Franti was part of the industrial punk band The Beatnigs with DJ Rono Tse, which released a self-titled LP, and an EP Television on Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles records. His next project, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, found Franti continuing his collaboration with Tse, and working with jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter, and electronic musicians Mark Pistel (Consolidated) and Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto). The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy wrote biting, progressive lyrics that railed against the injustice of the world and yearned for democratic reform, set to a fusion of industrial and hip hop. Their first album won acclaim for its social commentary, and they were chosen by U2 to open for their Zoo TV Tour.
Franti and the Disposable Heroes put together another record of music accompanying novelist William Burroughs' readings for an album entitled Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales. This album diverged greatly from the style of the band's previous work, as they were largely providing musical background and accompaniment to Burroughs' spoken readings from several of his books.
In 1994, Franti formed a new band called Spearhead. While he continued to create politically and socially conscious lyrics, Spearhead's music drew more from funk and soul than the industrial sound of his previous groups. Spearhead released their first album, Home, in September of 1994. Their follow up album Chocolate Supa Highway was released in March of 1997. It should be noted that these two albums were released under the band name "Spearhead", while the name on all subsequent albums would be "Michael Franti & Spearhead".
In 1999, Franti retreated from the major-label grind to explore his music and politics. He returned the following year as an organizer and cultural worker tied to the rising movements against the death penalty, the prison-industrial complex and corporate globalization, voicing his observations through his music.
Stay Human was released in 2000 on his own indie label, Boo Boo Wax and Six Degrees. The album's themes are justice and survival, touching on issues like media monopolization and incarceration.
Everyone Deserves Music was released in 2003. Franti composed many of the songs from his guitar and, like fellow 21st century cultural globalists Manu Chao and Ozomatli, continues to synthesize his eclectic influences. In a departure from the noise of the Beatnigs and Disposable Heroes, and the minimalism of early Spearhead, Franti's affirming lyrics are now set to appropriately swelling rock chords, while keeping a world-wise groove nodding towards reggae, dancehall, bossa nova, Afrobeat, and funk.
On July 25, 2006, Michael Franti & Spearhead released their new album, entitled Yell Fire!, inspired by Franti's trip to war-torn Baghdad, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Largely written during that trip and recorded in Jamaica, Yell Fire! contains contributions from Sly & Robby and has a more reggae-influenced vibe than previous work.
Michael Franti has been barefoot since 2000.
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Michael Franti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mixing up the medicine
I'm on the pavement
Thinking about the government
The man in the trench coat
Badge out, laid off
Says he's got a bad cough
Wants to get it paid off
It's somethin' you did
God knows when
But you're doin' it again
You better duck down the alley way
Lookin' for a new friend
The man in the coon-skin cap
In the big pen
Wants eleven dollar bills
You only got ten
Maggie comes fleet foot
Face full of black soot
Talkin' that the heat put
Plants in the bed but
The phone's tapped anyway
Maggie says that many say
They must bust in early May
Orders from the D. A.
Look out kid
Don't matter what you did
Walk on your tip toes
Don't try "No Doz"
Better stay away from those
That carry around a fire hose
Keep a clean nose
Watch the plain clothes
You don't need a weather man
To know which way the wind blows
Get sick, get well
Hang around a ink well
Ring bell, hard to tell
If anything is goin' to sell
Try hard, get barred
Get back, write braille
Get jailed, jump bail
Join the army, if you fail
Look out kid
You're gonna get hit
But users, cheaters
Six-time losers
Hang around the theaters
Girl by the whirlpool
Lookin' for a new fool
Don't follow leaders
Watch the parkin' meters
Ah get born, keep warm
Short pants, romance, learn to dance
Get dressed, get blessed
Try to be a success
Please her, please him, buy gifts
Don't steal, don't lift
Twenty years of schoolin'
And they put you on the day shift
Look out kid
They keep it all hid
Better jump down a manhole
Light yourself a candle
Don't wear sandals
Try to avoid the scandals
Don't wanna be a bum
You better chew gum
The pump don't work
'Cause the vandals took the handles
The song "Subterranean Homesick Blues" is a classic protest song by the American singer-songwriter Michael Franti. The lyrics of the song seem to metaphorically address various problems and issues that exist in society, including government corruption, police brutality, media influence, and social conformity, among others. The song begins with the image of Johnny, a guy mixing up the medicine, while the singer is on the pavement thinking about the government. The lyrics suggest that the man in the trenchcoat with a bad cough is a metaphor for government corruption, and the singer cautions the listener to look out and duck down the alleyway to avoid such individuals.
The song is packed with surreal images and metaphors, such as the girl by the whirlpool looking for a new fool, the man in the coon-skin cap in the big pen, and the phone being tapped. The lyrics caution the listener to be careful with what they do because anything can attract the attention of the D.A. They suggest that the world is a harsh place, and you could get hit anywhere, anytime. The song ends on a note of despair with the final lines, "The pump don't work 'cause the vandals took the handles," suggesting that society is broken and beyond repair.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny's in the basement
Johnny is in a secret place where he mixes something up.
Mixing up the medicine
Johnny is creating some sort of drug or potion.
I'm on the pavement
The singer is in public, possibly on the streets.
Thinking about the government
The singer is preoccupied with thoughts related to the authorities.
The man in the trench coat
There is a male in a coat that goes down to the ankles.
Badge out, laid off
The male no longer has his job and has turned in his badge.
Says he's got a bad cough
The male is suffering from an illness of some sort.
Wants to get it paid off
The male wants to cure his bad cough but needs assistance to pay for it.
Look out kid
This is a warning; someone needs to be cautious.
It's somethin' you did
Something has been done which wasn't supposed to be done.
God knows when
The timing of the action/event is unknown..
But you're doin' it again
The same action has been repeated.
You better duck down the alley way
Someone is being advised to hide in an alley.
Lookin' for a new friend
Someone is seeking a fresh acquaintance.
The man in the coon-skin cap
A male is wearing a hat made of raccoon skin.
In the big pen
The male is in jail.
Wants eleven dollar bills
The man requires eleven dollars.
You only got ten
The singer has given the man ten dollars but the man wants more.
Maggie comes fleet foot
A woman named Maggie is approaching quickly.
Face full of black soot
Maggie has dirt or soot on her face.
Talkin' that the heat put
Maggie is talking about authorities, such as the police.
Plants in the bed but
There are plants in someone's bed, and something is happening to them.
The phone's tapped anyway
Even if one uses their phone, someone may still be listening in or tracking their location.
Maggie says that many say
Maggie believes that there are many people who think or say something.
They must bust in early May
Police or authorities must take some sort of action in the month of May.
Orders from the D. A.
The orders or instructions are coming from the District Attorney's office.
Don't matter what you did
Past actions do not make a difference towards the current situation or behavior.
Walk on your tip toes
Someone needs to walk quietly and with care.
Don't try 'No Doz'
The artist is advising that someone should avoid using or taking something named 'No Doz'.
Better stay away from those
Someone should avoid being around a specific group of people.
That carry around a fire hose
The group of people are said to carry a fire hose.
Keep a clean nose
Keep one's nose clean or stay out of trouble.
Watch the plain clothes
Someone should be cautious of plainclothes cops or authorities.
You don't need a weather man
There is no requirement for someone who knows how to forecast the weather.
To know which way the wind blows
It is easy to identify which direction something is heading.
Get sick, get well
Someone may become sick or experience recovery.
Hang around a ink well
Someone may spend time near an ink well or writing tools.
Ring bell, hard to tell
It is difficult to determine what may happen after a bell is rung.
If anything is goin' to sell
It is uncertain whether something will sell or be successful.
Try hard, get barred
One may receive a punishment for trying too hard.
Get back, write braille
Someone may be required to write Braille after retreating from something.
Get jailed, jump bail
Someone could be put in jail and try to leave before the legal date of release.
Join the army, if you fail
If someone fails at something else, they may later join the military.
You're gonna get hit
Someone is going to have a painful experience.
But users, cheaters
The people being described may be taking advantage of or exploiting something.
Six-time losers
These individuals have experienced loss or failure on multiple occasions.
Hang around the theaters
The people being described may spend time at movie theaters.
Girl by the whirlpool
There is a female near a whirlpool.
Lookin' for a new fool
The woman is seeking someone who is gullible.
Don't follow leaders
One should not blindly follow someone else's commands.
Watch the parkin' meters
Someone should be cautious of parking meters or the limits they represent.
Ah get born, keep warm
Someone has been born and may need to stay warm.
Short pants, romance, learn to dance
These are various activities one might engage in while growing up.
Get dressed, get blessed
After getting dressed, one may feel blessed or have good fortune.
Try to be a success
Someone should work hard to achieve success.
Please her, please him, buy gifts
One might buy gifts to make someone else happy.
Don't steal, don't lift
The artist is advising that people should not steal or take things dishonestly.
Twenty years of schoolin'
An individual has likely spent twenty years going to school or learning.
And they put you on the day shift
Despite years of schooling, the individual is now working during the day.
They keep it all hid
Information is being kept hidden from society.
Better jump down a manhole
Someone may need to jump into a manhole.
Light yourself a candle
One might use a candle to light a path in the dark.
Don't wear sandals
The singer advises against wearing sandals for some reason.
Try to avoid the scandals
It is recommended that someone try to prevent getting wrapped up in scandals.
Don't wanna be a bum
The artist wants to avoid becoming a lazy or unsuccessful person.
You better chew gum
The singer advises someone to chew gum for some reason.
The pump don't work
The pump is not functional.
'Cause the vandals took the handles
Someone has destroyed the handles, likely rendering the pump useless.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind