unlikely places, even if it comes from people who cannot see
who suggest the best direction's where you most likely will find them..
The best path for you is often the one that seems most obvious or practical
dead set on checkmates embracing a chess set
People are so focused on winning in life that they approach it like a game of chess
when bedspreads get wet they're left with the scent of death threats
Negative experiences leave a lasting mark and reminder of their impact
in 7 seconds I'll become undone, I'm breaking through
Change can happen quickly and unexpectedly
if you're around by the time I reach number one I'm taking you
Those who are close to us can be swept up in the changes we make
You're not the traveling type? Then hide your baggage better
If you're not ready for life's journey, then you need to be more intentional about dealing with your problems
before you die a normal death and write the average letter
Don't settle for a mediocre life that leaves no lasting impact
about your internal furnace
Explore and understand your deepest desires, motivations and emotions
and how life's a sexually transmitted disease that you contracted from her kiss
The hardships of life can be hard to avoid and may be handed down from previous generations
when a boy writes off the world it's done with sloppy misspelled words if
Men often express their discontent with the world in a blunt and simplistic way
a girl writes off the world it's done in cursive
Women often express their emotions and thoughts in a more complex and nuanced way
I'm searching for the cure
Looking for a way to escape the hardships of life
this is a sickness
Life can be difficult and challenging, almost like an illness
can you hear me, love?
Asking for emotional support from someone close
I kick dirt for what it's worth listening to the birds chirp
Finding peace in simple things and taking time to appreciate nature
the same cryptic speech that the breeze speaks and sea repeats
Life can be mysterious and difficult to understand, like the secrets of the ocean and the wind
recognizing the cycles with every passing day
Understanding the patterns and rhythms of life
writing full demands in the sand with my toe til crashing waves washed it away
Striving for something even if it is ultimately erased or destroyed
I watch what I say now but I hate it
Being cautious about what we say and how we present ourselves can be a burden
trying to make my mark, afraid of the dark nature of vague statements
Wanting to make a meaningful impact on the world but being fearful of the consequences of unclear communication
that plague vacant parking lots where shopping carts go uncollected
The chaos of society affects even the most mundane aspects of life
that sick feeling in my stomach start to leave my heart and soul infected
Negative experiences can have a profound impact on our mental and emotional well-being
I won't accept it. I do my best to reject patterns til it hurts
Refusing to be complacent and actively fighting against negative patterns, even if it is difficult
every second making bad turns for the worse
The road to improvement can be long and difficult, with many setbacks along the way
she's getting further away I can feel it in the way my bones ache
The pain of loss or separation can be felt physically
The ocean sealed it's lips, now the waves won't break
Sometimes the mysteries of life can remain unsolved and unexplained
The secrets it won't say has got us trying to break codes in churches
The desire to uncover knowledge that is kept hidden can be intense and far-reaching
and lately I've been hating its soul purpose
Questioning the true meaning and purpose of life
now I look for air pockets to pick, walk with a stick, start picking locks with it
Finding creative ways to overcome obstacles and challenges
opening up heart-shaped lockets with little arguments
Exploring emotional connections with others and finding ways to connect on a deeper level
the tawdry trinkets start to split and contradict
The superficial aspects of life can become unsatisfying and unfulfilling
those who say one thing but think the opposite
Dealing with people who are insincere or fake
I bit the dust tongue kissing documents in a smoke stack
Engaging with things that are dangerous or harmful can have negative consequences
faith is harder to swallow than pride it, turns our throats black
It can be difficult to have faith in something when there is so much doubt and negativity in the world
I want my home back.
Desiring a place of safety and comfort in a tumultuous world
I know that's not an available option
Acknowledging that true safety and comfort are difficult to come by in the world
it's the way that I'm walking in between a cradle and coffin
Life is a journey that spans from birth to death, and everything in between
that makes me pace myself.
Taking one day at a time and not rushing into anything
if half the battle is done right
Achieving success in life is dependent on making wise choices and actions
the other half won't take my health while jacking my shadow's sunlight
Making healthy choices in life will lead to a brighter and healthier future
to crack it open and find the space between my breaths are desolate
Looking beneath the surface to uncover the true emptiness and loneliness of life
life is just a lie with an "f" in it and death is definite
The meaning of life is uncertain and death is the only thing that is truly constant
I'm searching for her
Searching for true meaning and purpose in life
Can you hear me, love?
Asking for emotional support in a world full of uncertainty and despair
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rickyw755
Still poetry after all these years....... Still getting me through tough times 👍❤️
@pabloescobarz2457
These type of underground artists like the whole ryhmesayers group are who molded me to be the man I am today and I am forever grateful to have these songs almost as if I’m going back in time, nostalgia truly appreciated.
@amongstthemasses3097
I'm still searching for a cure
@ghostoflazlo
Still one of my favourite songs and forever will be
@brbbrb6969
one of his best songs, I am so happy this song is on youtube again
@lyricalmiracle77
Sage is amazing for making such a beautiful song about Suicide.
@IonSquared
Never thought this song was about suicide but that's interesting. Has he like confirmed that in interviews?
@ghostoflazlo
@IonSquared it's pretty obvious in the chorus.
What did you think it was about?
@sunstruck
probably the best sage francis song ever.
@johnsesame9182
Sage is the best hip hop artist that is available to all via the intertube