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.
Question
Franklin Delano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nor a question of how fast your vehicle can fly
It's not a simple question the one you're just posing me
If it's a matter of simple blindness how far you can see
Some of the answers coming to my mind:
If what you see is dark you might be blind
You switch the light on and your eyes get burned for a while
But it's a shame
It's not a question of the things you're just missing
Nor a question of how fast they pass through your life
It's not a question, whatever you're holding tight
You know it doesn't matter how much you're doin'it right
The lyrics of Franklin Delano’s song “Question” are a commentary on the importance of perspective and how crucial it is to question one’s assumptions and beliefs. He argues that asking the right question is more important than finding answers, and that people often miss the point by focusing solely on the “what” rather than the “why” or “how.” The first verse admonishes the listener not to focus on superficial measures of success such as speed or distance, but instead to consider what might be driving those goals. He notes that “If it's a matter of simple blindness how far you can see” and that sometimes the way forward is obscured by one’s own lack of understanding.
The second verse explores the notion that success is not necessarily tied to tangible things like possessions or accomplishments. Rather, it is about the way one approaches life and the mindset with which they approach challenges. Society often fixates on success as a measure of worth, but Franklin Delano suggests that this is misguided. Instead, people should focus on the process of living and learning, rather than the end result. He notes that “It's not a question, whatever you're holding tight/You know it doesn't matter how much you're doin'it right” - one’s actions and successes are not necessarily indicative of a life well-lived.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not a question of how far you can drive
Achieving success is not just about how far you can go
Nor a question of how fast your vehicle can fly
Neither is it about how quickly you can reach there
It's not a simple question the one you're just posing me
The question you just asked me is far from being simple
If it's a matter of simple blindness how far you can see
If all you see is the darkness before you, then maybe you are blind
Some of the answers coming to my mind:
These are some of the ideas I have been thinking about:
If what you see is dark you might be blind
Your perception could be hindered if you are unable to see any brightness
You switch the light on and your eyes get burned for a while
Trying to gain a better understanding could cause you temporary pain
You think it doesn't mean anything else and unfortunately you might be right
You might be correct in assuming that there is nothing else to it
But it's a shame
However, it is a pity
It's not a question of the things you're just missing
Success is not limited to what you are currently lacking
Nor a question of how fast they pass through your life
Time also does not dictate the level of success you can achieve
It's not a question, whatever you're holding tight
What you currently hold onto tightly is not the defining factor of your success
You know it doesn't matter how much you're doin'it right
Success is not assured even if you are doing everything right
Contributed by Isaiah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.