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/.
Time to Go Home
Michael Franti & Spearhead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And those who fight wars, they never like them
And those who write laws, they can recite them
And those of us who just fight laws
We live and die them
But I know, they never gonna tell you why, no
They only wanna tell you lies, no
They only wanna tell you lies, no
Never ever gonna tell you why, no
They only wanna tell you lies
It's time
It's time to go home
Don't take our boys away, no
Don't take our girls away, no
Don't take our boys away, no
Don't take our girls away, no
It's time to go home
Don't take our boys away, no
Don't take our girls away, no
Don't take our boys away, no
Those who build walls are pretending
That forever they can defend them (No, no, no)
Those who dam streams can build fountains (Yes they can)
But those of us who just let them run free
We can move mountains
But I know, they never gonna tell you why, no
They only wanna tell you lies, no
Never ever gonna tell you why, no
They only wanna tell you lies, no
Never ever gonna tell you why, no
They only wanna tell you lies
It's time
It's time to go home
Don't take our boys away, no
Don't take our girls away, no
Don't take our boys away, no
Don't take our girls away, no
It's time to go home
Don't take our boys away, no
Don't take our girls away, no
Don't take our boys away, no
(It's time, it's time!)
How many people were they runnin' from and
How many people never saw it comin'
How many people never heard the warnin'
How many people never stayed at home and
How many people never heard the callin'
How many people never saw it all and
How many people did they spend it on and
How many people got to sing the song and
How many people never heard the cry and
How many people gotten pushed aside
How many people never saw the dust fly
How many people never said goodbye and
How many people never saw the fall and
How many people did we end it all and
How many people never saw the wrong and
How many people did we drop the bomb on
Don't take our boys away, no
Don't take our girls away, no
Don't take our boys away, no
Don't take our girls away, no
Don't take our boys away, no
Don't take our girls away, no
Don't take our boys away
It's time
It's time to go home!
Away
Away
Away
Away
Away
Away
Away
Away
The lyrics of Michael Franti & Spearhead's "Time To Go Home" depict the harsh reality of war and politics. The song is a powerful criticism of those who start wars but never fight them and those who write laws but don’t feel their impact. The song suggests that those who bear the brunt of these decisions are the ones who fight them and must live with the laws every day. The lines “Those who start wars, never fight them, and those who fight wars, they never like them” are a direct indictment of the political leaders who push for conflict but never experience the true consequences of their decisions. The line “Those of us who just fight laws, we live and die them” shows the frustration of the common people who must bear the full weight of laws that may not make sense to them.
The song also urges people to stand up against unjust actions and policies. The line “Don't take our boys away, no, don't take our girls away, no” is a plea for peace, asking leaders not to send young people to war. The phrase “It's time to go home” can have a literal meaning of returning to one's physical home, but it can also be interpreted as a call for a return to a state of peace and unity.
Overall, "Time To Go Home" is a message of hope and a rallying cry for people to take action and fight against injustices they see around them. The song urges people to hold those in power accountable for their actions and to demand a world in which everyone can live in peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Those who start wars, never fight them
The people who initiate wars are not the ones who physically engage in combat.
And those who fight wars, they never like them
Even the people who participate in wars don't enjoy them.
And those who write laws, they can recite them
Those who make laws know them by heart.
And those of us who just fight laws, We live and die them
People who challenge legal systems are often subject to negative consequences.
But I know, they never gonna tell you why, no
Authorities rarely explain the reasons behind their actions.
They only wanna tell you lies, no
Instead of the truth, officials often resort to deception.
Never ever gonna tell you why, no
Explanations are never forthcoming from authority figures.
It's time
A moment for change has arrived.
Don't take our boys away, no
Do not conscript young men for military service.
Don't take our girls away, no
Do not conscript young women for military service.
Those who build walls are pretending
Wall-builders are deluding themselves into thinking walls provide true security.
That forever they can defend them (No, no, no)
Defense of walls is impossible in the long run.
Those who dam streams can build fountains (Yes they can)
Those who conserve resources can use them wisely.
But those of us who just let them run free, We can move mountains
People who allow natural processes to occur can achieve great things.
How many people were they runnin' from and
The song is asking how many people were forced to flee their homes.
How many people never saw it comin'
Many people were caught unprepared by conflict and chaos.
How many people never heard the warnin'
Warning signs of looming conflict were often ignored.
How many people never stayed at home and
Not enough people stayed home to prevent war and destruction.
How many people never heard the callin'
How many refused the call to defend themselves.
How many people never saw it all and
Some people missed all of the destructive activity around them.
How many people did they spend it on and
How many people bore the brunt of the conflict?
How many people got to sing the song and
How many people enjoyed the victory and peace that followed?
How many people never heard the cry and
How many people were oblivious to the suffering around them?
How many people gotten pushed aside
How many people were marginalized in the conflict?
How many people never saw the dust fly
Some people were too far from the fighting to see it firsthand.
How many people never said goodbye and
How many people died without the chance to say farewell?
How many people never saw the fall and
Some people missed seeing the end of the conflict.
How many people did we end it all and
How many people contributed to the end of the turmoil?
How many people never saw the wrong and
How many people refused to see the injustices of war and conflict?
How many people did we drop the bomb on
The song is asking how many people were killed by bombs.
Away
A call to leave the old ways behind.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARL ROGERS YOUNG, DAVID SHUL, MICHAEL FRANTI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kentonpriestley3173
surely i can't be the only one who knows how badass this song is
@williamwinn1354
Truth sung by a great teacher
@faunaflower6230
i love this song it speaks the truth of life peace Michael Fronti love ya
@stephan5893
Franti's music perspective, love it soo much; keep crossing all genres!
@nicolewalters5039
This song hits so hard today! God bless our troops!
@brianflynn7598
Applicable to the world today !
@JacobHarvietheSinger
I miss protest song franti.
@Wh00t_
same. this is my favorite album of his
@kristinateplin762
Ya me too
@lizzybelleflores5000
Thank You Michael for inspiring me if not to do anything but Love Unconditionally. You are Truly a Vision(ary) 👁️👀👆🤟✌️🖖✊