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.
Got Up This Morning
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's not that what we're doing is wrong
But let's try to keep this a secret
Between me, you, and the song
A menage a trois that sings to me
Sinfully
When god plays along
What you want with a woman who won't do what you say?
Sage:
I was sweet on her
She was sweet on Jesus
We slept with a blanket barrier between us
Master of her craft, I had her laughin like hyenas
When I asked her if she'd marry an elitist
Staggering genius in lace
With the grace of a drunken monk
The mask isn't seamless cause her face says something's up
But I don't dare ask her I just listen
Switchin to my good ear and adjusting my position
As she discusses Ginsberg I listened and learned
As she dispersed his words I just resisted the urge to do like he would
Whatever he wanted, if she allowed me to
She dangled that carrot then asked me:
"What would Bukowski do?"
Oh don't go there
He'd make you his mom and then completely lie about it in a book later on
Jolie Holland:
Got up this morning
Didn't know right from wrong
Sage:
Spirits were lifted when she whispered something French in my ear
Tension was there
When I responded in English it sounded less sincere
The sex in the air couldn't be left alone
So welcome to the Terrordome
A bedroom full of pheromones
Where nothing that we say is set in stone
If I thought it was for posterity I'd already be writing better poems
But I'm talking in extremes
Best this and best that
Best not regret anything that ever gets said to this hell cat
Creepin on all fours
Ready for combat
With secretive wars sneaking her claws in our contract
Bending every which way but loose with no proof that anything that we've suggested to this day is the whole truth
Jolie Holland:
Got up this morning
Didn't know right from wrong
Sage:
I heard her chemical romance was a medical slowdance
Said my advance was sexual
Held my genitals with cold hands
Set up the Coke cans
Broke out the Red Ryder
Then one by one I tried to knock down everything that's dead inside her
She used to treat street dividers like a balance beam
Arms spread wider than the legs in her dad's magazine
Re-enacting the pages that she got trapped between
I used it for kindling and then spilled the gasoline
Now I'm your water boy
I fetch it from your cheeks just like tennis balls
Smell the stench of your weakness on the bedroom walls
Somebody careless let em vaporize
"Who let these fall to the floor from your poor vacant eyes?"
Disintegrate
This ain't a great first impression
But I work better on pages, they say words are my profession
Let me spell it out in simple language
Plain English
I want your suicide to be a book of mine that I never finish
Jolie Holland:
Got up this morning
Didn't know right from wrong
What you want with a woman who won't do what you say?
The lyrics to Sage Francis's song "Got Up This Morning" describe a secretive and complicated relationship between the singer and a woman, with Jolie Holland providing the chorus. The song is about the conflict between desire, sinfulness, and morality, with the singer questioning whether their actions are right or wrong. The singer knows that what they are doing is not entirely moral or acceptable, but they are drawn to the temptation of this secret relationship.
The lyrics describe the singer's feelings toward the woman, who he was initially "sweet on" but who was also "sweet on Jesus." Their physical intimacy is limited by a "blanket barrier," and they sleep side by side, resisting the urge to take things further until their pheromones take over. When they do, the singer's attention is entirely focused on her, even as she questions him with an "what would Bukowski do?" reference.
The lyrics evoke a sense of taboo and transgression, as the singer revels in the secret pleasures of their relationship. However, the chorus sung by Jolie Holland reminds us that there is a price to pay for this kind of behavior, and it is not always clear what is right or wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not that what we're doing is wrong
Although what we're doing may not be right, we want to keep it a secret between the two of us and the song since it's a sinful menage a troi involving God.
But let's try to keep this a secret
We should make sure to keep our sinful rendezvous a secret from everyone else.
Between me, you, and the song
Only the two of us and the song should know about our illicit deeds.
A menage a trois that sings to me
God's participation in our sinful affair makes it a menage a trois that speaks to me.
Sinfully
Our sinful affair with God has a heavy sense of guilt and iniquity.
When god plays along
God's participation in our affair has been intense.
What you want with a woman who won't do what you say?
Why would you pursue a woman who won't comply with your demands?
I was sweet on her
I had developed a fondness for her.
She was sweet on Jesus
She held a special fondness for Jesus.
We slept with a blanket barrier between us
We maintained physical distance and had a barrier of a blanket between us when we slept together.
Master of her craft, I had her laughin like hyenas
I was expertly able to make her laugh and be joyful.
When I asked her if she'd marry an elitist
I queried if she would tie the knot with a person who is seen as snobbish or conceited.
Staggering genius in lace
She is an incredibly intelligent person who is sensitive.
With the grace of a drunken monk
She holds herself with a grace which is quirky and peculiar.
The mask isn't seamless cause her face says something's up
Her face is not concealing her true emotions and is hinting that she is holding something back.
But I don't dare ask her, I just listen
I don't have the courage to ask her what's on her mind and I decide to just listen to her.
Switchin to my good ear and adjusting my position
I pivot to hear her better and reposition myself to be more comfortable.
As she discusses Ginsberg I listened and learned
I intently listened and gained insights as she discussed Ginsberg's works.
As she dispersed his words I just resisted the urge to do like he would
As she explained his philosophies, I contained my curiosity to act like him.
Whatever he wanted, if she allowed me to
If she granted me permission, I would have done anything Ginsberg wanted me to.
She dangled that carrot then asked me:
She teased me with a potential reward and then asked me:
"What would Bukowski do?"
She asked me how Charles Bukowski would respond.
Oh don't go there
I don't want to even consider what Bukowski would do.
He'd make you his mom and then completely lie about it in a book later on
I imply that Bukowski is capable of absurd actions, such as taking a female as his mother and misrepresenting the event in one of his books.
Spirits were lifted when she whispered something French in my ear
I felt elated when she whispered something in French in my ear.
Tension was there
The atmosphere was tense between us.
When I responded in English it sounded less sincere
When I replied back in English it appeared less genuine.
The sex in the air couldn't be left alone
Despite the tense atmosphere, we couldn't resist indulging in sex.
So welcome to the Terrordome
The tense but sensual atmosphere felt like being in a dangerous, daring place.
A bedroom full of pheromones
There were many sexual scents and signals in the room.
Where nothing that we say is set in stone
We say things that may be open to interpretation and not always factual.
If I thought it was for posterity I'd already be writing better poems
If I believed our affair would have a lasting impact, I would be more creative in my poetry.
But I'm talking in extremes
I'm communicating in exaggerated terms.
Best this and best that
I'm using superlatives when describing our affair.
Best not regret anything that ever gets said to this hell cat
I suggest being very careful about what you say to this fiery, passionate lady, so that no regrets are felt later on.
Creepin on all fours
I'm being subtle and cautious.
Ready for combat
I'm prepared for potential arguments or confrontations.
With secretive wars sneaking her claws in our contract
There are clandestine conflicts that are uncertain but continuously affecting our agreement.
Bending every which way but loose with no proof that anything that we've suggested to this day is the whole truth
We have made suggestions or insinuations but with no evidence that proves the validity of our claims.
I heard her chemical romance was a medical slowdance
I heard that her romantic affairs are laced with chemicals that have a sedative effect.
Said my advance was sexual
She stated that my intentions were solely sexual.
Held my genitals with cold hands
She touched my penis indifferently and icily.
Set up the Coke cans
She established a setup of Coke cans to be knocked down.
Broke out the Red Ryder
She prepared to use the Red Ryder air rifle to knock down the cans.
Then one by one I tried to knock down everything that's dead inside her
I attempted to knock down her emotional and psychic imbalances one by one.
She used to treat street dividers like a balance beam
She used to walk or balance street dividers similarly to an exercise in gymnastics.
Arms spread wider than the legs in her dad's magazine
She used to balance with her arms wide open, which was wider than the legs of the women in her father's adult magazine collection.
Re-enacting the pages that she got trapped between
She emulated the positions of models or women that were featured in her father's mature magazine, which led to an unhealthy obsession and confinement.
I used it for kindling and then spilled the gasoline
I used her past obsessions as fuel for our affair, but it led to more chaos and instability.
Now I'm your water boy
I'm now the one who attends to her, like a water boy.
I fetch it from your cheeks just like tennis balls
I gather and collect tears from her eyes, like a ball boy who collects tennis balls.
Smell the stench of your weakness on the bedroom walls
I can smell a strong odor of her vulnerabilities and weaknesses permeating through the bedroom walls.
Somebody careless let em vaporize
Someone thoughtlessly allowed her weaknesses to slip away.
"Who let these fall to the floor from your poor vacant eyes?"
I asked rhetorically who allowed the tears and weakness to slip away from her.
Disintegrate
We are falling apart and disintegrating.
This ain't a great first impression
Our initial encounter might not have been a great one.
But I work better on pages, they say words are my profession
I think I'm better as a writer and within my profession, where words are my strength.
Let me spell it out in simple language
Let me make it easier for you to understand.
Plain English
In simple, unambiguous terms.
I want your suicide to be a book of mine that I never finish
I want you to commit suicide, and I'll turn it into a book that I'll never complete.
Got up this morning
I woke up this morning.
Didn't know right from wrong
I was unclear about what was the right thing to do.
Contributed by Violet N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jeffmarg1535
Still listening 15 years later
@farewell2arms87
Seriously, what an aptly self-dubbed rapper. He's the king really. No one has anything on his combination of great vocab, material, speed, and delivery. Perhaps Slug, or Immortal Technique, or maybe a case for Busdriver, but i still think he takes the cake. I agree, it's pathetic the rap industry or populace isn't aware of his existence, because he's one of the best of all time.
@glennjoyce7682
You're forgetting Aesop Rock lol
@alijawda2896
@@glennjoyce7682 I love Sage but I was going to say the same thing.
@JBBost
He was one of the first ones I ever heard (along with Atmosphere) when I first getting properly introduced to the larger world of hip-hop!
@shapelessshapefromthebay8759
My music is infinitely doper than Franny Sayjist
@shapelessshapefromthebay8759
@@glennjoyce7682 Ayefraud Pebble is a mark.
@TacosTheMod
Sage Francis is a gentleman and a scholar.
@BonnieAWiggles
This is the first time I've seen Sage film clip, been listening to his art for near 6 years, what a fantastic geezer! And Buck 65 is in the clip! My two favourite artists. Hooray! So grateful for this honest, integral and beautiful poetry that gets shared. Goddess Bless.
@DS12210
😊 saw him live, opened for Rise Against in Winnipeg around '09