Sage Francis - Escape Artist Lyrics






(When I first got in to magic, yeah.)

When I first got into magic, it was an underground phenomenon
Now everybody's like pick a card, any card
If I shot my full load with the first hand I played
I'd be a monkey in a box hangin' with the David Blaines
I be swimmin' with the sharks, mouths full of razor blades
But I'm not, I got out of that game

Escape Artist

I talk 'til I'm red in my face with strain polyps
I'll rock 'til I'm out of my range then raise octaves
I play through the pain and remain conscience
Refraining from commenting on the lame compliments
And the petty criticisms from those who ain't accomplished
Even one fifths of some of this shit I made progress with
I'm leaving naysayers stumped like rain forests
After years of pullin' rabit ears out my pants pockets
I'm not revealin' any tricks of the trade
It's just there ain't no magic in the breakdown baby

In an effort to make 'em all see what I found in my life I decided to give 'em a look
none of 'em gave it a glimpse and I guess that I'm sitting in the middle of an unread book
letters are falling apart
but the sentences descend on their own and the wording is permanent
never been missed
I've just been mis-
worded and mis-
interpreted, it's
funny how serving a sentence of solitary confinement
results in the death sentences filling my running assignment
I'm just wondering where my time went, it pulled a disappearing act
and every single assistant I ever had got sawed in half

You See I never payed attention
But I can't afford to laugh
'cause I'm lookin' for my break in an autograph for my CAST
but I'm short on staff so all I ask is volunteers in the crowd
show a little bit of audience participation now

When I say hip (what do I say?)
You, you say shut the fuck up we ain't sayin shit!!!
And I'll respect it
Check it,
In a flair for the dramatic exit
A fashionable entrance
Late to my own arraignment (Oh!)
The self-destructive things that I do for entertainment
My folks gave me this already broken heart as my pallet
While I was out honing my craft you was disowning your talent
That's why you still live at home
And I bought this house off my parents
I'm getting ahead of myself
(gettin ahead of myself)
I see the hair on my back
(see the hair on my back)
I'm on the road reading Kerouac
It's poems versus better raps
I think to myself
What's worth remembering
Versus defending the size of my manhood or confessional canned goods

In an effort to make 'em all see what I found in my life I decided to give 'em a look
none of 'em gave it a glimpse and I guess that I'm sitting in the middle of an unread book
letters are falling apart
but the sentences descend on their own and the wording is permanent
never been missed
I've just been mis-
worded and mis-
interpreted, it's
funny how serving a sentence of solitary confinement
results in the death sentences filling my running assignment
but none of this is getting told in confidence
I spin confidential records just to hold the listeners attention

I'm a veteran of spacial relationships
I clip ya wings to fit you in head shrinking magician
Shape-shifting reptilian turned body contortionist
Orphanages started offering torches to abortion clinics
I lost acquaintances
And a morgue of lady friends
I gender bent the heaven sent angelic devil boy with God's androgynous
I'm lookin' marvelous but looks can kill
And I'm unsure about my sexual orientations still
Put me in a special kind of case that only breaks if
You hit it with a bouquet of flowers and baby breath arrangement
The vault is vacant
They're all looking for fault or blame
I called my agent
The moment that I caught the train
I let him know, I'm going nowhere, he's invited
If he leaves tonight then he just might help me find it
But this is my burden to bare, not his
And I'm a psychic without a sidekick
Holding the future hostage
A loose cannon standing on the roof top with
A new respect and understanding of bartenders and locksmiths
They call me daredevil but I'm not precise enough
Unprofessional on an amateur level, I love my life too much

Escape Artist [x5]

I'm in two places at once

Escape Artist

I ain't slept in months

Escape Artist

I'm just trying to get away
Ain't no magic in the breakdown baby

(Ain't no magic in the breakdown baby
No magic in the break
Ain't no magic in the breakdown ba-by
Escape Artist)

[continues in background]

[Sage Francis:]
(Pussies, you're scared to shoot me in the heart!
You know it's too big, uhh!
Fuck, I gotta bulletproof heart, hit me baby.
I'll never fall in love with you, ever!
If you got (heart?) so I do! Bitch!)

[Slug:]
Make some noise for Sage Francis ya'll!





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Sage Francis Escape Artist Comments
  1. T.... R....

    This track is 🔥

  2. L.... L....

    Still love Sage Francis in 2019

  3. M.... ....

    This guy is under rated asf

  4. A.... Q....

    Why are all the popular rappers bad but undergrounders like him are God like

  5. S.... B....

    Sage is the shit

  6. a.... h....

    2019 still jammin

  7. 9.... I....

    Top tier lyricist, crazy how so many people never heard of him.

  8. T.... O....

    There ain't no magic in the break down Baby!!!

  9. A.... ....

    Anyone of the best

  10. I.... ....

    this was me trying to chase down Sage Francis in the hotel hallways for an autograph

  11. B.... B....

    Sidekick psychics panco deleon

  12. A.... G....

    It's been 11 years

  13. A.... G....

    2018? I don't get music this year but I really enjoy this fine music🍷

  14. D.... B....

    sage francis is just an above average dark skinned middle easterner

    D.... B....

    this is undebatable

  15. V.... ....

    lets get back to this XD

  16. s.... ....

    Forgot about this song for like 4 years and just go In myself humming it without being able to recall the song info.

  17. s.... r....

    R.i.p. to your father brother

  18. s.... ....

    RIP Alias (the man who made this beat)

  19. D.... A....

    The stickman is the stance goofy. Don't worry that's not all I got out of this song

  20. A.... ....

    Here we are 2018 and i am still slappn this... I fuckin love it...

  21. G.... C....

    One of my favorite lines in underground hip hop "I'm leaving nay Sayers stumped like rainforests" lol gets me Everytime w the delivery

  22. M.... ....

    Still one of the greatest songs I've ever jammed out to! So much love to this!

  23. A.... M....

    this is a resident evil zero song

  24. b.... e....

    Back about 13 years ago i saw Sage in Portland OR at the Roseland, I was in Highschool then, about 17 yrs old. We were out side waiting for the doors to open drinking malt liquor and smoking a blunt, when this hooded "homeless looking" dude walks up with a hoodie on " was a Carhartt dirty" and ask's for some spare change. I gave him a couple $$ and then he noticed the Blunt and Drink and he started yelling at us and talking shit. After about 3 min of this others in line started noticing the "hooded guy" and his anger towards us. 5 min later he left us alone and we went into the show. After the opening act, sage cam out in the the hoodie that the guy on the street was wearing, not showing his face, then he proceeded to point out our group of friends and started to berate us about drinking under age and smoking weed. The whole crowed was kind of stunned. Then he asked if we would leave the show because we were underage drinking and smoking weed. Oddly enough security didnt throw us out because we didnt have anything on us left. Long story short. Sage Francis is fucked in the head.

    b.... e....

    I mean, I smoke and drank underage but i'd understand it if someone didn't want me to, that and I wouldn't do it like you did, like an idiot

    b.... e....

    If you don't believe this story then you don't know Sage Francis, particularly young Sage.

  25. B.... ....

    Not sure what's better, his song or this god damn music video..

  26. N.... ....

    white boy rap. Eminem like. nothin new

    N.... ....

    Yeah.... Saying Eminem is the best rapper of all time is incorrect as well you see that's your definition I on the other hand think many of the Rhymesayers would destroy Eminem . Slug and Eyedea are prime examples.

    N.... ....

    That's racist

    N.... ....

    Anarchy Advance fuck you not anything that resembles eminem

    N.... ....

    adeadlybeastkiller again, it's that ole racism.

    N.... ....

    Lol you know nothing.

  27. t.... t....

    Thanks for shakin my cleanly washed scared hand in the ft! ;)

  28. A.... A....

    Lyrical MotherFuckin'Genius .....

  29. _.... S....

    This song is about hip-Hop

  30. Q.... K....

    one of my favourite songs by Sage

  31. M.... ....

    Look how skinny he was

  32. D.... ....

    [Verse I]
    When I first got into magic it was an underground phenomenon
    Now everybody's like, "Pick a card, any card"
    If I shot my full load with the first hand I played
    I'd be a monkey in a box
    Hangin' with the David Blaines
    I'd be swimming with the sharks
    Mouths full of razorblades
    But I'm not
    I got outta that game
    Escape artist
    I talked till I'm red in my face
    With strained polyps
    I rock till I'm outta my range
    Then raise octaves
    I play through the pain
    And remain conscious
    Refraining from commenting on the lame compliments
    And the petty criticisms from those who ain't accomplished
    Even one-fifths of some of the shit
    I've made progress with
    I'm leavin' naysayers stumped like rain forests
    After years of pullin' rabbit ears out my pants pockets
    I'm not revealing any tricks of the trade
    It's just there ain't no magic in the breakdown, baby

    [Hook]
    In an effort to make ‘em all see what I found in my life I decided to give 'em a look
    None of 'em gave it a glimpse and I guess that I’m sitting in the middle of an unread book
    Letters are falling apart but the sentences stand on their own and the wording is permanent
    Never been missed, I've just been misworded and misinterpreted, it’s
    Funny how serving a sentence of solitary confinement
    Results in the death sentences filling my writing assignment
    I'm just wondering where my time went
    It pulled a disappearing act
    And every single assistant I ever had got sawed in half

    [Verse II]
    Cause see I never paid attention but I can't afford to laugh (word?)
    Cause I'm lookin' through my break
    And an autograph for my cast (Ok)
    And I'm short on staff
    So all I ask is volunteers from the crowd
    Show a little bit of audience participation now!
    When I say "hip" (What do I say?)
    You? You say, "Shut the fuck up; we ain't sayin' shit!"
    And I respect it (yes!)
    Check it
    In a flair for the dramatic exit
    A fashionable entrance late to my own arraignment
    (Oh) The self-destructive things that I do for entertainment
    My folks gave me this heart you broke and heart is my pallet
    While I was out honin' my craft
    You were disownin' your talent
    That's why you still live at home
    And I bought this house off my parents (uhh)
    I'm gettin' ahead of myself (I'm gettin' ahead of myself)
    I see the hair on my back (I see the hair on my back)
    I'm on the road reading Kerouac
    His poems versus better raps
    I think to myself (I think to myself)
    What's worth remembering
    Versus defending
    The size of my manhood
    Or confessional canned goods

    [Hook]
    In an effort to make ‘em all see what I found in my life I decided to give 'em a look
    None of 'em gave it a glimpse and I guess that I’m sitting in the middle of an unread book
    Letters are falling apart but the sentences stand on their own and the wording is permanent
    Never been missed, I’ve just been misworded and misinterpreted, it’s…
    Funny how serving a sentence of solitary confinement
    Results in the death sentences filling my writing assignment
    But none of this is gettin' told in confidence I reckon
    I spin confidential records just to hold the listeners attention

    [Verse III]
    I'm a veteran of spacial relationships
    I clip your wings to fit you in
    Headshrinking magician
    Shapeshifting reptilian
    Turned body contortionist
    Orphanages started offering torches to abortion clinics (abortion clinics)
    I lost acquaintances
    And a morgue of lady friends
    I gender bent the heaven sent angelic devil boy
    Good Gods androgynous
    I'm lookin' marvelous
    But looks can kill
    And they're unsure about my sexual orientation still
    Put me in a special kind of case that only breaks if
    You hit it with a bouquet of flowers and baby breath arrangements
    The vault is vacant
    And they're all looking for fault for blame
    I called my agent
    The moment that I caught the train
    I let him know that I'm goin' nowhere
    He's invited
    If he leaves tonight then he might just help me find it
    But this is my burden to bear
    Not his
    And I'm a psychic without a sidekick
    Holding the future hostage
    A loose cannon standing on the rooftop with
    A new respect and understanding of bartenders and locksmiths
    They call me daredevil
    But I'm not precise enough
    Unprofessional
    On an amateur level
    I love my life too much

    Escape Artist (x4)
    (Escape, escape)

    Escape Artist
    I'm in two places at once
    Escape Artist
    But I ain't slept in months
    Escape Artist
    Just tryin' to get away
    But there ain't no magic in the breakdown baby

    Ain't no magic in the breakdown baby
    No magic in the break
    Ain't no magic in the breakdown baby
    (x3 and continues as Sage speaks)

    Pussies
    You're scared to shoot me in the heart
    You know it's too big!
    Uhh!
    Yeah, fuck you
    I got a bulletproof heart
    Hit it, baby
    I'll never fall in love with you
    Ever!
    If you got glass so long too
    Biyatch shut up

    D.... ....

    you are a god..

    D.... ....

    Wow, this is hella impressive. Thanks!

    D.... ....

    DiLL590 by

  33. S.... t....

    No WC that tagged is that clean

  34. n.... m....

    Could someone please explain this video to me?

    n.... m....

    +nevin morgan One viewpoint is: "An extended metaphor on how being an emcee is like being a magician. Sage pulled the ultimate vanishing act when he got out of the game."

    n.... m....

    +nevin morgan One viewpoint is: "An extended metaphor on how being an emcee is like being a magician. Sage pulled the ultimate vanishing act when he got out of the game."

    n.... m....

    +DiLL590 thanks lol

  35. w.... ....

    holy shit, Sage fucking burnt my ears with the fire that came off this song :D

    (in a good way XD)

  36. S.... A....

    great song

  37. r.... ....

    i be swinin with the sharks mouth full of razor blades

  38. R.... C....

    all great music from the "sage"

  39. C.... ....

    I thought I heard his best music when I listened to Little Houdini,

    C.... ....

    For me it was Non-Prophets LP, Personal Journals and Healthy Distrust that were his best but that is just my opinion and each to his own.

    C.... ....

    Personal Journals is so good along with Li(f)e. Dope artist.

    C.... ....

    I meant this originally like, I thought Little Houdini was his best but I realized a lot of his music is up to this level.

  40. R.... ....

    Still listening to this in 2013 :D

    R.... ....

    good for you all

    R.... ....

    2018.5 - Not just one this year, sage still holds up on them days

  41. c.... m....

    word...he is a brilliant fucking person

  42. S.... W....

    But have you seen Magician Impossible?? That dude just has to leave a party after a trick its so nuts. Dude shrinks an iphone into a bottle and matrix's some crazy shit.GTS. No way that shit is a trick. Thats some sold your soul to the devil Biz. Chris Angel had his 5 secs. He's like that pick up artist guy- Mystery with his furry hat and ponytail and sidekicks matador and j-dogg! The trick was going out at 2AM and treating drunk girls like crap dressed all crazy so they are confused.

  43. F.... ....

    they call him francois bitch!

  44. l.... ....

    it takes an educated palate to taste how fine this wine is. not a dig at anyone. it takes my mind a few listens to catch on

    l.... ....

    lovesmasochist well put

  45. D.... M....

    Listen to Nicki Minaj, 2 Chainz, or Flo Rida. But only in small doses. (Their "music" is beyond God awful.) Then listen to Sage Francis, Eminem's "Lose It" Which is popular, but I think it's pretty decent, or B. Dolan's "Which Side Are You On?". That should give you a little bit of an introduction.

  46. O.... ....

    Why would it need a comma?

  47. m.... o....

    is this good rap or bad rap i cant tell

  48. O.... ....

    * Sage you're shit.

  49. g.... s....

    when i say hip you say shut the fuck up you aint saying shit lmao love it

  50. P.... T....

    i do loose a lot, like the mega millions, maybe ill win someday

  51. j.... c....

    Holy shit, you're a loser.

  52. n.... m....

    If you look closely its 1000+900+90+3=1993 you just see a hell of numbers...

  53. n.... m....

    He made you mad just by saying great song? You just wanted to say that you broke with your gf...

  54. j.... h....

    correction, great song

  55. P.... T....

    good song

  56. R.... R....

    illest video and song possibly of all time

  57. m.... ....

    I b swiming the shark moths full of razo blads

  58. m.... ....

    how do you know if you like a song before you have listened to it? that mentality would do no good for underground music....everyone is entitled to there opinion, even if its a load of rubbish

  59. l.... ....

    Love his music.

  60. I.... ....

    BAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! Oh shit, that was fucking great! LMAO

  61. j.... ....

