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.
Life Is What Distracts You From Death
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life is what distracts you from death
Gaspin for breath
Grabbin your chest
Now look to God and ask him what's left?
No answer, now how can I pass the test?
I can't figure out the order of this bastard's mess
I'm feelin disasterous
It's futile like you child trying to sell me bags of sess
Now put that to rest
I'm sportin rags when I dress
While you're mad obsessed
With Tommy Hil, Polo and Guess
Got selected best when rap was a braggin contest
Now you could of sounded like THIS
To sell records act possessed
I've blasted the best
Fast like the wild west and had intercourse with the bulletholes in the chest
Hooooes need to get their fat asses dressed
Masters of sex
Must have been molested ___?___ committed incest
Violated mother earth, grabbed her ass and breasts
Got father time ticked off the kid's soft I had to fess...up
I never fuck with what your raps suggest they make me laugh mos def
As you get gassed by the press
Me? I'm ridin on E, I got no gas left
I had to walk my way home but I forgot the address
Once I got there I had no access
To my house
Moms changed the lock 'cause of my bad ass mouth
My bad ass mouth? I ain't one to hold back
I know I'm jet white for some reason my balls act bald black
Ask your girl about 'em yo that bitch is so whack
She gave my spirit a disease called the sooooouuuuul clap
The way she does when she smoooookes crack
You don't believe me? look here I got the koooodak moment
Opponents are slow to react
Like when I got to gave a pound and you throw dap
Now you know that
Every man is listenin
Change your hand positioning
It makes no sense like a satanic christening
They panic from all the shit I bring
You ain't been dissed by Sage yet? just keep on listening
I make it interesting
They keep distancing themselves from what I have to say
Peace to my family members that are gone and passed away
Day after day it makes me think about my worth and purpose
On this earth's surface
Since birth, this world has been a circus
Of three rings
Once Armageddon begins
We'll hang ourselves from the tree limbs
With G strings
You see there's too much swinging
From the hips
Read my lips
As you watch what I say you're hopin that my toungue slips
But I made Linda "Tripp", turned Kenneth to a "Star"
Sex scandals just distract you from the real problems there are
Don't get fooled my the media
Don't believe everythin you read or eat, everythin they feed to ya
Emcees to me, HA, they got lazy lips
I'mma take hip hop back to Eighty-Six
Sage Francis got you thinkin maybe it's...
All down hill from here just like the Patriots
The first line of the lyrics, "Life is what distracts you from death," sets the tone for the entire song. Sage Francis is exploring themes of mortality, purpose, and self-worth, all while critiquing the state of the rap industry and media. He begins with an image of someone gasping for breath, grasping their chest and contemplating what's left. When they look to God for answers, there's no response. This sense of helplessness and uncertainty colors the rest of the lyrics.
Sage Francis is critical of the rap industry and its obsession with material possessions. While others are concerned with rags-to-riches stories, Francis is sporting actual rags and questioning the value of designer labels. He notes that he "blasted the best" (other rappers) and had intercourse with bullet holes - an image of violence and danger that contrasts with the more luxurious lifestyles celebrated in many rap songs.
Throughout the rest of the song, Francis laments the state of the world, expresses frustration with hip-hop, and encourages listeners not to believe everything they read or hear. The final lines, "Sage Francis got you thinkin maybe it's... All down hill from here just like the Patriots," suggest that there's more work to be done and that he's willing to lead the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Life is what distracts you from death
Life is the only thing that keeps you from constantly thinking about death
Gaspin for breath
The feeling of trying to catch your breath
Grabbin your chest
The instinct to hold your chest when feeling pain or discomfort
Now look to God and ask him what's left?
Questioning the purpose or meaning of life when faced with death
No answer, now how can I pass the test?
Frustration with the lack of answers or direction in life
I can't figure out the order of this bastard's mess
Feeling confused and overwhelmed by life's challenges
I'm feelin disasterous
Feeling like everything is falling apart
Massive stress
Feeling an overwhelming amount of stress
It's futile like you child trying to sell me bags of sess
Comparing a futile situation to a child trying to sell something illegal
Now put that to rest
Letting go of a futile situation
I'm sportin rags when I dress
Wearing simple and cheap clothing
While you're mad obsessed with Tommy Hil, Polo and Guess
Comparing oneself to others who are obsessed with expensive clothing brands
Got selected best when rap was a braggin contest
Being successful in the rap industry by bragging about oneself
Now you could of sounded like THIS
Comparing oneself to others who could have succeeded in the rap industry
To sell records act possessed
Pretending to be possessed to sell more records
I've blasted the best
Being successful by overcoming challenges
Fast like the wild west and had intercourse with the bulletholes in the chest
Metaphor for surviving gun violence
Hooooes need to get their fat asses dressed
Insulting women who dress provocatively
Masters of sex
People who are skilled at having sex
Must have been molested ___?___ committed incest
Speculating on the reasons why someone might be skilled at having sex
Violated mother earth, grabbed her ass and breasts
Metaphor for the destruction of the environment
Got father time ticked off the kid's soft I had to fess...up
Admitting to making a mistake
I never fuck with what your raps suggest they make me laugh mos def
Finding other rappers' lyrics comical
As you get gassed by the press
Being taken in by media hype
Me? I'm ridin on E, I got no gas left
Being exhausted, both physically and mentally
I had to walk my way home but I forgot the address
Feeling lost and unsure about how to move forward
Once I got there I had no access to my house
Feeling excluded or cut off from one's home or community
Moms changed the lock 'cause of my bad ass mouth
Being punished for speaking one's mind
My bad ass mouth? I ain't one to hold back
Refusing to censor oneself
I know I'm jet white for some reason my balls act bald black
Joking about race and stereotypes
Ask your girl about 'em yo that bitch is so whack
Insulting someone's partner
She gave my spirit a disease called the sooooouuuuul clap
Metaphor for being emotionally drained or damaged
The way she does when she smoooookes crack
Speculating about a person's drug use
You don't believe me? look here I got the koooodak moment
Joking about having photographic evidence
Opponents are slow to react
Being better than one's competition
Like when I got to gave a pound and you throw dap
Feeling let down by someone else's lack of enthusiasm
Now you know that
Implying that the listener has learned something new
Every man is listenin
Suggesting that everyone is paying attention to oneself
Change your hand positioning
Giving instructions on how to pay attention
It makes no sense like a satanic christening
Comparing something illogical to a blasphemous ritual
They panic from all the shit I bring
Intimidating one's competition
You ain't been dissed by Sage yet? just keep on listening
Challenging others to continue to listen to one's music
I make it interesting
Promising to create unique and engaging music
They keep distancing themselves from what I have to say
Feeling isolated or rejected by others
Peace to my family members that are gone and passed away
Honoring deceased loved ones
Day after day it makes me think about my worth and purpose
Contemplating the meaning of life
On this earth's surface
Referring to life on Earth
Since birth, this world has been a circus
Comparing life to a chaotic and unpredictable circus
Of three rings
Referring to the three main circles of life
Once Armageddon begins
Referring to a catastrophic event
We'll hang ourselves from the tree limbs
Metaphor for destruction and chaos
With G strings
Humorous reference to a type of underwear
You see there's too much swinging
Comparing chaos to playful swinging
From the hips
Moving one's body in a carefree way
Read my lips
Demanding attention and emphasis on what is being said
As you watch what I say you're hopin that my toungue slips
Speculating that others are waiting for someone to fail
But I made Linda 'Tripp', turned Kenneth to a 'Star'
References to political scandals and their effects on individuals
Sex scandals just distract you from the real problems there are
Commenting on the media's focus on scandals rather than more important issues
Don't get fooled my the media
Warning against the deception of the media
Don't believe everythin you read or eat, everythin they feed to ya
Challenging others to think critically about what they consume
Emcees to me, HA, they got lazy lips
Critiquing other rappers' lyrical abilities
I'mma take hip hop back to Eighty-Six
Promising to change the direction of the rap industry
Sage Francis got you thinkin maybe it's...
Advertising oneself as a thought-provoking artist
All down hill from here just like the Patriots
Comparing something to a recent failure of a popular sports team
Contributed by Charlie 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