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.
Cafe Girl
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We walk as two, but we'll leave one set of tortured footprints/
Now here she comes...walking through the door...giving that look. Since/
I roll with shook wimps...I'm shaking in my boots/
Kids are behind me eating steak and soup, talking 'bout beatbreaks and loops/
And I wanna' turn around...join in on the convo, but I ain't got jack to say/
I just came to this wack-ass café /
To drink an ice coffee and kill a bit of time before the matinee/
Why oh why did I need Cappaccino Cooler?/
Now I'm trying to avoid eye contact. Lets see if I can fool her/
I put a look of concentration on my face as I scribble on a napkin/
Squinting my eyes, acting like I'm really serious about this mess of non-sensical pen action/
A web of chicken scratch and ink blots/
Is she still there? Standing awkwardly glaring? I think not/
Look up....think again. Shit...now when/
Is she going stop making me waste ink from my pen as I sit and pretend/
I knew I should have come with a friend. I shrink and I send/
Myself into meditation...and I'm on the brink of Zen/
Is she buying it? I pick up my empty glass...tilt it..and drink the flem/
She's STILL scoping! in fact, this chick's a 10/
At least in my book...which isn't all that well read, but it's been said /
Once she gets her grip on men they simply bend/...backwards.
She attracts nerds, jocks, substitutes and student teachers /
Who all profess their love for all of her protruding features/
There's no fooling this creature, she's WAY fine/
So dope, I'd have to smuggle her across state lines or else pay fines/
What's holding me back is what I heard through the grape vine/
She's a non-conformist freak who only comes out in the daytime/
"Don't look at me." I can feel the burn of her stare on my sensitive skin/
I'm anti-social and I don't know how conversational sentences begin/
Plus, I'm allergic to the medicine of sexual healing/
This impotence is sickening. She's sensual...appealing/
Now I'm covering up my crotch region by crossing my legs/
Lost in thoughts of whores in my bed. It's awful...so I'm forcing my head/
into my forearms. I should...invite her for a cup of Joe/
It would do more harm than good...I just know/
I mean...she's no Natalie Portman, and I've been kind of holding out for her/
Naturally...Now my thoughts spin...and she's on the "out" for sure/
Gradually...contort my mindframe so no doubts occur/
I activate testicular bravery and I shout to her/
Our eyes lock.
And time stops.../
She floats over to my spot...
and I say "Hi, I'm not/
trying to hit on you like the way all these other guys jock/
I just wanna' let you know...I'm the type of person who lies a lot/
Sometimes I fart and I pick my nose like a maniac/
I'd be glad to front the cost of a date with you as long as you pay me back/
If we ever reach the friendship level where things like that are shared/
And I know my facial hair is weird...but I've been waiting for someone like you to shave my beard/
I'm usually more discreet about my insecurities, but today...I just ain't prepared."/
In all honesty...this dame just stared/
And I was like "Uhhh...yeah.../
So ummm...heh..."
Nervous twitches were initiated and out nostrils flared/
Our eyes started wandering and I was rocking in my chair/
I just continued on scared that I lost her...in my upfront approach/
She looked at my napkin and noticed what I wrote/
...which was nothing
I said "The funny thing is...I could have used you as a muse/
Wrote you sonnets in iambic pentameter and then produced/
Mass amounts of unsent love letters and out-of-tune love ballads/
Some valid...but most just to get you thinking of marriage/
It's untrue. I don't want to create a first impression I can't live up to/
I...just...wanna...
She said "Nuff said. I'm a theme park. Ride me until the sun sets."/
So I jumped up on her shoulders as we exited the entrance.
In the song Cafe Girl by Sage Francis, the singer is at a cafe, feeling lost and unsure of how to interact with his surroundings. He is trying to avoid eye contact with a woman who has caught his eye, but he fears that she might be judging him for his awkwardness. He spends most of the song debating whether or not to approach her and what he might say if he did. After building up the courage to do so, he awkwardly introduces himself and confesses his insecurities to her. To his surprise, she responds positively and they leave the cafe together.
This song is a commentary on the anxieties and insecurities that can come with trying to form connections with other people, particularly with those we are attracted to. The singer's thoughts and actions are relatable to anyone who has felt self-conscious in social situations or struggled with approaching someone they find attractive. The lyrics are delivered with humor and self-awareness, poking fun at the singer's own awkwardness while still showing empathy for his struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
We walk as two, but we'll leave one set of tortured footprints/
We are on this journey together, but one of us will inevitably suffer the consequences of our actions.
Now here she comes...walking through the door...giving that look. Since/
The woman that we are about to interact with has just arrived and has a certain presence about her.
I roll with shook wimps...I'm shaking in my boots/
I am with a group of people who are easily scared, so I am also scared.
Kids are behind me eating steak and soup, talking 'bout beatbreaks and loops/
There are young people behind me eating and discussing music production.
And I wanna' turn around...join in on the convo, but I ain't got jack to say/
I am interested in joining their conversation but do not have anything to contribute.
And it's sad to say...I'm just a poetry fag actin' gay in my black beret/
I am a poet pretending to be something I am not by wearing a black beret and acting flamboyant.
I just came to this wack-ass café /
I came to this unimpressive cafe because I had some time to kill before the matinee.
To drink an ice coffee and kill a bit of time before the matinee/
I ordered an iced coffee and waited until it was time to go see a show.
Why oh why did I need Cappuccino Cooler?/
I regret ordering this drink because it has caused me to feel uncomfortable around this woman.
Now I'm trying to avoid eye contact. Lets see if I can fool her/
I am attempting to evade her gaze in hopes of not drawing attention to myself.
I put a look of concentration on my face as I scribble on a napkin/
I am trying to appear focused as I write meaningless scribbles onto a napkin.
Squinting my eyes, acting like I'm really serious about this mess of non-sensical pen action/
I am pretending to take my scribbles seriously even though they are nonsense.
A web of chicken scratch and ink blots/
The scribbles on my napkin are chaotic and unclear.
Is she still there? Standing awkwardly glaring? I think not/
I am questioning whether or not the woman is still observing me and have come to the conclusion that she is not.
Look up....think again. Shit...now when/
I realize that she is still watching me and feel anxious as to when she will stop.
Is she going stop making me waste ink from my pen as I sit and pretend/
I am annoyed with her for causing me to waste time pretending to be occupied with my writing.
I knew I should have come with a friend. I shrink and I send/
I regret coming alone and feel small and inadequate in the face of her gaze.
Myself into meditation...and I'm on the brink of Zen/
I am attempting to calm myself and find inner peace in this stressful situation.
Is she buying it? I pick up my empty glass...tilt it...and drink the flem/
I wonder if she is fooled by my behavior as I attempt to drink the last of my iced coffee.
She's STILL scoping! in fact, this chick's a 10/
She is still observing me and I am impressed by her beauty and find her to be a 10/10 in attractiveness.
At least in my book...which isn't all that well read, but it's been said /
I am not well-read but still find her to be incredibly attractive.
Once she gets her grip on men they simply bend/...backwards.
She has a powerful effect on men and they become submissive to her.
She attracts nerds, jocks, substitutes and student teachers /
She has a wide range of admirers and attracts men from various walks of life.
Who all profess their love for all of her protruding features/
Men are drawn to her physical appearance and compliment her body.
There's no fooling this creature, she's WAY fine/
She is too smart to be fooled and is incredibly attractive.
So dope, I'd have to smuggle her across state lines or else pay fines/
She is so amazing that I would risk breaking the law to be with her.
What's holding me back is what I heard through the grape vine/
I have heard rumors about her unconventional behavior that makes me unsure about her.
She's a non-conformist freak who only comes out in the daytime/
She is an unconventional person who only goes out during the day.
"Don't look at me." I can feel the burn of her stare on my sensitive skin/
She tells me not to look at her and I feel uncomfortable under her intense gaze.
I'm anti-social and I don't know how conversational sentences begin/
I struggle with starting conversations and am not very social.
Plus, I'm allergic to the medicine of sexual healing/
I struggle with sexual situations and am unable to perform well due to anxiety.
This impotence is sickening. She's sensual...appealing/
My inability to perform sexually is causing me great discomfort despite my attraction to her.
Now I'm covering up my crotch region by crossing my legs/
I am trying to hide my discomfort by crossing my legs and covering my crotch.
Lost in thoughts of whores in my bed. It's awful...so I'm forcing my head/
I am having inappropriate thoughts and am purposely trying to distract myself by forcing my head down.
into my forearms. I should...invite her for a cup of Joe/
I consider asking her out for coffee as a way to spend more time with her.
It would do more harm than good...I just know/
I am hesitant to ask her out because I know that it will be a bad idea.
I mean...she's no Natalie Portman, and I've been kind of holding out for her/
I compare her to the actress Natalie Portman and admit that I have been holding out for someone like her instead.
Naturally...Now my thoughts spin...and she's on the "out" for sure/
My thoughts race and I realize that I have likely lost my chance with her.
Gradually...contort my mindframe so no doubts occur/
I try to convince myself that I never had a chance with her in the first place to avoid feeling disappointed.
I activate testicular bravery and I shout to her/
I attempt to summon the courage to talk to her and shout to her as a result.
Our eyes lock. And time stops.../
We make eye contact and the moment feels intense and significant.
She floats over to my spot...and I say "Hi, I'm not/
She walks over to me and I awkwardly introduce myself.
trying to hit on you like the way all these other guys jock/
I clarify that I am not like the other men who are trying to hit on her.
I just wanna' let you know...I'm the type of person who lies a lot/
I confess to being a liar and make an awkward attempt at honesty.
Sometimes I fart and I pick my nose like a maniac/
I share an uncomfortable and gross fact about myself.
I'd be glad to front the cost of a date with you as long as you pay me back/
I offer to pay for a date with her, but with the expectation of being paid back in some way.
If we ever reach the friendship level where things like that are shared/
I suggest that we must be friends before anything else can happen between us.
And I know my facial hair is weird...but I've been waiting for someone like you to shave my beard/
I make an awkward and undesirable request that she shaves my beard.
I'm usually more discreet about my insecurities, but today...I just ain't prepared."/
I admit to being particularly vulnerable and insecure around her in this moment.
In all honesty...this dame just stared/
She listens to my words but does not respond and simply stares at me.
And I was like "Uhhh...yeah.../
I respond awkwardly and try to mask my discomfort.
So ummm...heh..." Nervous twitches were initiated and out nostrils flared/
I continue to be awkward and begin to show physical signs of discomfort.
Our eyes started wandering and I was rocking in my chair/
We both become uncomfortable with the silence and begin to fidget.
I just continued on scared that I lost her...in my upfront approach/
I fear that my honesty and upfront manner has caused her to become disinterested in me.
She looked at my napkin and noticed what I wrote/
She examines my napkin and realizes that I was just writing nonsense.
...which was nothing/
I had been writing meaningless scribbles on my napkin the entire time.
I said "The funny thing is...I could have used you as a muse/
I make an attempt at humor by suggesting that I could have written poetry about her.
Wrote you sonnets in iambic pentameter and then produced/
I continue with my joke and reference sonnets written in a certain poetic style.
Mass amounts of unsent love letters and out-of-tune love ballads/
I suggest that I would have written many love letters and songs for her despite not being musically talented.
Some valid...but most just to get you thinking of marriage/
I suggest that some of my words would have been sincere while others would have been intended to further our relationship towards marriage.
It's untrue. I don't want to create a first impression I can't live up to/
I backtrack on my earlier statement and suggest that I do not want to create false impressions of myself.
I...just...wanna...
I hesitate and struggle to express myself.
She said "Nuff said. I'm a theme park. Ride me until the sun sets.
She responds with a suggestive statement suggesting that I take advantage of the opportunity with her.
So I jumped up on her shoulders as we exited the entrance.
I take her statement literally and jump onto her shoulders as we leave the cafe together.
Contributed by Benjamin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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