Donavon Frankenreiter (born December 10, 1972, Downey, California) is an Am… Read Full Bio ↴Donavon Frankenreiter (born December 10, 1972, Downey, California) is an American musician and surfer. A long-time friend of musician Jack Johnson, his debut self-titled album was released in 2004 on Johnson's Brushfire Records through Universal Music. It made the Australian ARIA Top-40 charts in April 2004. In live shows he has performed as the Donavon Frankenreiter Band.

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

Theologians
Donavon Frankenreiter Lyrics

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Theologians
They don't know nothing
About my soul
About my soul

I'm an ocean
An abyss in motion
Slow motion

Slow motion

Inlitterati lumen fidei
God is with us everyday
That illiterate light
Is with us every night

Theologians
That don't know nothing
About my soul
Oh they don't know

They thin my heart with little things
And my life with change
Oh in so many ways
I find more missing every day

Theologians

I'm going away
Where you will look for me
Where I'm going you cannot come

No one's ever gonna take my life from me
I lay it down
A ghost is born
A ghost is born
A ghost is born

I'm an ocean
I'm all emotion
I'm a cherry ghost
Cherry ghost

Hey I'm a cherry ghost
A cherry ghost

Overall Meaning

The song "Theologians" by Donavon Frankenreiter is a profound commentary on relationships between individuals and their faith, the impact of the external world, and the necessity of seeking an internal equilibrium that drives emotional wellbeing. The song starts with the singer talking about theologians who can't understand our soul and moves on to describe himself as an ocean in slow motion, an abyss in motion, alluding to the complex nature of humans. The following lines, "Inlitterati lumen fidei, God is with us every day, That illiterate light, Is with us every night," reflect on the idea that God is present in our daily life, even if we are unaware of it.

Further, the lyrics suggest that people often struggle to distinguish the necessary from the unnecessary in life. Theologians try to interpret and make sense of the human soul by dissecting it into tiny details, representing the little things that can cause havoc; these theologians strive to define parts of us without genuinely understanding that we are more significant as a whole. In contrast, the "ghost" that the singer is referencing embodies an individual who is comfortable with laying down their life and transcending from their physical body to their spiritual self.

Overall, Donavon Frankenreiter's song "Theologians" is about the significance of faith, the power of the individual, and the importance of seeking balance from within. The song is a reflection on the struggles and complexities of life that even theologians cannot fully comprehend. The song signifies the importance of self-discovery, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and seeking inner peace as a way to understand the complexities of life.

Line by Line Meaning

Theologians
People who study religion

They don't know nothing
They have no knowledge or understanding

About my soul
About my innermost being

I'm an ocean
I am vast and deep

An abyss in motion
A great emptiness that is moving

Slow motion
Moving slowly

Inlitterati lumen fidei
Those who are uneducated lack faith

God is with us everyday
God is always present

That illiterate light
The faith that uneducated people have

Is with us every night
It is always there, even in the darkness

Theologians
People who study religion