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.
Popsicle Toes
Michael Franks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He sure was good to you
You can add, subtract, multiply and divide
By two
I know today's your birthday
And I did not buy no rose
But I wrote this song instead and I call it
Popsicle toes
Popsicle toes are always froze
Popsicle toes
You're so brave to expose all those popsicle toes
You must have been Miss Pennsylvania
With all this pulchritude
How come you always load your Pentax
When I'm in the nude?
We oughta have a birthday party
And you can wear you birthday clothes
We can hit the floor
And go explore those
Popsicle toes
You got the nicest North America
This sailor ever saw
I'd like to feel your warm Brazil
And touch your Panama
But Your Tierra del Fuegos
Are nearly always froze
We gotta see saw
Until we unthaw those
Popsicle toes
Popsicle toes
Popsicle toes are always froze
Popsicle toes
You're so brave to expose all those popsicle toes
The song "Popsicle Toes" by Michael Franks is a playful and flirty love song that creatively weaves in references to math and geography. The lyrics begin by praising the subject's rhythm, suggesting that God was particularly generous when he bestowed rhythm upon her. The line "you can add, subtract, multiply, and divide by two" is a clever way of not only suggesting that she is mathematically inclined, but also of highlighting her playful and flirtatious nature.
The song then transitions into a birthday song, with the singer acknowledging that he did not buy a rose for the occasion but wrote a song instead. The title of the song, "Popsicle Toes," is a term the singer uses to describe the subject's toes, which are always cold. The chorus repeats this phrase, with the singer admiring her bravery for exposing her popsicle toes.
Line by Line Meaning
And when God gave out rhythm
You have a natural rhythm and grace that is truly a gift from God
He sure was good to you
God favored you with a special talent for rhythm and movement
You can add, subtract, multiply and divide
By two
You have a unique way of interpreting and responding to music, and can easily keep time in various ways
I know today's your birthday
And I did not buy no rose
But I wrote this song instead and I call it
"Popsicle Toes"
I wanted to do something special for your birthday, so I wrote you this song called 'Popsicle Toes.'
Popsicle toes
Popsicle toes are always froze
Popsicle toes
You're so brave to expose all those popsicle toes
Your feet are always cold and your toes look like popsicles, but you're brave for wearing sandals and showing them off
You must have been Miss Pennsylvania
With all this pulchritude
How come you always load your Pentax
When I'm in the nude?
You're so beautiful, you could have been Miss Pennsylvania. But why do you always grab your camera when I'm naked?
We oughta have a birthday party
And you can wear you birthday clothes
We can hit the floor
And go explore those
Popsicle toes
Let's have a birthday party and you can wear whatever you want. We can dance and have fun exploring your cold toes.
You got the nicest North America
This sailor ever saw
I'd like to feel your warm Brazil
And touch your Panama
You have a beautiful body, and I'd love to explore it. I'd especially like to feel the warmth of Brazil and touch your genitals.
But Your Tierra del Fuegos
Are nearly always froze
We gotta see saw
Until we unthaw those
Popsicle toes
Your genitals are always cold, but we'll have to keep trying until we warm them up and make them feel good.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Michael P. Franks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind