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.
Thank You
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was stupid, I was young, I was hanged by my Judas tongue
You shouldn't give weapons to kids that don't know better
I can't possibly understand that there's no such thing as forever
For every letter in the alphabet
You said connect 'em to a happy word, no matter how bad things get
I did my best, but the pickings got slim
Once I arrived at "X" and I had to think of synonyms
Who are on a constant search for a person's amputated limbs
Almost offered up my own, trading in my arms and legs
You said learn to express yourself if you're gonna stand for things
I stood up with that expression, stood up against everything including you
I was stupid, I was adolescent, but I had your lessons to cling on to
And I want you to know how much it helped
Considering everything that I'd gone through
It was a period without periods, run on sentences were like binges
I was a comma with no cause, a rebel with no clause
Anxiety is no excuse once there's nothing left to separate
We could have connected, but didn't
I was ignorant, passed out on the spacebar
The further we drifted apart the closer
I came to realizing just how amazing you are
Now that you're gone I'mma say it to the stars
'Till my words knock worlds off their axes and the universe collapses
Thank you for the matches, for the gift of fire
For the wood and the axe, for whooping my ass
For the wheel even if you didn't invent it
For the impact that you had on me, it's epic, thank you for the effort
For teaching me the ABC's even if I never make my way to "Z"
Even if I never do for someone else exactly what you did for me
Thank you
I was a stupid son of a gun with initials carved into me
I was a stray, a runaway, afraid someday you'd shoot me
So I scratched off the letters with a pocket knife
It's how I loss my way when I was tossed into the fray
This is not my life, who am I kidding, it's a thank you note
Disguised as a written apology for everything you taught to me
So awkwardly I approach the open microphone with everything that I wrote
Clear my throat, adjust the collar on my coat
As I rock crowds, microphones and boats and then I stroke
Whatever little ego I have left, I should have left it at the alter
But I didn't cause I'm an idiot, self-deprecating author
With a paperback edition that isn't worth a flip through
If I don't give you the credit that you deserve
You edited the words from the grave and beyond
From the first sign of sun raise at dawn
Till the moonbeam set blaze to my lawn
The universe collapses on my front steps
So we get to share in that moment, for just one moment
And nobody's upset, there's no more anger, there's no more sunsets
So I crawl back in the chamber, you can shoot me up
You might as well, we had great communication before the tower fell
Thank you for the matches, for the gift of fire
For the wood and the axe, for whooping my ass
For the wheel even if you didn't invent it
For the impact that you had on me, it's epic, thank you for the effort
For teaching me the ABC's even if I never make my way to "Z"
Even if I never do for someone else exactly what you did for me
Thank you
I'mma do my best, while you rest in peace
The lyrics of Sage Francis's song Thank You suggest a letter to someone who was significant in the singer's life. The song begins by acknowledging that the person gave him the gift of language, which he turned against them in the past. He admits to being young and stupid, but he learned valuable lessons from the person he is addressing. They taught him to connect every letter in the alphabet to a happy word, no matter how bad things get. While the singer tried his best, he struggled to connect "X" to anything joyful. The person warned him not to give weapons to kids that don't know better. By expressing himself, he was able to stand up against everything, including them despite their lessons helping him. During the time he was away from the person, he realized just how amazing they were. In the end, the singer is grateful for everything the person did for him.
Line by Line Meaning
You gave me language as a gift, I turned it against you
You bestowed me with the power of language but I inadvertently used it against you
I was stupid, I was young, I was hanged by my Judas tongue
My lack of wisdom led me to speak and act foolishly, ultimately resulting in self-sabotage
You shouldn't give weapons to kids that don't know better
It's unwise to bestow capabilities unto individuals who lack the necessary know-how and maturity to utilize them appropriately
I can't possibly understand that there's no such thing as forever
It's difficult for me to fathom that nothing in this life is everlasting
For every letter in the alphabet
To mark the importance of communication, and its universal applications that encompass all the letters of the alphabet
You said connect 'em to a happy word, no matter how bad things get
You advocated for a positive outlook on life even in the most difficult of situations
I did my best, but the pickings got slim
I tried my hardest, but my resources were limited
Once I arrived at "X" and I had to think of synonyms
When I reached the letter "X", I struggled to find suitable replacement words
Weight 'em against the antonyms, I was hanging with all the mannequins
I compared the positive words to their opposite meanings, to fully comprehend their value, but was surrounded by people who lacked individuality (mannequins)
Who are on a constant search for a person's amputated limbs
People who seek to remove parts of others to make themselves whole
Almost offered up my own, trading in my arms and legs
I was willing to give up everything in order to make everyone else happy
You said learn to express yourself if you're gonna stand for things
You encouraged me to communicate my true self, especially when it comes to issues I am passionate about
I stood up with that expression, stood up against everything including you
I used my voice to stand up for my beliefs, even if that meant challenging you directly
And I want you to know how much it helped
I wanted to express how much your teachings had influenced me and had a positive impact on my life
Considering everything that I'd gone through
Taking into account all of the challenges and hardships I had faced
It was a period without periods, run on sentences were like binges
A time in my life with no semblance of order or structure, where my thoughts came out unfiltered and uncontrollably
I was a comma with no cause, a rebel with no clause
I was a lost soul with no direction or purpose, and therefore rebelled against traditional rules and conventions
Anxiety is no excuse once there's nothing left to separate
Despite my anxiety, I must persevere and continue to make connections and build relationships when there is nothing keeping us apart
We could have connected, but didn't
There were opportunities for us to bond, but we failed to take advantage of them
I was ignorant, passed out on the spacebar
I was oblivious and careless, which prevented me from properly communicating with others
The further we drifted apart the closer
As we became more distant from each other, I began to appreciate just how important you were to me
I came to realizing just how amazing you are
I started to understand your unique talents and attributes, and how much I appreciated having you in my life
Now that you're gone I'mma say it to the stars
I will express my gratitude to the universe, now that you are no longer here to hear it directly
'Till my words knock worlds off their axes and the universe collapses
I will use my voice to inspire monumental change, no matter how great, until it leads to a dramatic shift in the very fabric of the universe
Thank you for the matches, for the gift of fire
I am grateful for your role in giving me the tools necessary for survival, like fire
For the wood and the axe, for whooping my ass
I am appreciative of the times you challenged me and pushed me to become a better person, even if it was tough love
For the wheel even if you didn't invent it
You contributed to my education and growth, even if you didn't directly invent the very things that benefited me
For the impact that you had on me, it's epic, thank you for the effort
The influence you had on my life had an enormous and profound reach, and I am grateful for the time and effort it took to make such an impact
For teaching me the ABC's even if I never make my way to "Z"
I am thankful for the basics and foundation of education that you instilled in me, even if I never fully reach the pinnacle of mastery
Even if I never do for someone else exactly what you did for me
It is okay if I am not able to replicate your accomplishments for others, as I am aware of the staggering impact you had on my life alone
I'mma do my best, while you rest in peace
I will strive to live up to your teachings and ideals, as you rest in peace knowing that you've made a significant impact on my life
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Anders Keith Parker, Sage Francis
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