Noted for his intense flow and sharp wit, Francis has won acclaim both as a freestyle battler and as an unapologetic, intellectual lyricist. Francis uses a broad emotional palette to address a wide range of personal, cultural, and political issues. His unconventional style and persona have given him crossover appeal, but at the same time alienated some hip-hop listeners.
Prior to embarking on a full-time career as an MC, Francis displayed his skills in slam poetry. During the late 1990s, he recorded his first demo tape (1996), fronted the now defunct Providence hip-hop band Art Official Intelligence, and hosted a weekly slot on independent radio station WRIU (the "True School Session"). He also formed the Non-Prophets and released a 12” (Drop Bass/Bounce/I Keep Calling, Emerge Records, 1999), following up in 2003 with their first full-length offering, Hope. Francis is a contemporary of underground hip-hop artists such as Slug, Eyedea, Sole and the anticon. collective. He is also loosely affiliated with the vague underground hip-hop super-group The Orphanage.
As a solo performer, Francis won the MC battle at the 2000 Scribble Jam, and in 2001 he came close to repeating as champion (semi-finalist) while performing as his "metal" alter ego, "Xaul Zan". Francis released his first proper solo album, Personal Journals, on Anticon. in 2002. He toured with a live band on the Live Band Dead Poet Tour to support it. Francis subsequently became the first hip-hop artist to sign with Punk label Epitaph, agreeing to a three-album deal. His first album for Epitaph, A Healthy Distrust, was released in early 2005 and was followed up with Human the Death Dance in 2007.
One of Francis' best-known tracks is "Makeshift Patriot", a commentary on the American media recorded one month after the September 11, 2001 attacks which he released on the internet as an MP3 as well as a limited edition 7" single.
In February 2005 Sage dropped his second full length album on the originally punk label Epitaph, it was widely regarded as the best underground hip hop album of the year by critics and fans alike and featured heavily political tracks such as "The Buzz Kill" and "Slow Down Gandhi" and more personal material like that more similar to that of his debut 'Personal Journals' such as 'Bridle' and a few heavily satirical comments on the modern day rap and urban scene such as the satirical comment on youth gun culture 'Gunz Yo'.
Sage has helped to set up the Wiki KnowMore.org which is described as a 'way to keep tabs on the some of the biggest and most dangerous businesses in the world'. He is a vegetarian and also chooses to abstain from drugs and drinking, though doesn't label himself as "straight-edge" because he believes "you shouldn't define yourself by what you don't do."
Sage has set up his own label and signed some of who he claims to be his favorite artists of the moment such as Buck 65 and Proplyphic and Reanimator named Strange Famous (which shares his initials) with which he released his most recent work 'Human the Death Dance'
This album was released in May 2007 and takes a step away from the heavily political 'Healthy Distrust' and heads back to the more personal lyrics of 'Personal Journals' and comments on modern culture. The album features cameos from many Strange Famous artists such as Buddy Wakefield, Buck 65 and Reanimator.
In 2010 Sage released his fourth full length album Li(f)e (the title coming from the famous quote from 'The Cure' on the Non-Prophets album Hope "Life is just a lie with an f in it and death is definite"). The album was extremely well received and one particular single off of the album 'The Best Of Times' received extensive air play on the popular British radio station Radio 1. After Sages Li(f)e tour Sage has stated that he will no longer be doing tours but will still be releasing albums and other materials, instead he will be doing select gigs throughout each year.
On 3 June 2014, Sage released his fifth studio album 'Copper Gone'. It is the first official studio album after Sage Francis announced his hiatus, which lasted for four years.
Bridle
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's runnin'
Feet swollen
He's commin'
She's stolen
And before he even knows it she's gone.
Tea cups sittin' on the hollow tree stumps
He's dumped, and can't seem to swallow these lumps
Same fire
New passion
Old flame
Trade it in for a summer fling
There's nothing like that sweet old song
Tip over
Root the trees
Bend the leaves
Blend in with the open wound
The freeze frames keep him warm
The day's frost is scrapped off the weight loss
The new sign that says keep off
As he speeds off into the storm
Out of sight the lighting strikes him twice
He's peeking out on the pike and cheatin' life
Pealing out on the lawn
Now he's idling
His time is dwindling
In his mind he's figuring out life's about the little things
And his labyrinth
And all his magnificent can only keep the mike straps
The princess is innocent
She doesn't belong
(I never thought I'd miss you)
They had a ceremony where he put her in a bridle, the headstall
She stopped to think for a minute, and in a split second went AWOL.
(I never thought I'd miss you)
He draws in the chin as in a expression of resentment or scorn
He's pullin' on the rains, the bridle, the shower the storm
The maze, the high tower, clouds are at war
The rains, the bridle, the shower, the storm
The maze, high tower, clouds are at war
The rains, the bridle, the shower, the storm
The maze, the high tower, clouds are at war, clouds are at war, clouds are at war…
(I never thought I'd miss you)
(I never thought I'd miss you)
(I never thought I'd miss you)
The song Bridle, by Sage Francis, tells a story of a man and a woman who used to be together, but now their relationship has come to an end. The lyrics refer to a maze that is now broken, symbolizing their relationship that has been destroyed. The woman runs away, leaving the man with swollen feet. He is left behind, trying to deal with the pain, unable to swallow the lump in his throat. The beat goes on, representing how life continues even after a relationship has ended.
The lyrics then describe how the man tries to move on by finding new passion, but he still holds onto the memory of his old flame. The lyrics also mention the idea of blending in with an open wound, perhaps suggesting that he is still hurt and trying to cope. The freeze frames keep him warm, indicating that he holds onto memories of their relationship to find comfort, even though it may cause him pain.
The song then shifts to a scene where the man has had a revelation about life being about the little things, and he reflects on his own labyrinth. The lyrics mention a ceremony where he puts the woman in a bridle, but she goes AWOL in a split second, leaving him alone once again. The repeated line, "I never thought I'd miss you," emphasizes the sense of loss that the man feels throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Maze broken
The situation is out of control, chaotic and uncertain.
She's runnin'
She is escaping the situation or person causing trouble and turmoil.
Feet swollen
She has been on the move for a long time and her feet are tired and sore.
He's commin'
The person causing trouble or chaos is on their way and approaching the situation.
She's stolen
She has taken something or someone precious and fled.
And before he even knows it she's gone.
The person causing trouble or chaos is unaware of the situation until it's too late and the other person has escaped.
Tea cups sittin' on the hollow tree stumps
A peaceful and serene scene of calmness and quietude amidst the chaos and turmoil.
He's dumped, and can't seem to swallow these lumps
The person causing trouble or chaos is feeling the consequences and is unable to accept or come to terms with the outcomes.
The beat goes on
Despite the chaos and turmoil, life and its rhythms continue to persist.
Same fire
The same intensity and passion.
New passion
An introduction of a new and exciting passion or interest.
Old flame
A familiar love interest from the past.
Trade it in for a summer fling
The person is exchanging a lasting love interest for a temporary and fleeting summer romance.
There's nothing like that sweet old song
The nostalgia of old memories and former love interests that can never be fully replaced or forgotten.
Tip over
To cause something to fall over, destabilizing the situation or environment.
Root the trees
To take hold or control of a situation and become deeply entrenched in it.
Bend the leaves
To adapt and change as necessary to fit the situation or environment.
Blend in with the open wound
To become one with the pain and hurt caused by the situation, and to try and heal with it.
The freeze frames keep him warm
Memories and moments of the past bring comfort and warmth amidst the cold and uncertain present.
The day's frost is scraped off the weight loss
The situation or environment is slowly thawing and changing, allowing growth and progress.
The new sign that says keep off
New rules and regulations have been established, making the environment or the situation more restrictive or confined.
As he speeds off into the storm
Despite the growing turmoil and danger of the situation, the person causing trouble is accelerating and making it worse.
Out of sight the lighting strikes him twice
The consequences of the person causing trouble's actions are finally catching up to them, and they are being punished.
He's peeking out on the pike and cheatin' life
The person causing trouble is living dangerously, and exploiting weaknesses in the situation to stay safe.
Pealing out on the lawn
To recklessly and selfishly leave the scene of the turmoil, causing further chaos and consequence.
Now he's idling
The person causing trouble has stopped his reckless behavior and is waiting for the situation to settle down.
His time is dwindling
The person causing trouble is running out of time to fix the situation, and is aware of the consequences of their actions.
In his mind he's figuring out life's about the little things
The person causing trouble has realized the importance of small details and actions, and how they contribute to the bigger picture.
And his labyrinth
His complicated and convoluted life.
And all his magnificent can only keep the mike straps
Despite his accomplishments and successes, they only hold temporary or superficial value and do not make up for the harm he has caused.
The princess is innocent
The victim of the situation is pure, good, and undeserving of the harm caused to them.
They had a ceremony where he put her in a bridle, the headstall
The victim was controlled and confined by the person causing trouble, as if they were a horse being bridled.
She stopped to think for a minute, and in a split second went AWOL.
The victim took a brief moment to reflect, and then made a sudden and decisive escape from the situation.
He draws in the chin as in a expression of resentment or scorn
The person causing trouble is experiencing negative emotions such as anger, bitterness, or contempt.
He's pullin' on the rains, the bridle, the shower, the storm
The person causing trouble is trying to take control of the situation, using everything at their disposal to do so, even if it makes the situation worse.
The maze, the high tower, clouds are at war
A complex and tumultuous situation where multiple elements and factors are clashing and competing, making it difficult to navigate and understand.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cheche Garcia
on Buckets Of Silence
I never held a funeral for that big part of me that died.
I need to put these thoughts to rest. i need to find a peace of mind.
I need to piece my mind, find a piece of mind to rest in.
need to find someone to confide in, and with the rest i need to start restin'.
needless to say, i couldn't hide.
fifteen grown men shouldn't cry.
Cheche Garcia
on Message Sent
I've got some letters inside of my drawer
that should have been stamped and delivered
One is addressed to my ex
it says I'm the type of kid who can't be lived with
One is addressed to my friends
it says I'm a mess so y'all can't visit
One is addressed to myself
but I don't know what personality or hand to give it