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.
Crumble
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The end is near and I'm in line to see the light
How far does this black tunnel go
I got a car but the gas is running low
And as long as I've known the bumps and creeks of this house
It's starting to make the types of sounds that only comes from people's mouths
You can't tell me it's still settling
The childhood scar on my chin is back again
That old jump over my own leg dance move has to end
I've seen better days in my night terrors
I was a bike messenger without a bike and I would write letters
Ask directions to your whereabouts
Before the slow walk the rest of the show-offs were pealing out
To many hares only one tortise
That's why I left this city, too fast paced for this HO-HUM TAURUS
By the time I developed the pictures
They're as blurry as my memory of constant life fixtures
If distance is a girl's best friend
Tell them bitches in the rough who think that love comes with DIAMONDS
Slave labor, you made me work for what I couldn't have
Diamonds cut, but coal burns and nothing lasts forever
Don't know why I bothered saving any of your letters,they're just aged paper
Crumbling
Slave labor, you made me work for what I couldn't have
Diamonds cut, the cold burns and nothing lasts
Wonder why I saved your urn of ashes
The song "Crumble" by Sage Francis delves into themes of mortality and the fleeting nature of life. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who feels like they are nearing the end of their journey, both metaphorically and literally. They are in a dark tunnel with little gas left in their car, representing the end of their physical life. The house they are in is making strange noises as if it is alive and trying to communicate, perhaps symbolizing the fear of death and uncertainty about what comes after. The reference to an Indian burial ground further adds an ominous tone to the song.
Throughout the song, the singer reflects on memories from their past, such as a childhood injury that has returned, and their days as a bike messenger. They also contemplate how time has impacted their life and relationships, such as blurry memories and letters that have crumbled with age. The lines "Slave labor, you made me work for what I couldn't have / Diamonds cut, but coal burns and nothing lasts forever" suggest a reflection on the meaningless pursuit of material possessions, which ultimately cannot be taken with them when they die.
The song ends with the haunting line "Wonder why I saved your urn of ashes", which can be interpreted in different ways. It may be a reference to holding onto the memories of a loved one who has passed, or a larger commentary on the futility of trying to cling onto something that has already ended.
Overall, "Crumble" is a poignant and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to reflect on their own mortality and the legacy they leave behind.
Line by Line Meaning
They've said it every year but this time it seems like
Despite people frequently predicting the end of the world, it feels more real this time
The end is near and I'm in line to see the light
The singer feels that their time on Earth is coming to an end and they are ready to pass on
How far does this black tunnel go
The unknown of what comes after death scares the singer
I got a car but the gas is running low
The artist is lacking the necessary resources for their journey through life and beyond
And as long as I've known the bumps and creeks of this house
The artist is familiar with their surroundings
It's starting to make the types of sounds that only comes from people's mouths
The singer is hearing noises that are unsettling and suggest a human presence
You can't tell me it's still settling
The singer does not believe that the noises are just from the house settling
Built on an Indian burial ground killing everything
The artist believes that the presence of the house on an Indian burial ground has brought negative energy and death
The childhood scar on my chin is back again
The artist is experiencing a resurgence of a painful memory
That old jump over my own leg dance move has to end
The artist is acknowledging that they are aging and can no longer do certain things
I've seen better days in my night terrors
The singer's nightmares are better than their current reality
I was a bike messenger without a bike and I would write letters
The artist was struggling to achieve their goals and had to resort to unconventional methods
Ask directions to your whereabouts
The singer is lost and seeking guidance
Before the slow walk the rest of the show-offs were pealing out
Before everyone else left, the singer was already moving at a slower pace
Too many hares only one tortoise
The singer feels like they are moving at a slower pace compared to the rest of the world
That's why I left this city, too fast-paced for this HO-HUM TAURUS
The artist felt that they did not fit in with the busy lifestyle of the city and their astrological sign didn't help
By the time I developed the pictures
The artist waited too long to take action
They're as blurry as my memory of constant life fixtures
The singer's memory of certain events in their life are hazy and unclear
If distance is a girl's best friend
The singer believes that women prefer men who are far away and unattainable
Tell them bitches in the rough who think that love comes with DIAMONDS
The artist is addressing women who prioritize material possessions and hoping they will learn the truth about love
Slave labor, you made me work for what I couldn't have
The artist feels like they were utilized and exploited for their labor and efforts were in vain
Diamonds cut, but coal burns and nothing lasts forever
The artist is emphasizing the temporary nature of material possessions
Don't know why I bothered saving any of your letters, they're just aged paper
The singer regretfully kept letters from a past relationship, but realizes they are just objects with no emotional value
Crumbling
The artist is acknowledging the fleeting nature of life and all its components
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: SAGE FRANCIS
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