barrett was born in blackwood, monmouthshire, in 1940 but moved to penarth near cardiff, at an early age, where he has lived ever since. his father was a brass moulder and his mother was a housewife and author. his parents named him paul after paul robeson the black american singer, actor and radical activist, and francis after sir francis drake. however barrett always disliked his middle name and formally changed it in 1961 to franklyn, because he preferred the name and admired franklin delano roosevelt.