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.
Polterzeitgeist
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm goin' around, trying to keep the hell outta people.
Your evil sends chills through my bones
And it flows through the back roads of arteries.
Genetic mammary fights technology
Administered by moral midgets
This picket signs in my eyes when they strike
Note to self; go for self, go for broke
No one else ever showed you the ropes or helped
And what are they supposed to do?
Of course they gotta rebuild every wall that you broke on through.
Drugs wont get my thoughts running, I need them to make thoughts stop coming
Last night I had dream I shot someone
When I awoke my hands were full of the fluid my hearts pumping
I went to get it tested, the doctor was not so interested in analyzing the message
He had a pill, that if he issues out
He gets paid on the side, Got a lifetime supply.
[Chorus]
Maybe hes the ghost, and maybe I'm the host
The polterzietgeist who knows the right price
To pay the priest to release me from these ropes
And
Maybe I'm the ghost, and maybe hes the host
The polterzietgeist who knows the right price
To pay the priest to release me from these ropes
Fell into a Venus fly trap with a nicotine eye-patch
Tired of the shift sipping Listerine night caps.
Disguised her voice with the breath of a clean slate
Awake every morning to the death of my dream date.
Selling sex to cheapskates with rusty blades
Fuck it forget and call it layaway
Got an addiction to thin ice
The whisper of wind pipes
I'm mister insight, the social costume's skin tight
Nah, I don't believe in you
And you don't believe that I'm leaving you.
As you shrink away to nothing in my rear view
To close to call, to far to be hearing you
Singing my melody I heard it subconsciously
You spoke in your sleep, and it sounded like honesty
When you awoke you said "it was not for me"
I said "oh, I know obviously"
You're not my yo-yo so I dropped the photo
And I rocked this solo now you gots to go
[Chorus]
Maybe you're a ghost, and I'm the conduit
The kinda thread in every superficial compliment
The loose string in your moral fabric
Holding your logic, hopelessly romantic
And ?
Leaving notes for the next to come
Written in blood from the wound that they'll exit from
I don't compose rows or sonnets I just write like my life depends on it
Front like I'm agnostic, but I don't believe in you
You got a transparent nature that I'm seeing through
Somebody spiked the punch that you beat me to
Sometimes I'm not even sure its even you.
[Chorus]
(it need some editing, whoever did Zero for me, fix this one to!)
In the song Polterzeitgeist by Sage Francis, the lyrics convey a sense of rebellion against societal expectations and norms. The artist questions the motives of those who try to save people from hell and instead chooses to focus on keeping the hell out of people. There is a constant struggle between good and evil within the artist, as mentioned in the line "Your evil sends chills through my bones, and it flows through the back roads of arteries." The use of poetic language in the lyrics indicates that there is a deep emotional and mental conflict within the artist, which is further amplified by the line "Drugs won't get my thoughts running, I need them to make thoughts stop coming."
The chorus talks about the possibility of the artist being a ghost, and the other person playing the role of a host, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for dominance in a relationship. The artist is trying to break free from their partner's hold, but is struggling to do so. The lyrics are dark and often confusing but convey a strong sense of distrust, which is further emphasized by the line "I don't believe in you, and you don't believe that I'm leaving you."
Line by Line Meaning
Why you goin' around, trying to keep people outta hell?
I'm goin' around, trying to keep the hell outta people.
Your evil sends chills through my bones
Your evil flows through the back roads of arteries.
And it flows through the back roads of arteries.
Your evil affects me on a deep, physical level.
Genetic mammary fights technology
Biology is struggling against advancements in society.
Administered by moral midgets
These advancements come from people of questionable morals.
This picket signs in my eyes when they strike
I am always ready to fight against injustice.
You'll wanna talk business.
You'll regret messing with me and will try to make it right.
Note to self; go for self, go for broke
I have to rely on myself and take risks to succeed.
No one else ever showed you the ropes or helped
I had to figure things out on my own.
And what are they supposed to do?
Others can't be blamed for not being able to help me.
Of course they gotta rebuild every wall that you broke on through.
Others have to fix the problems I caused.
Drugs wont get my thoughts running, I need them to make thoughts stop coming
I don't take drugs to feel creative, I take them to stop unwanted thoughts.
Last night I had dream I shot someone
I had a disturbing dream.
When I awoke my hands were full of the fluid my hearts pumping
My anxiety was so high it manifested physically.
I went to get it tested, the doctor was not so interested in analyzing the message
My doctor wasn't interested in understanding the root of my anxiety.
He had a pill, that if he issues out
My doctor offered me a pill to manage my anxiety.
He gets paid on the side, Got a lifetime supply.
My doctor has ulterior motives for prescribing this pill.
Maybe hes the ghost, and maybe I'm the host
I'm not sure if I'm in control of my own life.
The polterzietgeist who knows the right price
I feel like there's a force controlling me that I can't see.
To pay the priest to release me from these ropes
I need help to break free from this control.
Fell into a Venus fly trap with a nicotine eye-patch
I feel like I'm trapped in a dangerous situation.
Tired of the shift sipping Listerine night caps.
I use alcohol to cope with my problems.
Disguised her voice with the breath of a clean slate
Someone is pretending to be someone they're not.
Awake every morning to the death of my dream date.
I wake up every day feeling like I've lost something important.
Selling sex to cheapskates with rusty blades
People are willing to do anything for money, even if it's dangerous.
Fuck it forget and call it layaway
I'm willing to overlook the risks for the sake of immediate gratification.
Got an addiction to thin ice
I'm addicted to taking risks.
The whisper of wind pipes
I'm constantly searching for the next high.
I'm mister insight, the social costume's skin tight
I think I have a deep understanding of the world and people around me.
Nah, I don't believe in you
I don't trust you.
And you don't believe that I'm leaving you.
You don't trust me either.
As you shrink away to nothing in my rear view
You're fading from my life.
To close to call, to far to be hearing you
I can't decide if I want you in my life or not.
Singing my melody I heard it subconsciously
You remind me of someone from my past.
You spoke in your sleep, and it sounded like honesty
You said something genuine while you were asleep.
When you awoke you said "it was not for me"
You backtracked on what you said and told me it wasn't true.
I said "oh, I know obviously"
I wasn't surprised that you didn't want to be vulnerable.
You're not my yo-yo so I dropped the photo
I let go of the idea of a future with you.
And I rocked this solo now you gots to go
I'm moving on without you.
Maybe you're a ghost, and I'm the conduit
I feel like you have a hold on me.
The kinda thread in every superficial compliment
You manipulate me with flattery.
The loose string in your moral fabric
I'm the weak point in your morality.
Holding your logic, hopelessly romantic
I'm the irrational side of you that yearns for love.
Leaving notes for the next to come
I'm trying to leave a legacy.
Written in blood from the wound that they'll exit from
My legacy will be a result of my pain.
I don't compose rows or sonnets I just write like my life depends on it
I write to survive, not to create.
Front like I'm agnostic, but I don't believe in you
I pretend to be indifferent to you, but really I don't trust you.
You got a transparent nature that I'm seeing through
Your true motives are obvious to me.
Somebody spiked the punch that you beat me to
You cheated to get ahead of me.
Sometimes I'm not even sure its even you.
I doubt your authenticity.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Written by: BRIAN DECK, JIM BECKER, SAGE FRANCIS, TIM RUTILI
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