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/.
I Got Love For You
Michael Franti & Spearhead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yoo hoo hoo, ah
Another morning has come and the sun is high
But I know that today is the day that I might cry
Because I know you're going
And I know you're leaving
To somewhere you hope to find the peace of mind you're seeking
In the back of a greyhound bus you can be who you are
So I say
La-la-la la-la-la la-la-la la-la-la la La
I got love for you
I got love for you
So I'll be waiting my dear
Waiting right here
I'll be waiting my dear
Waiting right here
I'll be waiting my dear
Waiting right here
For you, you
I remember the time back when we was home
In and out up and down in this life what a crazy road
It's been a long time that I shoulda said what I tell you now
That I got faith in you
And I believe in you
So I say
In the dark of the night in the hotel when you're alone
In the middle of the city where nobody cares to know
On the top of the town in the glimmer of the shining lights
You just shine on now
You just shine on now
And we say
La-la-la la-la-la la-la-la la-la-la la la
I got love for you
I got love for you
And we say
La-la-la la-la-la la-la-la la-la-la la la
I got love for you
I got love for you
So come on, come on, won't you come on
Come on, come on, won't you come on
Come on, come on, won't you come on home
So come on, come on, won't you come on
Come on, come on, won't you come on
Come on, come on, won't you come on home, come on home
I'll be waiting my dear
Waiting right here
I'll be waiting my dear
Waiting right here
I'll be waiting my dear
Waiting right here
Waiting my dear
Waiting right here
In the back of a greyhound bus, it'll take you far
In the back of a greyhound bus you can be who you are
So I say
La-la-la la-la-la la-la-la la-la-la la La
I got love for you
Love for you
And I say
La-la-la la-la-la La-la-la La-la-la La La
I got love for you
Love for you
And I say come on, come on, won't you come on
Come on, come on, won't you come on
Come on, come on, won't you come on
Come on, come on, won't you come on home
Won't you come on home (waiting right here)
Won't you come on home (waiting right here)
won't you come on home (waiting right here)
Waiting right here
The song "I Got Love for You" by Michael Franti & Spearhead is a heartfelt tribute to a loved one who is leaving to search for peace of mind. The opening lines describe the anguish of knowing that a loved one is leaving, and the possibility of being overwhelmed by emotions – "the day that I might cry." However, the singer also recognizes the importance of seeking inner peace, and the need for the loved one to depart – "somewhere you hope to find the peace of mind you're seeking." The image of the greyhound bus emphasizes the idea of a journey, a search for something beyond the present state. The singer is supportive of the decision, and acknowledges the loved one's strength and individuality – "In the back of a greyhound bus you can be who you are."
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the phrase "I got love for you," and it is a powerful affirmation of the enduring love and support that the singer has for the departing loved one. The song's structure follows a pattern of verse, chorus, bridge, and chorus, and the bridge section provides additional encouragement and assurance – "I got faith in you, and I believe in you." The references to different locations (hotel, city, and town) also suggest a sense of movement and search.
Overall, "I Got Love for You" is a touching and heartfelt tribute to a loved one's departure, and a supportive message for their journey of self-discovery and healing.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, three four
Counting the beats of the song to set the rhythm
Another morning has come and the sun is high
It's a new day and the sun is up
But I know that today is the day that I might cry
Today he might cry because someone he cares about is leaving
Because I know you're going
He knows the person is leaving
And I know you're leaving
He knows she is going away
To somewhere you hope to find the peace of mind you're seeking
She is leaving to find peace of mind
In the back of a greyhound bus, it'll take you far
She will be travelling far in the back of a greyhound bus
In the back of a greyhound bus you can be who you are
On the bus, she can be herself
I got love for you
He loves her
So I'll be waiting my dear
He will be waiting for her
Waiting right here
He will be waiting in the same place she left him
For you, you
He is waiting for her to come back
It's been a long time that I shoulda said what I tell you now
He should have said this earlier
That I got faith in you
He trusts her
And I believe in you
He has confidence in her
In the dark of the night in the hotel when you're alone
When she is alone in a hotel room at night
In the middle of the city where nobody cares to know
Places where no one seems to care
On the top of the town in the glimmer of the shining lights
On the highest point in town where there are shining lights
You just shine on now
She should continue to shine and be the best she can be
Come on, come on, won't you come on
Asking her to come back
Won't you come on home
Asking her to come back home
Waiting my dear
He is still waiting for her
Love for you
He loves her
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL FRANTI, STEPHEN DAVID MCGREGOR, JASON PATRICK BOWMAN, DWAYNE RICHARD CHIN-QUEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind