Frankenreiter started playing in the group, Peanut Butter and Jam, at the age of 18. In 1996 he began to seriously pursue a musical career when he formed the band Sunchild. In Sunchild, Frankenreiter was the lead guitar player but did not sing. The band had a 70s rock sound similar in style to The Black Crowes. They released their first CD, Barefoot & Live, on Surfdog Records in 1997. Produced by Gary Hoey, the live album featured covers of The Allman Brothers Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Rolling Stones, and Van Morrison, as well as several originals. California Honey followed in 2000 on their own Sunchild Records. This studio album is now out-of-print. Sunchild disbanded in 2001 and Frankenreiter went on to pursue a solo career.
In 2002, Frankenreiter signed with Brushfire Records. His self-titled solo album, Donavon Frankenreiter, was recorded with co-producers Jack Johnson and Mario Caldato Jr. Johnson appears on the album, as do G. Love and Eels member Koool G. Murder. The album was released in April 2004 in Australia due to his high profile in that country from his support gigs for Jack Johnson and from Frankenreiter’s own surfing career. He toured Australia in April 2004, helping the album reach the top forty of the ARIA albums chart. Gary Jules was his support act on this tour. The album was released in the United States one month later, on 11 May 2004.
In 2006, Frankenreiter left Brushfire Records and signed with Lost Highway Records, home of such notable artists as Elvis Costello, Ryan Adams and Willie Nelson. His follow-up album, Move by Yourself, was released on June 6, 2006. Soon afterwards Donavon recorded a song called "Lovely Day" with Koool G., which was featured on the soundtracks to two films, Snakes on a Plane that same year and Georgia Rule in 2007.
In 2010 Donavon parted ways with Lost Highway Records and formed his own label, Liquid Tambourine Records. He subsequently recorded and released his fourth studio album of original material entitled "Glow", which was produced by Mark Weinberg.
In early 2012, Donavon cut ties with band mates Eric Brigmond, Craig Barnette, and Pete Winders, but maintained ties with original band member Matt Grundy.
www.donavonf.com
Mansions In The Sand
Donavon Frankenreiter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Remember all we did
And all those things you said
That they're not so long ago
When we were kids
I used to drive around
In the summer late
And laughed
And listening to that sound
Old box of tapes
And there's so much sound
And the waves are breaking
Oh my heart is taking all she can
Come one day down to wash away
All those crumbling mansions on the sand
I've seen the neighborhood
I get a splash of paint
And fix the rotten wood
You know there's so much here the sun has caused to fade
And there's so much change
And the waves are breaking
Oh my heart has taken all she can
Come one day down to wash away
All those crumbling mansions on the sand
And I'll try to wrap my arms around the sea
Well I'll try to hold the surf back and the tide
Well I'm holding on to something that can't be
No matter how I try
And there's so much change
And the waves are breaking
And my heart had taken all she can
Come one day down to wash away
All those crumbling mansions on the sand
The summer on the docks
Remember all we did
And all those things you said back then
They're not so long ago
When we were kids
The song "Mansions in the Sand" by Donavon Frankenreiter is a reflection on memories of the past and how things have changed. The lyrics paint a nostalgic picture of summers spent on the docks, listening to tapes and laughing with friends. The first verse sets the tone of reminiscence, with the line "remember all we did" implying that these memories are something to be cherished. The references to driving around with the windows down and listening to tapes evoke a sense of freedom and carefreeness that is often associated with youth.
The chorus of the song is where the metaphor of "crumbling mansions on the sand" comes in. The waves breaking on the shore are a constant reminder of the impermanence of things. The line "my heart has taken all she can" suggests that the passage of time and the erosion of memories can be difficult to bear. There is a feeling of helplessness conveyed in the lines "I'll try to hold the surf back and the tide / Well I'm holding onto something that can't be / No matter how I try."
The final verse brings the song back to the present, acknowledging that things have changed and that there is work to be done to preserve what remains. The reference to "fix the rotten wood" suggests that there is value in preserving the past, even if it requires effort. The final lines of the song, "when we were kids," serve as a reminder that no matter how much time passes, these memories will always be a part of us.
Line by Line Meaning
The summer on the docks
A specific time in the past where memories were made
Remember all we did
Recalling the memories from that time in the past
And all those things you said
Memories of conversations that were had during that time
That they're not so long ago
The memories are still fresh in mind despite the time that has passed
When we were kids
A nostalgic reference to a simpler time in childhood
I used to drive around
Recalling a past habit of driving around
In the summer late
Referring to the time of day - afternoon or early evening
I rolled the windows down
Detailing a specific action from the past habit of driving around
And laughed
An emotion of happiness associated with the past habit of driving around
And listening to that sound
Enjoying the sound of music played on a specific kind of player
Old box of tapes
Referring to the source of music played at that time
And there's so much sound
In the present, there is so much noise and distractions
And the waves are breaking
A metaphor for the inevitable changes and challenges in life
Oh my heart is taking all she can
Emotional exhaustion from facing life's challenges
Come one day down to wash away
The hope that the future will bring a resolution or a clean slate
All those crumbling mansions on the sand
A metaphor for people's illusions of a perfect, luxurious life that slowly cracks and falls apart
I've seen the neighborhood
Observing the changes in one's surroundings
I get a splash of paint
Making an effort to improve and preserve what one has
And fix the rotten wood
Mending what has decayed or deteriorated
You know there's so much here the sun has caused to fade
Acknowledging the wear and tear of time on one's possessions
And there's so much change
Even more changes have occurred since the last time the surroundings were observed
And the waves are breaking
The metaphor of life's changes and challenges continues
Oh my heart has taken all she can
An acknowledgement of emotional exhaustion from facing life's challenges
Come one day down to wash away
The hope that the future will bring a resolution or a clean slate
All those crumbling mansions on the sand
A metaphor for people's illusions of a perfect, luxurious life that slowly cracks and falls apart
And I'll try to wrap my arms around the sea
An impossible task, meant to convey the futility of trying to control or hold onto life's changes
Well, I'll try to hold the surf back and the tide
Another impossible task, reinforcing the idea that change cannot be controlled
Well I'm holding on to something that can't be
Holding onto illusions of a perfect life is futile
No matter how I try
No amount of effort can change the inevitable
And there's so much change
Repeating the constant nature of change in life
And the waves are breaking
Continuing the metaphor for the inevitable changes and challenges in life
And my heart has taken all she can
A final acknowledgement of emotional exhaustion from facing life's challenges
Come one day down to wash away
A final plea for a new beginning
All those crumbling mansions on the sand
A final reminder of the consequences of holding onto illusions of a perfect life
The summer on the docks
Closing out the song with a reminder of the past memories that inspired the reflection on life's changes
Remember all we did
Encouraging the listener to hold onto happy memories amidst the challenges of life
And all those things you said back then
Reminding the listener of the wisdom of the past
They're not so long ago
Encouraging the listener to hold onto the belief that the happy times can come again
When we were kids
A nostalgic reference to a simpler time in childhood, bringing the song full circle
Lyrics © SWING ON DOWN PUBLISHING, BMG Rights Management
Written by: DONAVON FRANKENREITER, GRANT LEE PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind