Keep Moving

The poem he reads at the end is from Human The Death Dance by Buddy Wakefeild like breakdowngasm said.

"And I found something here I want you to have, it's not much, just a story, but it's all I got. So take it.

It's called Dylan. Dylan's drug of choice was "more." So Dylan took more and more and more. Until the day he woke up babbleling in the pool of his own traffic jam. Realizing he is killing off the best parts of himself, and claiming he could read peoples skin.

When he looked down at his heart flap, it said "boy, go find your spine, and ride it out of here."

frankspinkled.blogspot.com/2008/07/human-death-dance-by-buddy-wakefield.html

this song seems to be about relationships, in particular that point where it becomes serious/long-term, and the suspicions and complacency that comes with being in such a relationship.

he is also equating getting out of a relationship with being executed, but then I see a switch in his perspective - he sees it as freedom, getting away from being trapped in a dead-end relationship that both people are continuing due to codependency.

also.."I got lost on this head trip but won't talk to an expert" - the breakup was traumatic but he isn't going for counseling.

sounds to me like he's seeing the past relationship as a trap - he refuses to be tied down at the same time that he misses the benefits that come with being in a relationship.

as always, the wordplay and euphemisms are outstanding.

"There's no direction home only blood on the tracks"

This is likely a reference to Bob Dylan. The song "Like a Rolling Stone" has the lines, "How does it feel to be out on your own, with no direction home?", and "Blood on the Tracks" is the name of a Dylan album.

I think he's talking about Dylan in the ending of the track, as well, in the lyrics in the background. But I can't quite make it out.

Good find ^

This is what Sage had to say about it on the album's booklet "I could have stuck with you like a tick and sucked without notice. You could have ripped me off like an ex-girlfriend. But then there would be the others. They chant from the sidelines of survival with big sponge hands while they clap for themselves in slow motion. A few cut themselves in secret places and wish that the people who loved them knew them well enough not to. I'll be there for them, as usual, with a suitcase full of Band-Aids to sell. It's a time honored tradition in the way poets are unable to live off their words unless there is some side hustle involved. Those who believe otherwise aren't poets. Those who don't care either way are probably gettin hustled right now."

So yeah, as always, it's not easy to decode these lyrics, which brings challenge and personal insight to the table, and that's why I listen to Sage Francis.

It might just be because I downloaded it, I know, shame on me But at the very end I also hear "I found something here I want you to have; it's not much, just a story, but it's all I've got so take it, here, it's called Dylan. Dylan, his drug of choice was more? So he took more, and more, until one day he woke up babbling in his own traffic jam, realizing, he is killing off the best parts of himself and claiming he could read people's skin. When he looked down at his heart flap it said "Boy, go find your spine and ride it outta here"

Okay, so I found out that it's an excerpt from a poem by buddy wakefield, yet I have no idea what poem it is or where to find it.

interesting piece of material though. Suits the song well.

I wonder if, in the end part, the part where he says "he is killing off the best parts of himself" is a reference to the Nietzsche quote “Be careful when casting out demons lest you cast out the best part of yourself.”

just a thought

Commitophobic. Knows what's up. Sage is speaking as if this embodies his relationships, how he winds up connecting, and disconnecting. Things get serious and then the girl becomes a warden. He feels imprisoned in her insecurities, and has trained himself to avoid the tough conversations and things that come with settling down. He knows he's damaged, aware that he's toxic, but is stuck reliving the hurtful relationships of before and seeign them replayed in new love.

As far as inspiration and the reference to Dylan, I feel like this song is almost an hommage to "It ain't me, babe"