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.
Hopeless
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I ended up with picture perfect sheet music
I read your musical notes with a composer's eyes
And heard out song for the first time
My spine is still tingling, mental images of your fine tune
is what I've been nodding my head to lately
Every now and then you can catch me humming
your nudity under my heavy breath
your ancient neglected dust collector
If you distrust the distance in my seldom plucked heart strings
Sit stripped before your full length
Perform your reflection backwards
Maybe then you will understand the rhythm in my movement
Listen when the news is sent
Extend when the rules are bent
I'll be waiting to take your leave
Make me a victim of your two step
Make me an apprentice of your body parts
Teach me to dance to your beauty marks
I'm stepping on toes here and I don't care
It's hopeless, it's hopeless
It's hopelessness holding this openess to blow a kiss
So close your lips but don't get pissed
and throw a fist at this vocalist
I'm not emotionless, in fact I broke my wrist
when I wrote the list of all those I miss
This is my poker face, Mister Feel Nothing
The song "Hopeless" by Sage Francis speaks about the singer's infatuation with someone they refer to as "you." The lyrics suggest that the singer has spent time closely examining "you," studying every detail of their body and their movements, and has even turned those observations into a musical score. The singer is clearly deeply moved by "you," with every thought of them causing tingles to run down their spine. Despite their adoration, however, the singer feels a disconnect between them and "you," as if their heartstrings are only occasionally played, leaving them feeling uncertain and vulnerable. Still, the singer is hopeful that if "you" were to take a closer look at themselves, they might be able to hear and understand the symphony that is created when they and the singer are together.
The lyrics of "Hopeless" are filled with references to the power of music, suggesting that there are parts of ourselves that can only be expressed through melody and rhythm. The singer urges "you" to perform for themselves, to see the beauty in the music they make simply through their own existence. The idea that someone can be seen as a musical score is a poignant one, suggesting that our physicality is intertwined with the songs we create simply by being in the world.
Overall, "Hopeless" is a song that speaks to the way we can be captivated by another person and the hope that we can find a way to connect with them despite our differences. It is a deeply emotional song that uses music as a metaphor for the complexity of human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I played connect the dots with your beauty marks
I explored your body by connecting your beauty marks to reveal a stunning image.
And I ended up with picture perfect sheet music
I created a masterpiece by using your beauty marks as notes on sheet music.
I read your musical notes with a composer's eyes
I examined the curves and lines on your body as if they were musical notes.
And heard out song for the first time
I finally understood the melody of your body and how it resonated in my soul.
My spine is still tingling, mental images of your fine tune
I still get chills thinking about how your body moved and felt like a beautiful song.
is what I've been nodding my head to lately
I've been replaying the memory of you in my mind and nodding in approval of your beauty.
Every now and then you can catch me humming
From time to time, I catch myself humming a tune that reminds me of your body's melody.
your nudity under my heavy breath
I long to see you naked and breathe heavily in response to your beauty.
I heavily suggest you resurrect
I strongly recommend that you revive and rediscover your own beauty and value.
your ancient neglected dust collector
Your body, which you may have neglected or ignored over time, is a valuable and beautiful instrument.
If you distrust the distance in my seldom plucked heart strings
If you're unsure about the emotional connection between us that I rarely show or express.
Sit stripped before your full length
Undress and stand before a full-length mirror to appreciate and understand your own beauty.
Perform your reflection backwards
Look at your reflection in reverse, as if you were dancing or moving your body in reverse, to see a new perspective and discover new beauty.
Maybe then you will understand the rhythm in my movement
You may better understand my actions and feelings towards you if you better understand your own beauty and how it moves you.
Listen when the news is sent
Pay attention to what is being said and understand the message being communicated.
Extend when the rules are bent
Be open to change and able to adapt to new circumstances or situations.
I'll be waiting to take your leave
I'll be eagerly ready to leave with you or depart from you, whatever you choose.
Make me a victim of your two step
Take the lead in a dance with me and make me fall victim to your beauty and movements.
Make me an apprentice of your body parts
Teach me more about your body and its beauty, making me a willing student or apprentice.
Teach me to dance to your beauty marks
Help me appreciate and understand your unique features and movements as if learning a dance routine.
I'm stepping on toes here and I don't care
I may be making mistakes or taking risks, but I am not afraid of the consequences or the reactions of others.
It's hopeless, it's hopeless
My feelings or situation may seem hopeless or dire.
It's hopelessness holding this openess to blow a kiss
Despite feeling hopeless or rejected, I remain open and willing to show affection and love.
So close your lips but don't get pissed
Stop talking or arguing, but don't become angry or resentful.
and throw a fist at this vocalist
Don't attack me or become violent towards me, as I am only expressing my emotions through my voice and music.
I'm not emotionless, in fact I broke my wrist
I am not without emotions, in fact, I am emotionally invested and have physically hurt myself from all the writing, creating, and feeling.
when I wrote the list of all those I miss
As I wrote a list of missed connections and relationships, I was overwhelmed by my emotions and physically hurt myself.
This is my poker face, Mister Feel Nothing
Despite being hurt and emotional, I keep a poker face and do not show my true feelings, unlike someone who has numbed their emotions.
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