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Profit makes more sense to me, because it ties into the directly proceeding line "Please take me, please calm me, please make me a zombie". Aes is clearly talking about advertising and (broadly) media here, and while the double meaning of "prophet" does contribute to the line, the surface meaning is that he's donating his brain (attention) to the Panasonic profit (from advertising).

However, that said, that page (http://rapgenius.com/Aesop-rock-basic-cable-lyrics) does need some love. You should help out! Use the "suggestions" box on individual annotations to leave things for Editors (trusted members of the community, like myself) to integrate into the existing annotations.



It's obviously both "profit" and "prophet." Neither one is wrong.


While neither is really wrong, you've still got to choose one to put on the lyrics page. I believe I outlined my reasons for thinking one is the surface meaning and one is a double meaning.


I can see it either way, but this isn't quantum mechanics. It cannot in fact be both words at once.


While not rap, St. Vincent[1] may want to have some words with you.

Ambiguity can definitely be used in art.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whxF0KhBR84


Of course it can be both. If he deliberately chose it because it is a homophone and intended for either interpretation to work, then it's both.


Actually, that's a hugely common thing to do in rap: make a word ambiguous between 2 to add some more depth to the song.




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