Aesop Rock
Teleprompters
[Pre-Chorus: Kimya Dawson]
Ever since I was a kid
On the backs of my two eyelids
I hid two Teleprompters there
Transmitting words from who knows where
Walkie-talkie on a mission
Roger, roger will I listen
Or will I just pass it along
In the form of a sing-a-long
Whammies and Noids be void and null
I feel a tingle in my skull
Like ticker tape the words appear
There’s a parade between my ears

[Chorus: Kimya Dawson]
I preach self-love I know it’s true
It’s easier to say than do
I send these messages to you
But now I need to hear them too
I am beautiful I am powerful I am strong and I am loveable
I am beautiful I am powerful I am strong and I am loveable

[Verse 1: Aesop Rock]
I was laying bricks in a line
Yap full of dog toy
Picturing a life beyond that of a protocol droid
Bleep bloop boy ox boycott pea soup
First learn to eat paint at St. Peter’s preschool-yum
Now that’s a painkiller I can speak through
Airbrush letters on a pristine gene pool
See my mother said her father drew a ton
But all his cartoons had been swallowed by the Susquehanna flood in '72
The year that he would subsequently pass
I know he had a stroke but I assume that’s only half
And now I’m signing up for finger-drawing class in a tux like a gentleman
Marrying his ash to his dust
Last on the kickball team draft pick-list
First to the King Kullen practicing his kickflips
I’d like to say it’s ‘cause I was a rebel
Truthfully it’s easier to say “oh hell” instead of “hello”
(Hi, you need to get out more)
I dunno, I don’t wanna be there when the geometry domino
(You need to get out more)
Maybe, or maybe his pace is better suited for pacing
(You need to get out more)
Never I am nailed to the floor-I am snail under pressure
(You need to get out more)
Fine
[Pre-Chorus: Kimya Dawson]
Ever since I was a kid
On the backs of my two eyelids
I hid two Teleprompters there
Transmitting words from who knows where
And this is why when I’m on stage
My eyes are closed I’m in a haze
I look like I’m made out of clay
I’m overwhelmed and under-glazed
I’m making vases out of snakes
I’m a kiln half-full of mistakes
When kneading it, air’s overlooked
It’s gonna crack when it gets cooked
So self-forgiveness is the key
To re-sculpting my sanity
Mindfulness, humility
And taking time to care for me

[Chorus: Kimya Dawson]
I preach self-love I know it’s true
It’s easier to say than do
I sing these messages to you
But now I need to hear them too
I am beautiful I am powerful I am strong and I am loveable
I am beautiful I am powerful I am strong and I am loveable
[Verse 2: Aesop Rock]
I was laying bricks in a line
Yap full of copper-top
Picturing a life beyond that of a dish-washer bot
Buzz ping
Criss-crossed arms in a tub ring
Learned heartbreak on a Zelda-1 sub screen-numb
Learned dark days by the scent of poached dove meat
Some part ways and it’s fugly
Maybe the sum of the parts became lesser
That each individually making the same gesture
And you don’t wanna interrupt the overlapping network
So you throw a bag together and elope with cabin pressure
To disappear instead of interfere with nutty customs
And differing definitions of liberty and justice
Big dummy dig a hole in the dirt
He put his head in the hole; he is alone in this world
And dying slowly from the comfort of his home full of worms
Until you hear a little voice say “yo let’s go get dessert”
Wait-what?
You need to get out more
I dunno-over 2 million dead bats in NY alone
You need to get out more
Maybe, maybe not
Maybe I'll just stay back and survey the lot
You need to get out more
Never I am nailed to the walls in a jail made of deserts
You need to get out more
OK