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/.
Skin On the Drum
Michael Franti & Spearhead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See, I've been fully marinated and now I'm ready for the fire
See, I'm beginning to perspire from deep within to the skin
Yo, the feminine and the masculine
The pieces of the puzzle, see me, reflections in the puddle
After the storm the purple of the sky brings to mind another time
When we resided below the water line, life was fine there human divine
But in the years following, evil men came swallowing
Everything in sight
Some learned to run, some stayed to fight
I kneeled at the tomb of the soldier, said I would love to behold her
The magic in store there, she touched me on the shoulder
She said, "In time all is revealed, box of light be unsealed
Now listen to me son, be like the skin on the drum"
I keep on living with the fullness of the one
Like the heat of the sun or the skin on the drum
I keep on living with the fullness of the one
Like the heat of the sun or the skin on the drum
I keep on living with the fullness of the one
Like the heat of the sun or the skin on the drum
I keep on living with the fullness of the one
Like the heat of the sun or the skin on the drum
Box of light
And as all the pepper gas clears, and police and protesters go home
Just as the morning dew are tear drops of the night
My emotions are always there for you and will never leave you dry
Bless
The lyrics to Michael Franti & Spearhead's song "Skin On the Drum" are a powerful meditation on resilience, unity, and perseverance. The first two lines, "Fire one, fire two / See, I've been fully marinated and now I'm ready for the fire," set the tone for the song's themes of strength and readiness in the face of adversity. The next few lines delve into the duality of masculine and feminine energies and the interconnectedness of individuals as pieces of a larger puzzle. The reference to reflections in a puddle highlights the idea that what we see in ourselves is often a reflection of what we see in others and the world around us.
The song later touches on a darker theme of evil men destroying what is pristine and beautiful, leaving some to run and others to fight. However, it ultimately turns to a more uplifting message of hope and guidance. The singer of the song visits a tomb of a soldier and receives a message from her that "in time all is revealed" and encourages him to "be like the skin on the drum." This final line encapsulates the song's main message, which is to remain resilient and unbreakable like the skin on a drum.
Overall, "Skin On the Drum" is a profound song that encourages us to embrace our interconnectedness and find strength in unity, even in the face of adversity. The song reminds us that it is possible to hold onto hope and maintain resilience even in the toughest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
Fire one, fire two
Starting something, making moves
See, I've been fully marinated and now I'm ready for the fire
I've been prepared and I'm ready to face whatever challenge comes my way
See, I'm beginning to perspire from deep within to the skin
I'm getting anxious and starting to feel the pressure
Yo, the feminine and the masculine
The balance between the feminine and masculine energies
The pieces of the puzzle, see me, reflections in the puddle
All the parts that make up my identity, I can see myself in the mirror
After the storm the purple of the sky brings to mind another time
The calm after the storm, reminds me of a time in the past
When we resided below the water line, life was fine there human divine
When we were in a peaceful state of mind, we were in a perfect balance of humanity and divinity
But in the years following, evil men came swallowing
Afterwards, negative people took over and caused destruction
Everything in sight
Taking control over everything
Some learned to run, some stayed to fight
Some people left while others stayed and fought back
I kneeled at the tomb of the soldier, said I would love to behold her
Paying respect to the fallen, appreciating their bravery
The magic in store there, she touched me on the shoulder
Feeling the energy of the moment, a spiritual connection
She said, "In time all is revealed, box of light be unsealed
With time everything becomes clear, it's time to unlock the secrets
Now listen to me son, be like the skin on the drum"
Pay attention, stay strong and resilient like the skin of a drum
I keep on living with the fullness of the one
I continue living with the abundance that surrounds me
Like the heat of the sun or the skin on the drum
As intense and vital as the heat of the sun or the strength of the drum's skin
Box of light
The sacred light, a symbol of secrets and wisdom
And as all the pepper gas clears, and police and protesters go home
After the chaos has passed, and things go back to normal
Just as the morning dew are tear drops of the night
The serene, peaceful morning follows the darkness and violence of the previous night
My emotions are always there for you and will never leave you dry
I will always be there to support you and never leave you feeling empty
Bless
A sign of good wishes and positive energy
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael Franti
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind