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.
Three Sheets To The Wind
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the licky licky lord
'till I grew a scissor tongue
And c-c-cut the cord
Put the phone on the floor
Attach the wires in my head
Took awhile to except that that line was dead
Didn't ever wanna not live forever
Didn't ever wanna not live forever
Didn't ever wanna not not wanna live
Didn't matter if the laughter didn't come after the bad joke,
If I was down with the filthy rich or flat broke,
Accepted by the Aryans or black folk
Cause I was carrying this weight until my back broke,
Wasn't trying to be no hip hop god a raps goat
Shootin' to be a rock star like its my last hope
I ball in that pack of smokes do me in!
Graduatin' on the crack coc do me in!
Knocked of a paddle boat in the middle of the castle moat
Kings men are yelling grab the rope!
Three sheets to the wind three!
Three sheets to the wind!
I talk like a sailor my mother is one
That's why I got this sick sense of direction
And my split tongue taught me how to go with the flow
When the winds come curled up in a ball and tried to hide
As I kicked them while the crew is gettin' piss drunk
I had to purify my own and drink up I had to save
And conserve recycle my salty words to keep the meat
On my bones all business is served
The lyrics to Sage Francis's song "Three Sheets To The Wind" is a commentary on the artist's relationship with alcohol and his struggle with his own mortality. The first verse starts off with the singer having too many late-night phone conversations with the "licky licky lord," or alcohol, until he metaphorically cuts the cord and starts to come to terms with his addiction. He then acknowledges his desire to live forever, but paradoxically also wants to die, represented by the line "Didn't ever wanna not not wanna live." In the second verse, the artist talks about his desire to be a rock star and describes the dangers of his lifestyle, such as smoking and doing drugs. The chorus, "Three sheets to the wind," is slang for being heavily intoxicated and serves as a metaphor for the artist's state of mind.
The song is a commentary on the artist's personal struggles, but it is also a commentary on society's relationship with alcohol and addiction. The lyrics describe how addiction can consume a person's life and make them feel invincible, but in reality, it is slowly killing them. The metaphor of the "licky licky lord" illustrates how addictive substances take control of a person's life, and the line "Three sheets to the wind" describes the feeling of being lost and out of control.
Line by Line Meaning
Had one too many one way conversations
I've talked to myself a lot
With the licky licky lord
While under the influence of alcohol
'till I grew a scissor tongue
I became more critical of myself and others
And c-c-cut the cord
I let go of past relationships and connections
Put the phone on the floor
I disconnected from social interactions
Attach the wires in my head
I focused on my own thoughts and ideas
Took awhile to except that that line was dead
It took some time to accept that old patterns were no longer relevant
Didn't ever wanna not live forever
I never wanted to face my own mortality
Didn't ever wanna not not wanna live
I was afraid of being depressed or suicidal
Didn't matter if the laughter didn't come after the bad joke,
I didn't care if people didn't find me funny
If I was down with the filthy rich or flat broke,
I didn't care about social status or wealth
Accepted by the Aryans or black folk
I didn't care about racial identity or discrimination
Cause I was carrying this weight until my back broke,
I was carrying emotional baggage until it became too much
Wasn't trying to be no hip hop god a raps goat
I wasn't trying to be a famous rapper
Shootin' to be a rock star like its my last hope
I was pursuing my creative ambitions
I ball in that pack of smokes do me in!
I was engaging in self-destructive behaviors
Graduatin' on the crack coc do me in!
I was using drugs to escape my problems
Knocked of a paddle boat in the middle of the castle moat
I was reckless and impulsive
Kings men are yelling grab the rope!
I was risking my life and others' safety
Three sheets to the wind three!
I was very drunk
I talk like a sailor my mother is one
I curse a lot like my mother
That's why I got this sick sense of direction
I have a strong sense of intuition
And my split tongue taught me how to go with the flow
I learned to adapt and be flexible
When the winds come curled up in a ball and tried to hide
When I faced difficulty, I tried to avoid it
As I kicked them while the crew is gettin' piss drunk
I was aggressive and confrontational
I had to purify my own and drink up I had to save
I had to take care of myself
And conserve recycle my salty words to keep the meat
I learned to use my words wisely
On my bones all business is served
I was serious and focused
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Sage Francis, Chris Walla
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