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.
Personal Journalist
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sage Francis...Personal Journalist, 1968 to 2001
(Verse 1)
He left with deep breaths in each chest that needs less innovating Cause
there still debating over what rhyme skill is
Sick of waiting for time killers to get over there murder raps
And then he sold his own shirt off his back for cheap exposure
Always seemed to keep composure, peeking over both his eyelids
Speaking vulgar in misleading cultures of ultra violence
Teaching others how to be more loving with brotherly guidance
A bleeding soldier knows the science
He does the math quick and writes without having to think twice
Without asking for advice, letting the scalps peel
Having brains picked by head lice before the scabs heal
His death mask conceals his face paint
It feels like a safe place, but it ain't
Feels like its safety seals faith, but it don't
He's not a real saint, just another one of those religious political jokes
And that's not even half of the nutshell
Cats are compelled to crack open and extract his blood cells
From, when he comes back from hell again
He'll have a few bones to pick with a fractured skeleton
(over scratching)
Sage Francis...anti-socialite...secret admirer
Student loaner...continental drifter...professional day lifter
Spin doctor...self-referentialist...personal journalist
(bridge)
Word, its the worthless wordsmiths
We're conversing with impersonal twists
Heard the concern with making the Earth ship
These kid games are silly
When all art is signed anonymous
He'll turn that big bang theory into a small pop hypothesis
(spoken)
Sage Francis...death merchant...1968 to 2001
Devoted son, father to none
(Verse 2)
Husband to something soulless
He didn't spend his life on what we love
The hardest workers in showbiz need no diamond studded glove
His time is up! He's still the type of boy who makes a comeback
Kill the white noise til the sun's black
Moonwalk around New York City and get murdered
By flocks of sheep who square-dance circles inside a box of beats
The California Dream sequences end quick
Got to find middle ground in little towns
That's the Midwest tradista, for something
Fell for every trick in the book
So we stop believing, in the long-forgotten Garden of Eden
Get off the cross! Of course we need the wood to burn in Godless heaving
Catch him red handed, only if his hands are bleeding
(over scratching)
Sage Francis...Non-profit...artificially intelligent
...of our guardian angel does in life...
1968 to 2001...it's been a pleasure, it's been a pleasure
Get out my weatherface with all that sunshine
(Get out my weatherface with all that sunshine)
Get out my weatherface with all that sunshine
Get out my weatherface...
The song 'Personal Journalist' by Sage Francis is a tribute to a person who seems to have gone through a lot in his life. The song begins with spoken words referencing the person who left with deep breaths, signifying that he was done with his time on Earth. He was an artist, who had trouble with the concept of rhyme skill, waiting for "time killers" to get over their murder raps. He sold his shirt off his back for cheap exposure, seeking closure, and yet keeping an open mind. He was vulgar, but he taught love and brotherhood. He was a bleeding soldier who knew the science of life, doing the math quickly and writing what came to his mind. He had his brain picked at and his face concealed as a death mask concealed his face paint. He comes across as someone who was very complex and had to face a lot of criticism in his life.
In the second verse, this person has been referred to as someone who was not happy with his life, and he did not spend his life on what people loved. He was the hardest worker in showbiz, who did not need a diamond-studded glove. He was a person who still made a comeback, even after his time was up. He often went through difficult situations like being murdered in New York City and was surrounded by people who square-danced in beats. He had fallen for every trick in the book and stopped believing in the Garden of Eden. The song ends with a reference to the person and a plea to get out of the weatherface with all that sunshine.
Line by Line Meaning
He left with deep breaths in each chest that needs less innovating Cause
there still debating over what rhyme skill is
He left with a sense of dissatisfaction as the rap world is still debating over the definition of good rapping.
Sick of waiting for time killers to get over there murder raps
And then he sold his own shirt off his back for cheap exposure
He's tired of rappers perpetuating violence and waiting for them to evolve, so he sacrifices to cheap exposure to get his message out.
Seek for closure but stayed open minded
Always seemed to keep composure, peeking over both his eyelids
He seeks closure but remains open-minded and composed, always watching and alert.
Speaking vulgar in misleading cultures of ultra violence
Teaching others how to be more loving with brotherly guidance
He criticizes a culture of violence while promoting love and brotherhood.
A bleeding soldier knows the science
He does the math quick and writes without having to think twice
He's skilled and experienced in the rap world, able to quickly come up with rhymes without much effort.
Without asking for advice, letting the scalps peel
Having brains picked by head lice before the scabs heal
He's unafraid to take risks and doesn't always wait for others' approval, but this can lead to painful consequences.
His death mask conceals his face paint
It feels like a safe place, but it ain't
Feels like its safety seals faith, but it don't
He's not a real saint, just another one of those religious political jokes
His persona can be misleading, causing people to think he's safe or even religious, when he's not really a saint or anything like that.
Word, its the worthless wordsmiths
We're conversing with impersonal twists
Heard the concern with making the Earth ship
These kid games are silly
When all art is signed anonymous
He'll turn that big bang theory into a small pop hypothesis
He criticizes empty words and superficial interactions, calls for a concern for the planet, and plays with language and science.
Husband to something soulless
He didn't spend his life on what we love
The hardest workers in showbiz need no diamond studded glove
He spent his life on something that's not fulfilling, but he's still dedicated to his craft and doesn't need superficial perks.
His time is up! He's still the type of boy who makes a comeback
Kill the white noise til the sun's black
Moonwalk around New York City and get murdered
By flocks of sheep who square-dance circles inside a box of beats
He's aware of his own mortality, but he's still resourceful and resilient. He criticizes conformity and warns against becoming a victim of herd mentality.
The California Dream sequences end quick
Got to find middle ground in little towns
That's the Midwest tradista, for something
Fell for every trick in the book
So we stop believing, in the long-forgotten Garden of Eden
He's disillusioned with the allure of California and highlights the importance of finding balance in simpler places. He's also critical of falling for false promises and ideologies.
Get out my weatherface with all that sunshine
(Get out my weatherface with all that sunshine)
Get out my weatherface with all that sunshine
Get out my weatherface...
He's tired of hearing others' shallow positivity and wants them to leave him alone with their fake cheerfulness.
Lyrics © OBO 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