Franks grew up in southern California with his father Gerald, his mother Betty and younger sister Christine who is the mother of Connor Sullivan (The lead singer of The Royal Nonesuch). Although no one in his family played music, his parents loved swing music and his early influences included Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Johnny Mercer. At age 14 Franks bought his first guitar, a Japanese Marco Polo for $29.95 with six private lessons included - the only music education that he received.
At University High in Irvine, Franks discovered the poetry of Theodore Roethke with his off-rhymes and hidden meter. In high school, he began singing folk-rock, accompanying himself on guitar. Studying English at UCLA Michael discovered Dave Brubeck, Patti Page, Stan Getz, João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Miles Davis. He never studied music in college or later, but earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA in comparative literature in 1966 and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Oregon in 1968. He had a teaching assistantship in a Ph.D. program in American literature at the University of Montreal before returning to teach part-time at UCLA.
During this time Franks started writing songs, starting with the antiwar musical Anthems in E-flat starring Mark Hamill. He also composed music for the films Count Your Bullets, Cockfighter, and Zandy's Bride, starring Liv Ullmann and Gene Hackman. Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee recorded three of his songs, including "White Boy Lost in the Blues" on their album Sonny & Brownie. Franks played guitar, banjo and mandolin on the album and joined them in touring. In 1973, he recorded an eponymous album, later reissued as Previously Unavailable, which included the minor hit "Can't Seem to Shake This Rock 'n Roll".
In 1975 Franks released his second album The Art of Tea, beginning a long relationship with Warner Brothers Music. The Art of Tea featured Joe Sample, Larry Carlton and Wilton Felder of The Crusaders and included the hit song "Popsicle Toes". His third album, Sleeping Gypsy (1977), which includes the song "The Lady Wants to Know", was partially recorded in Brazil. Around this time, percussionist Ray Armando gave Franks a cabasa, which became a signature instrument for him to play on stage when he was not playing guitar. Burchfield Nines (1978), which includes the song "When the Cookie Jar Is Empty", reflects his move to New York City and features more of an East Coast sound. Since then, Franks has recorded more than 15 albums.
His best known works include "When I Give My Love to You", "Popsicle Toes", "Monkey See, Monkey Do", "Tiger in the Rain", "Rainy Night in Tokyo", and "Tell Me All About It". His biggest hit came in 1983 with "When Sly Calls (Don't Touch That Phone)" from the album Passionfruit. Radio hits include "Your Secret's Safe With Me" from 1985's Skin Dive, and "Island Life" from 1987s The Camera Never Lies.
Now Love Has No End
Michael Franks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Inside a book of poetry
I memorized the movies where
Into each other's eyes the lovers stare
I.e. Zhivago with his Lara in their cottage
In the snow
Ten below with only love to keep the warm
Real life could not compete
With fiction or widescreen love, on the street
No face was shining there to meet me
In soft focus... guess my heart
Blew the part
Seemed like for me stormy weather
Would always hide the moon
I flew the wind like a feather
Into the wrong monsoon
Until the light of your smile
Guided me to this island
I lost my way
But now I'll never be lost again
I'm not ashamed to say
I know for sure now love have no end
It sounds so commonplace
That I'm reluctant to point my pen
When I behold your face
I know for sure now love has no end
I used to be amorously so cynical but now
I know for sure love has no end
The game of hearts was long false starts
Until you taught me how
To know for sure love has no end
Til I found you I never knew the joy of two
But now
I know fore sure love has no end
It's always better late than never,
For forever now
I know for sure love has no end.
The lyrics to Michael Franks's song "Now Love Has No End" speak of the journey of a person who once idealized love from books and movies, but soon discovered that real-life love doesn't seem to compete with the ones portrayed in fiction or on screen. The singer feels disheartened to realize that they couldn't find a love that shone on their face in soft focus. It seemed like the stormy weather would always hide the moon, and love was an elusive emotion. However, the light of a smile from someone special guided them to an island where they found their way, and they now know that love has no end.
The lyrics speak of a universal experience that many people can relate to—the struggle to find love and the disillusionment that comes with it. As a child, the singer was immersed in poetry and romantic movies, which painted a picture of love that seemed perfect but wasn't attainable. This idealized notion of love made it hard for them to find true love in real life. Hence when they finally find someone, they realize that it's okay not to have an idealized love, and they know for sure that love does not end. The lyrics also show how love changes people; the singer's cynicism is transformed into an optimistic outlook towards love because of the person they found.
Overall, the song is a journey of self-discovery and how love can change our lives for the better. Moreover, it also shows that what we think love should be like is shaped by the media we consume, but in reality, it's not like that.
Line by Line Meaning
As a kid my nose would be Inside a book of poetry
When I was young, I would always be engrossed in reading poetry books.
I memorized the movies where Into each other's eyes the lovers stare I.e. Zhivago with his Lara in their cottage In the snow
I was fascinated by movies where lovers stare into each other's eyes, with a prime example being Doctor Zhivago and Lara in the snow.
Ten below with only love to keep the warm I soon discovered with alarm Real life could not compete With fiction or widescreen love, on the street No face was shining there to meet me In soft focus... guess my heart Blew the part
Despite being enamored with fictional romances, I came to realize that real-life could not compare as I could not find anyone like in the movies to meet me in soft-focus and touch my heart.
Seemed like for me stormy weather Would always hide the moon I flew the wind like a feather Into the wrong monsoon Until the light of your smile Guided me to this island
It always felt like I was in the wrong place, like flying into the wrong monsoon, until your smile lit up my way and guided me to this place of love.
I lost my way But now I'll never be lost again I'm not ashamed to say I know for sure now love have no end It sounds so commonplace That I'm reluctant to point my pen When I behold your face I know for sure now love has no end
I used to feel lost and unsure, but with you, I know that love has no end and I never have to feel lost again, even though it may sound like a cliché, it is undoubtedly true when I see your beautiful face.
I used to be amorously so cynical but now I know for sure love has no end The game of hearts was long false starts Until you taught me how To know for sure love has no end Til I found you I never knew the joy of two But now I know fore sure love has no end It's always better late than never, For forever now I know for sure love has no end.
I used to be cynical about love, but since finding you and experiencing the joy of love, I know for sure that love has no end, even if it started with false ideas about the game of love. It's always better to find love late than never, and my love for you will never end.
Contributed by Colton M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Flynn Taylor
I could listen to Michael forever!! he is a daily for me!!
IMC41
Approaching nearly 40 years of listening to his music and it still moves me to this very day - timeless indeed...
William Latson
This composition is so relaxing.What a great song!
Koe Van
Michael Franks music always improves my mood.. 💛💚💛💚
Flynn Taylor
tell me this is NOT perfect to bring in the romance?? this guys floors me EVERYTIME!!! this is my fav next to "everytime she whispers"
Noe Berengena
Yes, the truth. "everytime she whispers" sets a pretty high bar. Its smoothness belies its complex layering -- lots going on in that song.
Dwight Moore
Michael Franks is one of those artist who puts a tune and you know it's going to be a hit
William Latson
This song just takes me to a place of pure bliiss spiritually.
Gemma Torres
Wawwww !!!!🥰❤❤❤ MF sigue siendo uno de mis primeros favoritos 👌
Katrina Mckee
I love Mike Franks relaxing music