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.
Runaways
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's time to rethink every fact that is imaginable
Survival instinct dwells in a past that is inhabitable
I happen to pull fast ones over the slow parole board
Who likes to speak to de-fanged wolves who cry sheep
Time seeps into our skin, age indicates how long we've been lost in space
I keep putting expression looks upon my face
An awful waste of human skin who waits for Autumn to begin
(I'm out of seasoning)
No spring chickens, summer romance novel writer could win a prize
It's Nobel, go to hell in a riding vehicle that he winterized
I change my mind more often then my undergarments
Abide abortion and other nonsense
I'm an orphan who comes from Providence
I am assigned from God! For the parentally misguided
(And I know...)
State is not an ocean, not an island, not a road
If I don't know where I come from
How do I know where to go?
It's not where you're from, not where you're at
It's where your going... and I am going home
(And I know...)
State is not an ocean, not an island, not a road
If I don't know where I come from
How do I know where to go?
It's not where you're from, not where you're at
It's where your going... and I am going home...
...to where? The land of the lost souls
Feeling a loneliness that really only exists in abandoned foster homes
How many images of missing kids can be fit onto a milk carton?
Framed, they're starting to look the same
Starting to say his name, and claim privileges
As if they found HIM!
The strangest little kids surrounding the circle of false friendship
Rings of fire are connected at the elbow
Cause they're tired, moms unexpectedly let go
The Velcro light component that keeps there unit cohesive
It's the music! So we give reasons to get sober
Life experiences to hum to
These kids play Red Rover? I look for weaknesses to run through
With reckless abandon, they're standin', refuse to go down
The pinballs in their machine bounce between abusive homes now
If its fighter flats, they'll just choose to throw down
Ain't nothing like beating a dead horse, riding it through a ghost town
I move with no sound... I used to think I was invisible
Til they stopped me in mid-stride and said
"I think I seen a picture of you..."
Picture that, I said "Nah I just got one of them faces
Placed next to an expiration date that changes.
I kind of look familiar, my name is at the tip of your tongue
The lost look on my face makes you play dumb.
Say something collopial
I need to get my bearings and a feel for where I'm at
but you ain't hearin' that."
They shout freeze! I'm a tourist trapped by townies
Who put bounties on armies and all surrounding counties
Before I bounce, I hear them shout
"Someone help us out, PLEASE!"
We're all alone in the foster home
Killin' ourselves with the house keys...
Not every broken home can come equipped with a fix-it man
And it's a smelly mess once the shit hits the fan
Kids just stand in their circle jerks with there dicks in the sand
Saying "FUCK THE WORLD" cause they ain't got no girl
But who do they think I am?
Think again, I'm not that quick to plan ahead of time
I'm two steps behind the schedule, they pretend to befriend my mind
I think they just misread the lines in the palm of my hand
Cause, they're random scars caused by slap boxin' with landlords
I ran with the dogs till I realized they were all mutts
Turned bitch once the dog catcher caught up
Forced into trucks, boarded up, put to sleep in the pound
Being an orphan sucks, but I'm done with sneaking around
I see my frown posted up on street lights
And telephone poles, from what they show it seems like
I never grow old, from what they show it seems like
I never go home, and that doesn't seem right
Cause they won't let me grow...
And this is where some go
to avoid the sunrays and the noise of subways
Emerging introverted, unemployed and unshaved
I feel rewarded offering a finder's fee that I know no one will pay
And this is where some go
to avoid the sunrays and the noise of subways
Emerging introverted, unemployed and unshaved
I've got multiple personalities and my inner children are runaways
(And I know...)
State is not an ocean, not an island, not a road
If I don't know where I come from
How do I know where to go?
It's not where you're from, not where you're at
It's where your going... and I am going home...
To the land of the lost souls
Feeling a loneliness that really only exists in abandoned foster homes
I feel rewarded offering a finder's fee that I know no one will pay I've got
multiple personalities and my inner children are runaways
I feel rewarded offering a finder's fee that I know no one will pay I've got
multiple personalities and my inner children are runaways
I feel rewarded offering a finder's fee that I know no one will pay I've got
multiple personalities and my inner children are runaways...
(kids shouting until end)
The lyrics to Sage Francis's song Runaways describe the experience of being lost, both physically and emotionally. The opening lines suggest that the singer has come to a point of reassessment, where they are questioning everything they previously believed to be true. They also suggest that the survival instinct, which often operates on a subconscious level, is tied to a past that is no longer inhabitable. The singer reflects on their own experiences of being an orphan from Providence, assigned by God to those who are "parentally misguided". They also explore the idea of home as a place to return to, despite the fact that they may feel lost or disconnected from it.
Throughout the song, the singer paints a picture of a world inhabited by "runaways" - people who are lost, abandoned, or disconnected from their sense of home. They describe children in foster homes who feel a deep sense of loneliness, and who have often experienced trauma and abandonment. The singer also explores the idea of the self as an ever-changing entity, with multiple personalities and different versions of themselves existing at different times. Ultimately, the song suggests that while the experience of being lost or disconnected can feel overwhelming, there is always the possibility of coming home, whether that is a physical or emotional space.
Line by Line Meaning
It's time to rethink every fact that is imaginable
We need to question everything that we know to be true
Survival instinct dwells in a past that is inhabitable
Our basic instincts come from a time where living conditions were difficult to bear
I happen to pull fast ones over the slow parole board
I managed to trick the slow and incompetent board that decides when prisoners can be released
Who likes to speak to de-fanged wolves who cry sheep
The board prefers to talk to weak and harmless prisoners who pretend to be innocent
Time seeps into our skin, age indicates how long we've been lost in space
As we age, we become more aware of the time we've spent on this earth and how lost we feel
I keep putting expression looks upon my face
I keep trying to show a different expression or mood on my face despite feeling the same on the inside
An awful waste of human skin who waits for Autumn to begin
I feel like a waste of space who waits for things to change on their own
While far from grace, will do me in too late (I'm out of seasoning)
Although I'm not in a good position, I'm too late to do anything about it (while also feeling like I'm past my prime)
No spring chickens, summer romance novel writer could win a prize
We are no longer young and inexperience, no amount of superficial things like romance novels could change that
It's Nobel, go to hell in a riding vehicle that he winterized
It doesn't matter if we're rich or successful, we can still be miserable
I change my mind more often then my undergarments
I'm indecisive and can't make a decision to save my life
Abide abortion and other nonsense
I tolerate or accept things like abortion despite not understanding or believing in it
I'm an orphan who comes from Providence
I grew up without parents in a less than ideal situation
I am assigned from God! For the parentally misguided
I believe that I was meant to help people who grew up without parental guidance
State is not an ocean, not an island, not a road
A place doesn't define someone's identity or who they are
If I don't know where I come from How do I know where to go?
If I don't know my background or history, I won't be able to figure out where I'm supposed to go in life
It's not where you're from, not where you're at
It's not about where you started or where you currently are
It's where your going... and I am going home
It's about where you're headed, and for me, that means going home
to where? The land of the lost souls
My home is where I feel like a lost soul, disconnected from normal life or society
Feeling a loneliness that really only exists in abandoned foster homes
The loneliness I feel is similar to the abandon and emptiness someone who grew up in foster care might feel
How many images of missing kids can be fit onto a milk carton?
There's so many kids that go missing or are forgotten about, and it feels like society doesn't care
Framed, they're starting to look the same Starting to say his name, and claim privileges
The more we see images of missing kids, the more they start to blend together, but we still need to remember their names and fight for their rights
The strangest little kids surrounding the circle of false friendship Rings of fire are connected at the elbow Cause they're tired, moms unexpectedly let go
These kids have formed a strange, fake friendship and they're always linked together, perhaps because they've been abandoned or forgotten about by family
The Velcro light component that keeps there unit cohesive
The group is only held together by a seemingly weak adhesive or bond, like Velcro
It's the music! So we give reasons to get sober Life experiences to hum to These kids play Red Rover?
Music is what keeps these kids together and gives them a reason to stay sober, but they still play childish games like Red Rover
I look for weaknesses to run through With reckless abandon, they're standin', refuse to go down
I try to find any vulnerability in the group to exploit, but these kids are determined and won't give up easily
The pinballs in their machine bounce between abusive homes now
These kids are being bounced around from one abusive home to another, like pinballs in a machine
If its fighter flats, they'll just choose to throw down
These kids come from a tough background, and when pushed too far, they'll fight back and not back down
Ain't nothing like beating a dead horse, riding it through a ghost town
It's useless to keep bringing up a problem or past issue that can't be solved or changed, like riding a dead horse through a ghost town
I move with no sound... I used to think I was invisible
I'm sneaky and good at not getting caught, and sometimes feel like no one even notices me
Til they stopped me in mid-stride and said "I think I seen a picture of you..."
I thought I was being invisible until someone pointed out that they recognized me
Picture that, I said "Nah I just got one of them faces Placed next to an expiration date that changes.
I try to brush it off and act like my appearance doesn't matter and that I look different every day
I kind of look familiar, my name is at the tip of your tongue The lost look on my face makes you play dumb.
Even though I may look or sound familiar to someone, I know they won't admit it or help me out
Say something collopial I need to get my bearings and a feel for where I'm at but you ain't hearin' that.
Even if I ask for help or directions, people ignore me and refuse to point me in the right direction or provide guidance
They shout freeze! I'm a tourist trapped by townies Who put bounties on armies and all surrounding counties
I'm stopped and treated like a criminal by the locals in this area who are prejudiced against outsiders
Before I bounce, I hear them shout "Someone help us out, PLEASE!"
Before I leave, I hear the locals cry for help and realize that even though they may hate me, they're in need of assistance too
We're all alone in the foster home Killin' ourselves with the house keys...
We feel lonely and isolated in the foster homes we're placed in, and use drugs or alcohol to cope with our emotions
Not every broken home can come equipped with a fix-it man
Not every difficult situation can be solved by one person or have an easy solution
And it's a smelly mess once the shit hits the fan
When things go wrong, it becomes a big problem and things get messy
Kids just stand in their circle jerks with there dicks in the sand Saying "FUCK THE WORLD"cause they ain't got no girl
These kids just waste time in aimless, repetitive activity and hate the world because they feel alone and without love
But who do they think I am? Think again, I'm not that quick to plan ahead of time I'm two steps behind the schedule, they pretend to befriend my mind
These kids don't know me or my struggles, they think I'm more capable than I am and they pretend to be my friend
I think they just misread the lines in the palm of my hand Cause, they're random scars caused by slap boxin' with landlords
People think they know my life story from looking at the scars on my hands, but they're just from me fighting with my former landlords
I ran with the dogs till I realized they were all mutts Turned bitch once the dog catcher caught up
I was hanging out with the wrong people until I realized that they were all low quality and I needed to get away
Forced into trucks, boarded up, put to sleep in the pound Being an orphan sucks, but I'm done with sneaking around
I've been forced into bad situations and have been trapped before, but now I want to be able to live my life without hiding
I see my frown posted up on street lights And telephone poles, from what they show it seems like I never grow old
Everywhere I look, I see my own sadness or misery, and it feels like I'm trapped in a cycle that I can't grow or move out of
Cause they won't let me grow... And this is where some go to avoid the sunrays and the noise of subways
People or circumstances have stopped me from growing or maturing, and I feel stuck in a place where I can't escape the harsh and sad reality of life
Emerging introverted, unemployed and unshaved
Even though I'm alone and frustrated, I'm choosing to keep to myself and avoid taking action or making changes
I feel rewarded offering a finder's fee that I know no one will pay I've got multiple personalities and my inner children are runaways
I feel a sense of accomplishment or validation from offering to pay someone for something that I know they won't do, and my different personalities are like runaway children who don't have a home or place to belong
kids shouting until end
The song ends with the sound of kids shouting, perhaps representing the lost and forgotten children that the song is about
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: MARTI FREDERIKSEN, PAT MC GEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Hatfull
Havent heard sage in ages
Still great and timeless
Gritty lyrics that most people dont talk about
Luv it 🤘
Shyy
One of the greatest songs ever written.
Harley Brown
His lyrics are so deep. He came up here last year to Anchorage and my girlfriend and I had a great talk with him after the show. I grew up in Michigan and know and feel a lot of what he says. Thanks for the post.
707Mendo
"Emerging introverted, unemployed and unshaved I've got multiple personalities and my inner children are runaways" - Dope lyric.
Kris Frederick
I'm not a foster child, I've been through divorce as a child. I can see this abandoned home and feel the pain somehow. It's grey
No one
I love you for that
Frostmoonx
The best..
By the way, the live version of this song is even more amazing.
Isaac Lueck
Dont know if its possible for a 27 year old to feel "old", but damn people talking about finding Sage in '08 or getting them through high school. This song/album was my shit when I was 12 years old ahha, Sage will always be one of my top MCs.
Joehal287
I'm 35 now and was first introduced to sage through the 7l and esoteric message board. Someone posted makeshift patriot and I've been a fan ever since. I was about 13/14 at the time. His music and his non prophet message board broadened my world view and gave me a different perspective on the world.
Brandyn Therwanger
lyrical genius. 'its time to rethink every fact that is imaginable, SURVIVAL INSTINCT DWELS IN A PAST THAT IS INHABBITABLE'