'We thought it would be good to start at the beginning. So we will'. And with that, Don Francisco launches into one of their most well known songs, 'Adam'. 'Adam' is typical of Don Francisco's lyrical style - closely following Scripture, he gives a broad overview of creation, the fall of man and his present state.
Don Francisco isn't your average Christian singer-songwriter. Raised in an intellectual family (his father taught at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his mother had a Masters in English), education was emphasised strongly. His father had an itinerant preaching ministry, and young Don would often accompany him. But, as Don remembers, 'a lot of it was angry - he was an angry man. He'd say stuff like, "If God doesn't judge America then he'll have a lot to say to Sodom and Gomorrah". When the people who talk about God are angry and critical, then guess what - your picture of God is of an angry and critical God.'
Turning away from faith
As a result, he rebelled against this upbringing as soon as he was old enough. When he was 15, Don and his friends slipped out of Sunday School and went gambling with money stolen from the collection, and Don won $22.50 on a game of blackjack - a considerable sum of money in those days. With his winnings, he purchased his first guitar. It was love at first strum - he practised until his fingers bled. He started writing and singing songs soon after.