    No, hes just right, in an intended irony kinda way.

  62. M.... ....

    perfect example of insanity

  63. f.... ....

    i'll keep that in mind for when i actually say something bad

  64. f.... ....

    funny. did u come up with that all by yourself?

  65. T.... K....

    is there only one person commenting on this?

  66. s.... ....

    Why is everyone commenting about hate?

  67. s.... ....

    Wait... This version has video volume in it? 8D

  68. D.... Z....

    @Rullst0l Real music is in 240p

  69. s.... ....

    @EMIN3Mfan2010 Lol, yeah. Infinite and The Eminem Show are my favourites. More topics than his other albums. Not all about bragging xD.

  70. s.... ....

    @EMIN3Mfan2010 "EMIN3Mfan2010" - Lol, I used to be a huge Eminem fab, he introduced me to rap, but now I barely listen to him, I've even got every album since Infinite including his D12 and Royce collabs. Most of what I listen to nowadays are part of either StrangeFamous Records or RhymeSayer's Entertainment. xD

  71. A.... ....

    too much of a pussy to touch those moderately clean toilets.

  72. S.... ....

    @GonewithaBlastwave Beard!

  73. b.... ....

    @bo7427 he comes off as pretty pretentious, but he's less preachy and more opinionated. im a pretty big sage fan, i think he wants listeners to take it, leave it, or whatever else you may choose to do.

  74. B.... B....

    I like some of his stuff, but am I the only one who finds him pretentious?

  75. B.... C....

    @0ver9kay Dude was that in Madison? I was totally at that show, same deal.

  76. H.... K....

    @itchin4scratches busdriver and mac lethal are quick too

  77. D.... J....

    Anyone who hates on this is absolutely stupid stupid

  78. i.... ....

    @SocialErn check out his friend eyedea

  79. p.... ....

    Anyone watching these videos will never be influenced by the propaganda commercials.

  80. r.... ....

    @nUcLeArOuTcAsT the song he's talking about hiphop (magic) as a whole... the video means he's chasing something that can't be caught (which is what hip hop used to be) at least that's my interpretation.... anyway i don't remember all these sound effects on the video before..

  81. R.... ....

    @nUcLeArOuTcAsT your not stupid. this video is about making fruit salad with stick figures.

  82. A.... ....

    i've never seen this video with all the sound effects intact

  83. C.... C....

    Sage is a straight ill. Inspires the hell outta me.

  84. S.... ....

    one of the fastest rapping ive EVER heard, props sage francis!

  85. k.... ....

    @GonewithaBlastwave Meee toooo!

  86. C.... D....

    r.i.p. cbgbs

  87. S.... ....

    It's refreshing to actually see a video where there are no racial slurs being made, and no naked girls dancing around just for the sake of being seen. I appreciate what you have done for my music preferences. Thank you.

  88. S.... ....

    @BGibby You can't even spell intellect. Irony much?

  89. C.... F....

    I got out of that game escape artist/ I talk till I'm red in the face and strain polyps, I'll rock 'till I'm out of my range then raise octaves.

    I like Sage Francis because is intelligent, he doesn't cloud it by rhyming over a shitty beat with baby words and how the nigga's flow is continuous, its like spoken word so poetic, he has the delivery of a pastor, delivering a sermon.

    Search Eddie Pesos "Greatness" Puerto Rock kid from Philly droppin' ill joints on the mic.

  90. T.... ....

    @futchofdeth666 you're dissing a 42 yr. old from Afghanistan? Where did dude say he/she was black?

  91. G.... ....

    wow this dude has some MAD skilllz.

  92. j.... c....

    @arsnikmc Thats the stupidest thing I read all day about Sage should take the advertising as a compliment. FUCK THAT, He cant attach a video to their advertisment without permission. M.D.C Multi Death Corporations, Sage I hope You get those scum bag advertisements off ur videos

  93. W.... B....

    Men fucking, youre a true bitch

  94. P.... L....

    I love hip hop, but I have so much trouble finding artists who aren't cheesy or shallow. This guy is one of the few with real talent.

  95. N.... H....

    rediciously amazing.