His project Spearhead produced the critically acclaimed Home in 1994. The album contained his biggest single, "Hole in the Bucket," a thoughtful lament on the plight of the homeless, and "Positive," which addressed the growing AIDS epidemic. The album boasted adept funk samplings, sinuous guitar vamps, and soulful, melodic tracks about family and social injustice. 1997's Chocolate Supa Highway was not as pop-friendly as Home, but neither did its themes of kidnappings and police brutality lend themselves to such overt accessibility. Its mixture of harsher musical styles -- techno, rock, and funk -- was a step forward for Franti as his world view broadened and deepened. In 2001, Franti released Stay Human. In it he expresses his anger at the system, his advocacy of love, and his belief in freedom through individuality and self-expression through a set of songs that revolve around a fictitious death penalty case. In it, his embrace of the genres that inspired him is achieved with eloquence.
Earlier projects of Franti include The Beatnigs and The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, which had more of an experimental/industrial sound, but addressed many of the same social/political issues.
As a celebration of the Election of Barack Obama Franti recorded the Obama Song, offered as a free track on downloaded at their offical website, www.michaelfranti.com/.
Firefly
Michael Franti & Spearhead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shinin' bright
When dark clouds
Come across the sky
I'll be your firefly
So you can see
Your way to me at midnight
You'll be my firefly
Incinerate a path for me
And that is why
I'm not afraid
To go at night
To see my firefly
Burn, baby burn
Burn, baby burn
Burn, baby
Burn, burn baby, burn
Like a sweet glow worm
Burn, baby burn
Burn, baby burn
Burn, baby
Burn, burn baby, burn
Like a sweet glow worm
I'll be your firefly
Shinin' bright
When dark clouds
Come across the sky
I'll be your firefly
So you can see
Your way to me at midnight
You'll be my firefly
Burnin' flames
Incinerate a path for me
And that is why
I'm not afraid
To go at night
To see my firefly
Burn, baby burn
Burn, baby burn
Burn, baby
Burn, burn baby, burn
Like a sweet glow worm
Burn, baby burn
Burn, baby burn
Burn, baby
Burn, burn baby, burn
Like a sweet glow worm
The lyrics to Michael Franti & Spearhead's song Firefly convey a message of support and reassurance towards a loved one during times of difficulty. The singer promises to be a source of light and hope, shining brightly when darkness threatens to overwhelm. The first verse establishes this promise, as the singer offers to be a firefly shining bright during dark times. The chorus reinforces this message, with the singer intending to serve as a beacon of hope for the loved one to follow, even in the darkest of moments. The second verse reveals that the loved one reciprocates the sentiment, willing to become a guiding light for the singer to follow, in turn becoming the firefly for the other.
The lyrics also contain a sense of urgency, with the singer encouraging the firefly to burn brightly and incinerate a path for the loved one to follow. The repeated line "burn baby burn" might be interpreted as a call to action, a reminder to keep the light shining bright and never let it dim. Additionally, the use of the metaphor of a firefly and their ability to emit light serves as a powerful image of hope in times of darkness, offering a reminder that even the smallest of lights can guide people through difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be your firefly
I'll be the shining light that guides and comforts you
Shinin' bright
My light will be strong and clear, piercing through any darkness
When dark clouds
Come across the sky
When troubles and difficulties arise, I'll be the light that helps you overcome them
So you can see
Your way to me
I'll guide you safely to me, even in the darkest of times
At midnight
You'll be my firefly
In return, you'll light the way for me when I need it most
Burnin' flames
Incinerate
A path for me
Your light will be strong enough to overcome any obstacles in our way, paving a clear path for us
And that is why
I'm not afraid
To go at night
To see my firefly
Because of the trust we have in each other, I have no fear in going out into the night to find you
Burn baby burn
Burn baby burn!
Burn! Baby
Burn burn baby burn
Like a sweet glow worm!
Let your light shine brightly and beautifully, illuminating the darkness like a glowing firefly or glow worm
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID SHUL, MICHAEL FRANTI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind