Aesop Rock - Water 

"I'm just trying to be somebody I can talk to in the morning with a smile." wow so powerful

Aesops metaphors are seriously brain melting. Sometimes I understand what he is saying but my high percentage of fallibility actually makes me wonder if I do understand what he is saying. For instance" I'm trying to see the future in a tea cup and a saucer" is tea leaf reading which is a method of fortune telling. His lyricism is so beautiful his words paint vivid pictures in my brain that actually stay with me for an immense amount of time. Thank you Aesop for being such a lyrical genius.

Every once in a while, Aes reminds me why he's my favorite rapper.

First heard this on a trip one careless night in college. Been looking out for a popcorn ceiling, an eighth and a careless night ever since. Saved for future circumstances.

This is my first time ever listening to Aesop Rock. I am impressed.

"I keep a stick inside my hand and carve my name inside every wall of the falling hologram" Epic.

aesop rock is lyrically on another fucking level one of my all time favorites and still killin it, no one comes even close to fucking with his lyricism, aesop for life

The sampled song is: Puisque Bele Dame M'eime / Flos Filius Euis by Ensemble Gilles Binchois (1992)

The GOAT, hands down no question. Still killing it over 20 years later

Just so amazing. A true once in a lifetime talent

Aesop is a diamond in the rough. His style is so soothing and refreshing its ridiculous. Everytime you listen to a song you get a new meaning and more questions rise up in the back of your head. Every time something clicks as another thought breaks. That's the beauty of what this man had brought to the table. How many platinum rappers use 4-5 syllable words in their rhymes, huh?

This came out after Labor Days and before Daylight EP. This is like his nervous breakdown that he goes more in depth into on 1 of 4. At least if that is the order he recorded them. May not be. But this always felt like his realization and then 1 of 4 was the explanation because he knew that his listeners understood, even without much detail, that he was facing some major demons. I believe El-P had issued a statement on his behalf at the time that Aesop had to cut off some of his tour to work through some issues. Back in that day, Def Jux had a message board and Aesop posted on there sometimes. I remember one particular post he mentioned he was homeless at that time. It really broke my heart and my brain at the same time how somebody so incredible and humble and talented could be facing such hardships. He mentions "Jamie"/El-P on 1 of 4 as one of the souls who saved his life. How different things would have been if he had never went to Def Jux and just remained bouncing around Indy labels like Mush and the one Appleseed dropped on. Thank you, El-P, for recognizing the importance of bringing such an extraordinary artist to more of the masses. You are both legends in my eyes.

One of my fav Aesop Rock songs!

I think that Aes is unique with his metaphors. some are kind of.. well... to complement the flow, but some are very deep and they really get your attention. Even if ALL of his lyrics were bullshit, you can't really deny that it is poetic to some degree. it's music

The way he just says, 'sorry' at the end always gets to me...

How the end ties into the beginning makes this song easy to listen to on repeat, great for sleeping.

Hip Hop was so good in the early and mid 2000s. So many unique flows, word play, and cadences.

Love Aesop Rock's artistry. His heavy usage of metaphor can be overwhelming to newcomers, but if one takes time to decipher the meaning, the only option is to walk away with intense admiration for the art & it's message. Aesop Rock is LEGENDARY to those who know his art. HipHop.

WATER - AESOP ROCK [Intro] It would've been the most beautiful second-coming of Christ That anyone had ever seen [Verse 1] The water ain't safe, the land's made of water I hug a half-empty glass my dignity's tryin' to pawn her I'm tryin' to see the future in a tea cup and a saucer But I rather be drinkin' coffee with my cigarette foster Can a run-away buckle the cloud-nine fantasy filter to force the brutal truth of daily marketplace wars through the roof? I mean, I stood beneath the icicles that bleed under the awning And magically mastered the great absorbing of spirit falling But I'm sick, I've plowed these fields a thousand times over Sold botanical research studies to farmers with whole quarters And when science proposes to art besides that peaceful sea I'll be that cat with a ring on a pillow, shouting: "Finally!" Take a number, the apple seeds raineth upon your slumber A hundred thousand freaks on parade for the village hunter My every whim acted upon has gone loopy But I play a game called "Let's prepare barnacle city for the end-all noosings." I split the radius of go-getter bellies, reconnaissance Sleeping fossil genie bottle optimist freeze Run for the fountain but the fountain is a desert optical tease Tummy full of sand, running man, impossible, stop There's a wing in my gut and I'm all dust Surfin' the urban Iditarod, certainly flushed Now one in the hand is worth two atop the tallest cedar But what lies inside my heart is off the motherfuckin' meter [Hook] The water ain't safe no more I'm just tryin' to build myself to act as a truly better man, damn See, the water ain't safe no more I'm just tryin' to be a solid oak tree For every child to carve its name across The water ain't safe no more I'm just tryin' to be the dream Of every peasant the hurricane can offer See, the water ain't safe no more I'm just tryin' to be somebody I can talk to in the morning with a smile The water ain't safe no more [Verse 2] And I've always been a 40-night chronologic hostage Rusted hook in the lip of the monarch Wingless anime idol I don't play in the man race cycle, hope floater Gloating inside carnal indifference 'Til doom cops a slot and potent quotas I'm 20 something, pumping acrylic tomorrow sideways Blazing passage with a map tattooed on the back of the classless Now tip-toe across a lost cause Because a lost cause found don't mean you found a cause That means you found a lost cause Okay, now I've been here for role-playing Slaying my here and now To benefit consumption for my peers steering the plow And it's incredible Handy jackets turn numerals to sentinels But bad apples ain't sweet And cretins' saddles ain't that memorable I'm Mozart with a focus on the tide Hiding the inconsistencies of man behind water and wine I wear a tiger-striped ego and bivouac my progression Where the kindlings formulated Through the flesh of the oppressors Now, God had a flask, I can prove it You really think the thirteen loops that used honor Spawned me a sober unit? Check potion, addressed the ghost inside my TV with a ruler Adhered to the back bone, stone pusher Here ten thousand hackers deep in the movement That's 20,000 crucial ruby heels clicking in unison And it's beautiful, I keep a stick inside my hand And carve my name inside every wall of the falling hologram [Hook] The water ain't safe no more I'm just tryin' to build myself to act as a truly better man, damn The water ain't safe no more I'm just tryin' to be a solid oak tree For every child to carve its name across The water ain't safe no more I'm just tryin' to be the dream Of every peasant the hurricane can offer See, the water ain't safe no more I'm just tryin' to be somebody I can talk to in the morning with a smile See, the water ain't safe no more ....sorry Aesop Rock (the GOAT)

I always refer to this dude as a 'Modern Day Shakespeare'... Something about his poetry has the power to resonate many generations after ours. That's just me tho.

I keep coming back to this one.

I just think it's sad how many people are missing out on music like this.

First Aesop Rock song I listened too. It holds up well.

The complexity of his wordplay and ability to remain in perfect synch with the beat is absolutely incredible.....not to mention every other line hes dropping lifetime Gems.

Whos here 2020

Aesop is a treat to listen too

Going to see him live this weekend in Colorado Springs! Stoked!!!!

im crying for this its really just making me stop and lose myself

"I Mozart with a focus on the tide, hiding the inconsistencies of man behind water and wine" so beautiful.

He's real man, everyone's wants "Show" not the real life stories. He is the one of the best rappers today..

It's 2021 I'm still trying to be the dream of every peasant the hurricane could offer

So many references to other songs, lyrics and flows of his, you gotta be familiar with his work to fully appreciate this one. Great song.

One of the best hip hop tracks of all time

The water ain't safe!! This is so real

the most beautiful song ive ever heard

Tiptoe around a lost cause because a lost cause found don’t mean you found a cause, it means you found a lost cause.

First song I heard from this guy was Basic Cable. Hands down one of my favorites. I had never heard and never again will I hear someone so precise and intricate with every word they use in order to explain the smallest details. Major props to the god of rap

This song and this beat are out of this fucking world!

i would like thank God for Aes Rock... Without him, i wouldn't listen to hip hop anymore, as well as a few more underground hip hop heads... Hip hop is not dead, it is ALIVE, hidden in the shadows of the underground... For every shitty ass mainstream rapper out there, there is a genius lurking in the darkness of the underground. Amen for true hip hop music!

This shows up in my watch again list every single day and I click it because it's still the best video on the whole page

So hard to choose just one masterpiece by Aes...

people. what are you trying to be? are you sentient, reasoning beings, or mindless, fearful, aggressive animals? To me, being a man is being informed, being aware of yourself and others, being decent, having empathy, and being the good you wish to see in the world. that doesn't mean clinging to scauses, wearing pink ribbons, not even necessarily volunteering at shelters. just know what goes on in the world, and be ready for change, should it become possible, and know that your fellow man is just as worthy as you are for a better quality of life, even if he doesn't act like it all the time.

I learn something new every time I hear this song

@TheAsianWorm You're right, people seem to think that they have to some sort of genius to be able to enjoy Aesop. I don't understand all of Aesops songs, but in my opinion, that's also why I like him so much, 'cause he gives me this urge to understand.

Damn....Aesop is straight wild, especially older Aesop.

I listened to Aesop Rock all night one time on Acid, it is fucking mental explosions.

def jux chick here, one of the best aesop songs ever. so beautiful *andrea

The beauty of music comes from stirring the soul. You sir, have stirred my soul

Might be his best song.

He comes in So Ferocious on the Second Verse

its beautiful, truly beautiful

i love how he starts slow and starts to speed up his flow. its fuckin amazing!!!!

@encef1 You know, you really gotta feel good about yourself as a person who can listen to Aes and hear wisdom. It's a warm fuzzy feeling.

I love this picture of Aesop Rock

Def one of the best, a song to live by

Had an amazing conversation on omegle with a guy who suggested this song, It was a very pleasant and uplifting conversation until we started talking about feminism and he left on a negative note, experienced a really good example of what happens when you challenge someones belief in something when you don't yourself believe it to be entirely true. I was sad he left so abruptly because he got the totally wrong idea. I really hope he sees this because I would love to chat with him again.

@Crazed1255 way to speak your mind, and more importantly the truth. cheers. aesop will forever remain an icon of what hip hop should be. beautiful song.

aesop got the best lyrics flowin'out over his lips i hear these days. He doesn't follow the beat, he creates the beat.

I LOVE THIS HUMAN BEING. this shit gave me instant goosebumps from the first rhyme. If there's a god,may he bless you and all the people that you love and help with your music, if there's no god I wish you good luck and endless happiness for you AESOP R.!

alll of aesop's stuff is GREAT! ALL OF IT!!

Never scroll down. Dont forget.

The Water ain't safe no moooar

This.song hits so hard even years later man aesops poetry and words and this beutiful beat is really a work of art man 🎨 🎵🎶

Its all good man! I like the Celtic vibe this peace has keep up the good work!!

You are all wrong, this song is one giant metaphor about him wanting to be a better person, an example, and just over all being just clean and ahead of the pack. Its deep, real deep.

I used to walk to a lot of this.

A masterpiece :')

im just trying to be someone i can talk to in the morning with a smile ... what a definitive way to finish off a track

I got this track off a download and it was in a album titled Unreleased, Compilations & Features. Got loadsa other good track aswell.

One of his best songs. Could listen all day

AMAZING!

@owned323 Finally someone who really listens to aesop. all of his songs are so deeply in metaphor form.

It's by a group called Anonymous 4 -- I wasn't sure, but I double-checked. From an album called Love's Illusion. The title is "Puisque bele dame m'eime," and it's originally from 13th century France. If you search for it on youtube, you should be able to find it.

truly amazing

Yo thanks for this, Its fresh that you have the lyrics. Keep It comin JBird

First heard this 15 yr ago and never realised the impact. Imma do right by the values in this song and make sure the msg isnt lost. As long as exists in me i can find it somewhere

he reminds me of eyedea

"Here ten thousand hackers deep in a movment Thats 20,000 crucial ruby heels clicking in unison." Aes is a stunning poet

Aesop is LEGEND.

looks at these fuckin lyrics! this dude throws down novels on each song!

I love this song man, its so powerful

The lyrics are so good that I feel stupid for not understanding more than 40 percent of the metafors and analogys...

i like the arguement alot. he is truely something great thou

This Track Travels

aesop has said a lot of his music has no concrete meaning, everyone perceives it in their own way which is awesome, its super gnarly and super creative :D

He talks about money, just about not having it, instead of flaunting it like he's got a green peacock on his hand.

theres a awesome book Aesop was involved in making, over 100 of the illest emcees, underground and classic guys, documented all the techniques of writing rhymes... book is- "How-To..Rap'' brrriilliant read.... a lot of important history is preserved in there...

It's on the out of print compilation Atoms Family-Euphony

I’m here in 2021 :)

@deliveryboy1 Keep preaching the truth, brother. Greatest rapper of all time right here, Ace Rizzle.

Well you kinda gotta think about it. Aesop uses metaphors and every subtle hints as to what they mean. It's usually days later when I put the pieces together. It takes a lot of thinking to understand, something most people this generation fail to attempt.

Aesop never ceases to amaze...this beat is almost too nasty

Awesome song "the water aint safe no more, the land is made of water"

i honestly wish i was aesop rock, hes so fucking smart and just anyone who hears him is amazed, i want that shit d00000000d

Awesome...ness!

this is good... really good can´t listen to his voice for a day though..

rewritten for Aesop: Aesop is a fucking genius...all his lyrics make so much sense that they don't...His Instrumentals/Beats are the best; his flow is fantastic... there isn't anything wrong with his music at all...It's fucking perfect!

Because most people are ignorant. Consider yourself blessed.

Love it! Thanks reddit, you showed me the way!

Great song!!!!