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.
Mourning Aftermath
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stop sweatin' me.
I'm makin' myself look pretty
I'm makin' myself look pretty for you
I'm makin' myself look prettier
Let me rub my back against the notches on your bedpost
My head's close to your closet door.
I've got the glass to my ear. My nose is in your
business (I smell something fishy here.)
I hear bones rattling. Poems battling for space and time
Phones that'll ring when I make judgment calls with pick-up lines
Sexual hang-ups leave me waiting nude and while alone
It gets aggrivating masterbating to a dial tone.
I'm the home to run-away trains of thought
My one track mind is a collision intercourse where victim's cross,
Bedroom eyes...uncross their legs exposing inner thighs
I disrobe and show my most convincing disguise.
I've lived so many lives each death has left my face scarred
Hid so many lies under my breath that I can't face God
Dig into my mind deep enough you'll find a graveyard
I get nervous bodies will resurface every time it rains hard
"Don't cry, girl." Let me outline your short comings
My world is full of them and they're all in the long runnings
It's all fun and games. It's all done in vain. It's all a ----ing shame
I ain't the one but I'm the one to complain?
I'm the one to come home.Compare.Contrast.Come fast
Make love to the present, fuck the past
Make love to the present, fuck the past.Nothing lasts
Don't you dare worry about the morning aftermath
I'm makin' myself look pretty
I'm makin' myself look pretty for you
I'm makin' myself look prettier
Taking an acid bath, pissing on the shower curtain
The gal just laughs and starts dissing my towel turban
I had to ask if she knew how to listen now I'm certain
Now my task is just to get up in her like I was a surgeon!
I'm a virgin who makes exceptions at sunset
My dirty skin gets cleansed by the summer sweat
"Self, have some respect! I don't need you new and clean
But I don't want the procedure routine!"
A screw machine!with a few bolts loose.robot response touch tone
Hair trigger, happy-go-lucky emotion monger wants a love poem
Run home.dip into your closet and jump bones
Your secret admirer's stuck higher up and he's unknown.
Looking down on you.can you bare the burden?my ears are hurting
I found a few gears are turning
With squeaky wheels.they get the grease cuz its a damn nuisance
Understand the blueprints for our mechanical movements.
It never ran smooth since we abused the Earth
Grabbed a hand full of pubics and removed the turf
Refused its worth, we lose our shirts.she assumed the worst
And needed proof of birth? I'm leaving this universe.
It seems doomed and cursed.see if you come first then come fast
Come here.Come back.Compare.Contrast
Complain.Constrain.Constantly ask,
Complicated questions contain scientific answers in your flask
Condone.Condemn.Come home.Come friend
Confuse.Common issues.Condelude.Comprehend
Carma.Chameleon.Come again?
Continue to come in you.Come to daddy.Condescend
Come and bring us (Confidence). Cunnilingus (Compliments)
Come to thank us went from guilty conscienceness to common sense
Calm down.Complete.Compound.Come eat
Our Common ground meat from man-made concrete
Come to the street.Conquer the weak.Come to terms with coming last
Make love to the present, fuck the past
Make love to the present, fuck the past.Nothing lasts
Don't you dare worry about the morning aftermath.
I'm makin' myself look pretty
I'm makin' myself look pretty for you
I'm makin' myself look prettier
The song "Mourning Aftermath" by Sage Francis is a provocative exploration of sex, relationships, and the lasting impact of our actions. The lyrics center around the singer's efforts to make themselves attractive to their partner, using the metaphor of "making myself look pretty" to suggest that they are trying to hide their flaws and insecurities. However, this facade quickly begins to unravel as the singer delves deeper into their own psyche, revealing a host of dark thoughts and desires.
The opening lines of the song are a defiant statement, as the singer tells their partner to stop worrying about their appearance and simply appreciate them for who they are. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is filled with raw, honest reflections on sex, love, and the consequences of our actions. The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery and intense emotions, from the sound of bones rattling in a closet to the frustration of masturbating to a dial tone.
As the song progresses, the singer continues to struggle with their own demons, revealing a deep fear of intimacy and a tendency to use sex as a way of avoiding emotional connection. Despite these issues, they are still searching for some kind of connection, even as they acknowledge that nothing lasts forever. The final line, "don't you dare worry about the morning aftermath," is a poignant reminder that even though our actions may have consequences, we must still embrace life and make the most of every moment.
Line by Line Meaning
I know I look good.
I'm confident in my appearance.
Stop sweatin' me.
Stop bothering me.
I'm makin' myself look pretty
I'm trying to improve my appearance.
Let me rub my back against the notches on your bedpost
Let me enjoy your sexual experiences.
My head's close to your closet door.
I'm snooping around and looking for something.
I hear bones rattling. Poems battling for space and time
I'm struggling with creative ideas.
Sexual hang-ups leave me waiting nude and while alone
I'm insecure about my sexual performance.
My one track mind is a collision intercourse where victim's cross
My mind is constantly focused on sex and relationships.
I disrobe and show my most convincing disguise.
I try to present myself in the best way possible.
Dig into my mind deep enough you'll find a graveyard
I have a lot of buried secrets and regrets.
My world is full of them and they're all in the long runnings
My life is full of problems that will affect me in the future.
It's all fun and games. It's all done in vain. It's all a ----ing shame
Everything is meaningless and pointless.
Make love to the present, fuck the past
Focus on the present and forget about the past.
Don't you dare worry about the morning aftermath
Don't worry about the consequences of your actions.
Taking an acid bath, pissing on the shower curtain
I'm doing something destructive and disrespectful.
I had to ask if she knew how to listen now I'm certain
I'm trying to communicate better in my relationships.
I'm a virgin who makes exceptions at sunset
I'm inexperienced in relationships but willing to try.
My dirty skin gets cleansed by the summer sweat
I feel refreshed and rejuvenated in the summer.
A screw machine!with a few bolts loose.robot response touch tone
I feel like a broken machine with a programmed response to life.
It never ran smooth since we abused the Earth
Life is chaotic because we've mistreated the environment.
She assumed the worst and needed proof of birth?
My partner is distrustful and suspicious.
Condone.Condemn.Come home.Come friend
I'm confused about what actions to take in life.
Complicated questions contain scientific answers in your flask
Life's problems have complex solutions.
Calm down.Complete.Compound.Come eat
Relax, finish tasks, make improvements, and focus on nourishment.
Our Common ground meat from man-made concrete
We're all humans living in a constructed environment.
Make love to the present, fuck the past.Nothing lasts
The past is gone, focus on the present.
Contributed by Molly V. 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