Primarily influenced by the recent post-folk scene raised from the ashes of Red Red Meat, they released a demo on Zahr Records: All My Senses Are Senseless Today (2004) was a mixture of slow pace folk-rock songs, often arranged with a dark Slint-style attitude, that created some excitement among Italian press. Perishable records distributed the record through their online shop.
By that same year the core of the group comprised the trio of Iocca, Riccardi and Vittoria Burattini on drums. Franklin Delanos second effort, Like A Smoking Gun In Front Of Me (2005), marked a slight change in the groups sound. While remaining steeped in the dark slow cored style of their previous album, the songs took influencial benefits from a series of new musical inputs, from psychedelia to Alt-country.
Produced at Clava Studios in Chicago by Brian Deck (former Red Red Meat and Califone member and producer for Modest Mouse, Ugly Casanova, Iron&Wine), the album includes musical contributions by Califone members Ben Massarella, Tim Rutili, and Jim Becker. Like A Smoking Gun saw the band moving on Madcap Collective (Italy) and File 13 Records (Chicago, IL). It was promoted and distributed in the United States and garnered plaudits from the local music press. Most italian critics judged it to be among the year best records. Shortly after the release, Franklin Delano embarked on their first U.S. tour that helped them win fans and also spread the name all over the United States. Soon after, the group suffered an internal shake-up with Burattini replaced by Lucio Sagone at drums, and Marcello Petruzzi at bass.
At the end of 2005 the line-up included Vittorio Demarin at violin, piano, organ and Michele Sarti at percussions and glockenspiel. In 2006 the band signed with Italys Ghost Records, flew to Chicago where they recorded their third album, Come Home with Brian Deck, between Engine and Soma music studios, and toured the U.S. a second time. The album, Come Home, has been released in October. The band has been on tour since then, with a freshly new line-up, including the comeback of Vittoria, and new entry Nicola Manzan at violin and electronics, to join Paolo, Marcella and Marcello.
At the end of 2007 the project cease its activity. Paolo and Marcella have just started a new project joining two midwestern multi-instrumentalists, Davy DelaFuente and Oren Wagner.
Bus Stop
Franklin Delano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's way too long
On the road to real love
I am just that bus stop
You've got this rare chance
To rest in my shade
Don't build a new fence
Love comes and goes
You try but you don't know
Life's a trip without a pause
I am just that door
In the song "Bus Stop," Franklin Delano talks about his place in a romantic relationship. He sees himself as a bus stop, a temporary resting place on the road to finding real love. He acknowledges that the road to true love can be long and difficult, implying that he may not be the final destination for his partner. He encourages his partner to take advantage of the opportunity to rest with him, to enjoy the momentary respite he provides. He urges his partner not to build new walls around themselves, suggesting that perhaps they have been hurt in the past and may be hesitant to open up again. Delano acknowledges that love is unpredictable, and sometimes it comes and goes without warning. He encourages his partner to enjoy life's journey, despite the twists and turns, and to think of him as a temporary stop on the way to something more.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the fleeting nature of romantic relationships. The metaphor of the bus stop is used to suggest a temporary, transient state, implying that the love that Delano offers is not intended to be permanent. He acknowledges that he is only one part of his partner's journey to finding real love, and encourages them to embrace life's uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't get me wrong
I don't want to be misunderstood
It's way too long
Finding true love takes a lot of time
On the road to real love
The journey to find genuine love
I am just that bus stop
I'm here to offer temporary relief and comfort but not the final destination
You've got this rare chance
This is a unique opportunity
To rest in my shade
To relax and take shelter in my presence
Don't build a new fence
Don't create new barriers that you don't need
Your path's been made
Your journey is already predetermined
Love comes and goes
Love is not always constant and stable
You try but you don't know
Even if you try hard, you may still not have full control over love
Life's a trip without a pause
Life is a journey with no breaks or pauses
I am just that door
I can only offer access but not control over what happens next
Contributed by Leo A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.