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 12β (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.
Love the Lie
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You gotta love the lie
Love(love) life (life)
Girls (love)(life)(girls) girls and lies ?
I can't hear through those veneers
But you keep speaking with those pearly whites
Love the life that you live if it gives love back
You ain't gotta stay together for the kids
Vanish in thin air and bounce quick
Fix the cowlick slick your hair back
Ride the rim bare back you stared at
Lady Godiva might have been an exhibitionist
I'm not here to judge voyeuristic fetishes
If nobody looked its a closed book
You could put your hang ups on a coat hook
I'm from a puritanical land where they burn witches
I'm the result of a welfare runnin' up your sickness
Joy never came Jesus never helped
We were all to blame god beat us with a belt
If I heard your name I'd retreat into myself
I won't hurt your name I'll keep it to myself with
Love (love) life (life)
Love(God) girls and lies
I can't hear through those veneers
But you keep speaking through those pearly whites
No legacy to claim no enemies to squelch
No chemical imbalance that could remedy yourself
Pedestals for the parents medicine is on the shelf
Put the trophy in the spotlight watch as it melts
Metal wouldn't survive plastic is cheaper
Ran into the fire she asked me to leave her
I did what I could with the wood and the flammables
Stood with the good little animals ran with the bulls
Soot on my hands that were full put the good book on the mantle
Burn baby burn you could serve as a candle
Last thing I heard was her on the piano
Last thing I saw was her being her self
By beating her self to see if it could help
If I heard your name I'd retreat into myself
I won't hurt your name I'll keep it to myself with
Love (love) life (life)
Love(God) girls (girls) and lies
I can't hear through those veneers
But you keep speaking through those pearly whites
Love the lie
Love the lie
Love the lie
The song "Love the Lie" by Sage Francis is a bittersweet reflection on life, love, and the lies we tell ourselves and others to get by. The chorus, "You gotta love the lie / Love life, girls, and lies / I can't hear through those veneers / But you keep speaking through those pearly whites," is a cynical take on the idea that we should embrace the falsehoods in our lives because they make everything easier. The singer seems to be struggling with this concept, questioning the motivations behind the lies and the cost they have on our relationships.
Throughout the song, we see the singer grappling with darkness, from the challenges of living in a puritanical society to the pain of lost love. There is an undercurrent of sadness and regret, particularly when the singer talks about not having a legacy or enemies, or the idea that they won't hurt someone's name but will keep it to themselves. It seems that they are recognizing the weight of their own lies, as well as the lies perpetrated by others, and the crushing weight of living in a world that prioritizes appearances over authenticity.
Overall, "Love the Lie" is a haunting meditation on the way we construct our lives and relationships, and the lies we tell to make everything bearable. It's a song that acknowledges the harsh realities of existence, while still holding out hope for something better, something more real.
Line by Line Meaning
You gotta love the lie
You need to accept and embrace deception
You gotta love the lie
You need to accept and embrace deception
Love(love) life (life)
Love your existence
Girls (love)(life)(girls) girls and lies ?
Is it all about women and deceit?
I can't hear through those veneers
I cannot comprehend the hidden motives behind your words
But you keep speaking with those pearly whites
You continue to state things without any sincere conviction
Love the life that you live if it gives love back
Adore the being you exist as if it reciprocates love
You ain't gotta stay together for the kids
You don't have to maintain a relationship for the sake of the children
If you want to disappear don't announce it
If you feel like disappearing, don't make it known beforehand
Vanish in thin air and bounce quick
Disappear without any trace and leave swiftly
Fix the cowlick slick your hair back
Tidy yourself up and make sure you look presentable
Ride the rim bare back you stared at
Go ahead and experience the thing that you have been thinking about
Lady Godiva might have been an exhibitionist
A historical figure known for being naked in public could have just enjoyed showing off
I'm not here to judge voyeuristic fetishes
I have no intention to scrutinize interests in observing others
If nobody looked its a closed book
If nobody saw anything, then it's already forgotten
You could put your hang ups on a coat hook
You could leave your mental obstacles aside for now
I'm from a puritanical land where they burn witches
I originated from a place that had a history of persecuting people for their beliefs
I'm the result of a welfare runnin' up your sickness
I was born from a system that facilitated poverty and ill health
Joy never came Jesus never helped
I never experienced happiness, and religion did not provide comfort
We were all to blame god beat us with a belt
We all had faults, and religion could be a source of punishment
If I heard your name I'd retreat into myself
If I heard your name, I would withdraw into my own thoughts and emotions
I won't hurt your name I'll keep it to myself with
I will not bring harm to your reputation, and I will keep it to myself while feeling conflicted
Love (love) life (life)
Love your existence
Love(God) girls and lies
Adoration, women and deceit are intertwined
I can't hear through those veneers
I cannot comprehend the hidden motives behind your words
But you keep speaking through those pearly whites
You continue to state things without any sincere conviction
No legacy to claim no enemies to squelch
No remarkable accomplishment to refer to or any adversaries to conquer
No chemical imbalance that could remedy yourself
No physiological disorder that you can blame for your state
Pedestals for the parents medicine is on the shelf
Parents are on a metaphorical platform, while remedies are readily available
Put the trophy in the spotlight watch as it melts
Put the reward on display and observe it dissipate
Metal wouldn't survive plastic is cheaper
Things that are inherently stronger may be less practical, and less powerful things are more economical
Ran into the fire she asked me to leave her
A woman invited me to take risks, but then reconsidered
I did what I could with the wood and the flammables
I did what I could with the resources available
Stood with the good little animals ran with the bulls
Sometimes it is best to stick to safe options but other times, it is better to take risks
Soot on my hands that were full put the good book on the mantle
I may have gotten soot on my hands, but at least I had useful knowledge
Burn baby burn you could serve as a candle
Even at my lowest point, I could provide light for others
Last thing I heard was her on the piano
The last sound I heard was her playing the piano
Last thing I saw was her being her self
The last image was that of her being true to herself
By beating her self to see if it could help
She was trying to improve herself through self-flagellation
If I heard your name I'd retreat into myself
If I heard your name, I would withdraw into my own thoughts and emotions
I won't hurt your name I'll keep it to myself with
I will not bring harm to your reputation, and I will keep it to myself while feeling conflicted
Love (love) life (life)
Love your existence
Love(God) girls (girls) and lies
Adoration, women and deceit are intertwined
I can't hear through those veneers
I cannot comprehend the hidden motives behind your words
But you keep speaking through those pearly whites
You continue to state things without any sincere conviction
Love the lie
Embrace the deceitful nature of reality
Love the lie
Embrace the deceitful nature of reality
Love the lie
Embrace the deceitful nature of reality
Lyrics Β© Wixen Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAGE FRANCIS, MARK LINKOUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
hojima
I don't understand how Francis isn't more popular. He has an incredibly accessible sound, he raps extremely clearly, and his music is straddling even more genres than ever.
Justin Michaud
Maybe it's the throwing of stale bread and rotten veggies. Awesome show!
Mitch Wolfe
One of the most underrated rappers out
mzpaul3
Thanks you Sage. RIP Mark. Favorite from this album.
Justin
Sage's music is always so powerful.
Randol Reads!
Still a really dope song coming back to it! Sage's flow and genre-bending composition together are just really nice man
Felicity B
i love his music, it has a meaning and is good to listen to, but thats my opinion
Matt Thompson
Also thanks to Sage Francis for making sick songs!
Isaac Li
he is a true artist!!
dboggs123
sage is my favorite rapper now and forever