Say Hey by Michael Franti & Spearhead

(This one goes out to you and yours, worldwide)

(Chorus)
I say hey, I’ll be gone today
But I’ll be back all around the way
It seems like everywhere I go
The more I see, the less I know
But I know one thing
That I love you (baby girl)
I love you, I love you, I love youI’ve been a lot of places all around the way
I’ve seen a lot of joy and I’ve seen a lot of pain
But I don’t want to write a love song for the world
I just want to write a song about a boy and a girlJunkies on the corner always calling my name
And the kids on the corner playing ghetto games
When I saw you getting down, well, I hope it was you
And when I look into your eyes I knew it was trueChorus

Now I’m not a highly metaphysical man
But I know when the stars are aligned you can
Bump into a person in the middle of the road
Look into their eyes and you suddenly knowRocking in the dance hall moving with you
Dancing in the night in the middle of June
My momma told me don’t lose you
‘Cause the best luck I had was youChorusAnd I say, rocking in the dance hall, moving with you
I say, hey momma, hey momma, close to you
(x2)
Rocking in the dance hall moving with you
I say, hey momma, hey momma, hey momma, hey momma
Hey momma, hey momma, hey momma, hey mommaMy momma told me don’t lose you
‘Cause the best luck I had was you
And I know one thing
That I love you

I say hey, I’ll be gone today
But I’ll be back all around the way
It seems like everywhere I go
The more I see, the less I know
(x2)
But I know one thing
That I love you (baby girl)
I love you, I love you, I love you x4(Rocking in the dance hall moving with you
I say, hey poppa, hey poppa
Hey momma, hey momma
Rocking in the dance hall moving with you
Come on, hey poppa, hey poppa)I love you, I love you, I love you x3

• This one goes out to – this song is dedicated to
• I’ll be gone – I’m leaving
• Junkies – drug addicts
• to get down – to dance
• to bump into a person – to meet a person by chance
• rocking in the dance hall – dancing in the disco

Verb Tense Tip:

Franti uses the Present Perfect Simple twice to illustrate a past life experience  in this song.

• I’ve been a lot of places all around the way
• I’ve seen a lot of joy and I’ve seen a lot of pain

In both these sentences, he is expressing what he’s experienced in his life so far. It makes us understand that his journey is still ongoing.

The Perfect Perfect used to express life experience is often connected to time markers like “Have you ever…?”, “I’ve never…”, I’ve already…”. “I’ve done it before.”

The Artist:

Michael Franti is a 46 year old Californian singer, songwriter & outspoken activist for social causes. He fuses hip hop, jazz, reggae and funk together in his own original way. In 2011, he worked with Jovanotti on a special song called “The Sound of Sunshine” only for Italy. I hear that he is vegan and that he’s been going around barefoot for over 10 years now except for situations that require shoes such as  getting on a plane or going to certain restaurants . I love his cd “Stay Human” that was released in 2001 because it simulates a radio talk show where they’re following the execution of ‘Sister Fatima’ & there is also a guest appearance by Woody Harrelson. Great music, great guy…Rock on MF!

What’s your favorite Michael Franti tune?

Lem..xo!