Listen to the song;

I learned this song some time around 2007 when I was listening to Jason Upton's worship music a lot. His songs were highly therapeutic for me during that period of my life. Around the same time when I began to court my wife Connie, I sang it to her and it quickly became one of her favorites. To this day she always asks me to play it for her so the song has lots of memories and significance to us and our story. So now that I've recorded all of my songs written over the past thirty years, I'm finally getting around to doing a few covers and Connie asked me to do this one. She also requested that I play it stripped down without a bunch of instruments; just my guitar and voice. I added some subtle drums and bass to finish it off. The lyrics evolved in the way I have sung it over the years, so it may not be exactly how Jason sings it. Here are the lyrics the way I sing them on the recording:
​
No one knows the day, no one knows the hour
Jesus is coming back soon
All creation trembles, longing for the day.
Jesus is coming back soon
 
(Bridge)
There will be judgment, there will be mercy, on that terrible day
Leaders will bow down, kingdoms will fall down
Can you feel your world begin to shake?
 
(Chorus)
From the sound of the Lion of Judah
See the fire and the fear in the enemy’s camp
From the sounds of the Lion of Judah roaring again
There’s a new generation arising
A nameless, placeless, faceless tribe
All they fear is the fear of the Lord
All they hear is the Lion of Judah
 
All I saw were bones breaking in the darkness
Then I came into the light
There I saw an army coming from the river
With five stones ready to fight
 
(Bridge)
There will be judgment, there will be mercy, on that terrible day
Leaders will bow down, kingdoms will fall down
Can you feel your world begin to shake?
 
(Chorus)
Hear the sound of the Lion of Judah
See the fire and the fear in the enemy’s camp
From the sounds of the Lion of Judah roaring again
There’s a new generation arising
A nameless, placeless, faceless tribe
All they fear is the fear of the Lord
All they hear is the Lion of Judah
 
Raise up an army, raise up an army
Raise up an army like Joel saw
Raise up an army, raise up an army Lord
Raise up an army like Joel saw
 
(Bridge & Chorus)

Listen to the song: #2 on Joyful Noise

Hello again! Wow this year is flying by! I find myself at a point that many times I didn't think I'd ever get to. That being I have finally completed and recorded ALL of my songs. This has been such an amazing journey. Let me give you a few statistics:

• I have completed 90 recordings
• 80 of my own original compositions
• 2 co-written with other artists
• 3 recordings and arrangements of other people's songs
• 5 cover songs I arranged and produced

So now I have to write new stuff- what a drag huh? Just kidding. 

I had this idea for a new song called MY PRODIGAL SON, written from the perspective of the father's heart, which is breaking over his son's selfish desire to take whatever he can get and go far away. The father pleads with his son to stay, but will not prevent him from exercising his own free will. That is how our God is with us. He let's us go our own way and is always ready to receive us back with open arms. One of the really cool things about this song is that my own son Levi helped me with the lyrics and arrangement!

As of this writing, I have guitar, vocal, piano and drum tracks laid down. It has a bit of a bluegrassy sound so I want to add some fiddle and banjo and get someone with vocal range in the high register to help out with harmonies. Here are the lyrics:

Don't- don't leave home
Don-t- make me plead
I've got plans for you
Don't- don't leave me
Prodigal son

How- Can you be
So- So dang cold
You need your space
So- I been told
My prodigal son

If you have to go I’ll understand my son now I won’t cry
I won’t hold you back so you can take what you need and fly

Pro-di-gal; You’ll always be my son you
Pro-di-gal; You break my heart when will you
Come back home; I’m praying day and night till then…
My prodigal son!

When- when you get
To where you’re going
Don’t- don’t forget
From where you came
My prodigal son

I know I said I wouldn’t cry but now I’m starting to break down
I want to hold you back so you will stay with me and share my crown

Pro-di-gal; You’ll always be my son you
Pro-di-gal; You break my heart when will you
Grow these roots; I’m praying day and night till then…
My prodigal son!

Listen to the song; #9 on REGGIE'S GREATEST FLOPS

I finally got around to finishing this song today! It started several years ago as just a subject idea, a title, and a few chords on the guitar in drop D tuning. Luckily, I'm OCD about being organized with my songs, and I had the original idea all written out and listed on my song list and I had planned to include in my REGGIE'S GREATEST FLOPS album. 

I've been messing around with the chords for a week or so now; developing the arrangement as I go. Since I have now recorded all of my completed songs, I'm forced to revisit unfinished works such as this one and write brand new material. Now that the bulk of my work is finished to my satisfaction, I feel so much freedom to come up with new ideas. 

I wrote all of the lyrics for this song today; two verses and two choruses. It's funny how it came together. After I completed the lyrics, I realized that the 2nd verse and chorus should be the 1st verse and chorus, so I swapped the order. The song is reminiscent of deep pain that I have endured in life and should be relate-able to almost everyone who listens to it. I hope and pray that it strikes a positive chord in anyone listening! Here are the lyrics:

EVER HAD A DAY
Words and music by Reggie Michaud  © 2015

Have you ever had a day
When the sign said stop but you really had to go
And those blinking lights left you really driving slow
Well I wonder;
Have you ever had a day
When the road turned right but you just kept going straight
And the wreck that came seemed to be your only fate
Well I wonder; have you had a day like mine

Did your heart cry out from your sleepy little town
And begin to long for adventurous new ground
Did you find that place where you thought you’d come alive
And begin to learn that it wasn’t worth the drive
And then looking back did you really throw it all away
Did you ever have a day

Have you ever had a day
When the sky turned black and the rain came down
And the morning after sun left you feeling like a clown
Well I wonder;
Have you ever had a day
When your heart got broke and the pain came in
And a little bird exposed all your deepest darkest sin
Well I wonder; have you had a day like mine

Did your heart find peace did you crawl on out
Of the deepest darkest hole that your life became about
Did the sun come out did the sky turn blue
Did you learn to live again when your life began anew
And you won’t look back so you had to throw it all away
Have you had a day like mine

This is the first song written entirely in 2015. It was inspired by the book titled WILD AT HEART by Rick Warren. It's a recommended read for any man and gives a different perspective of our God-given purpose in life. There are three important desires that Rick explains God has placed into the hearts of men; three things that help define us and our gender. They are:

1. An adventure to live
2. A battle to fight
3. A damsel to rescue

When we don't realize or pursue these desires in a biblical context, then we feel somehow like we have missed God's calling. Many men don't even know why they feel this way. So this song is inspired by this book, and I hope it speaks to the hearts of men listening. Here are the lyrics:

YOU ARE WILD AT HEART
Words & music by Reggie Michaud  © 2015

Have you ever dreamed of being able to fly
But you find yourself too discouraged to try
Well hold on to that dream; cuz you’re wild at heart

Have you ever seen a battle worthy to fight
Have you longed to see justice shine in the night
Well hold on to ideals cuz you’re wild at heart

You were born for such a time as this
Don’t delay; for some old bucket list
Look around for the place you can start
And be wild at heart

Have you ever seen a pretty girl in distress
Did she catch your eye blinking out all the rest
Ride in and sweep her off her feet; you are wild at heart

Can you look around and see you’re living the dream
You can win the war; saving the girl of your dreams
Step up and engage; cuz you’re wild at heart

You’re alive in the here and now
Look to God; He will show you how
In your heart new adventures will start
When you’re wild at heart

You were born for such a time as this
Don’t delay; for some old bucket list
Look around see the place you can start
Hey you are wild at heart  You are wild at heart
Yes you are… Hey you're wild at heart

Listen to the song; #9 on COLLABORATIONS

This came totally out of nowhere, but my stepdaughter Brooklyn asked me to learn this song. Now although I spend tons of time in my studio banging away at music recording and production, I was under the impression that she didn’t even realize I was a musician; even though my studio shares a wall with her bedroom. In her defense though, she’s fourteen; enough said.

Maybe it had something to do with her seeing me perform at my friend’s memorial service, but when she asked I was actually flattered that she thought I could pull it off. I mean it is a very vocally iconic tune right? But I’m not one to pass up a challenge when it comes to music, so I figured it out and worked on it for quite a while. It was really fun learning the lyrics, especially one line phrase in there ‘always room to grow’ could possibly be alluding to one of my songs from my THE SOFTER SIDE OF ME album. Anyway, here are the lyrics:

DROPS OF JUPITER
By Train – cover by Reggie Michaud © 2015

Now that she's back in the atmosphere
With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey, hey
She acts like summer and walks like rain
Reminds me that there's a time to change, hey, hey
Since the return from her stay on the moon
She listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey; hey, hey

But tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated
Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Now that she's back from that soul vacation
Tracing her way through the constellation, hey, hey; mmmm
She checks out Mozart while she does tae-bo
Reminds me that there's a room to grow, hey, hey

Now that she's back in the atmosphere
I'm afraid that she might think of me as
Plain ol' Jane told a story about a man
Who is too afraid to fly so he never did land

But Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day           
And head back to the Milky Way
Tell me, did Venus blow your mind
Was it everything you wanted to find
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always   sticking up for you
Even when I know you're wrong
Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance
Five-hour    phone conversation
The best soy latte that you ever had . . . and me

But tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back toward the Milky Way
Tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated
Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself

Na na na na na na Na na na na na na na-a-a
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
Na na na na na na Na na na na na na na-a-a
And did you fall from a shooting star; fall from a shooting star
Na na na na na na Na na na na na na na-a-a
And are you lonely looking for yourself out there

Listen to the song; #8 on COLLABORATIONS

2014 - This is a cover of a Switchfoot song I did with my daughter Monique Michaud. She really wanted to do the song because it reminded her of an ex-boyfriend of hers. Originally she was going to sing it, but I did a scratch vocal to help her with timing, and decided it sounded pretty cool as a duet.

ENOUGH TO LET ME GO
By Switchfoot – cover by Reggie & Monique Michaud

Oh I'm a wandering soul
I'm still walking the line that leads me home
Alone All I know
I still got mountains to climb
On my own On my own

Do you love me enough to let me go?
Do you love me enough to let me go?
To let me follow through
To let me fall for you, my love
Do you love me enough to let me go?

Back from the dead of winter
Back from the dead and all our leaves are dry
You're so beautiful, tonight
Back from the dead we went through
Back from the dead and both our tongues are tied
You look beautiful tonight
But every seed dies before it grows

Do you love me enough to let me go?
Do you love me enough to let me go?
To let me follow through
To let me fall for you, my love
Do you love me enough to let me go?

Breathe it in
And let it go
Every breath you take is not yours to own
It's not yours to hold
Do you love me enough to let me go?

Listen to the song; #7 on COLLABORATIONS

2013 Levi Michaud - Levi is the youngest of my six children from my first marriage. He is a great writer and has so much talent. He came to me with this song and we worked on it for a long time. He’s such a perfectionist; I wonder if it will ever be completed to his satisfaction. But for now I posted the best version in my opinion.

I tried to figure out the meaning behind the lyrics but gave up. It sounds very sad and tragic and I can only hope writing it was therapeutic in some way to Levi.

YOU DON’T CARE
© 2013 Words & music by Levi Michaud 

When it was just you and me
On the streets being who we wanted to be
And everything was fine when we were there
We lost our place in time, not a single care

But now that time is gone 
And so are you because it had gone all wrong
You lost a friend back in that state
A complacent heart which left in disgrace

You sold out on your pride
I called you then but every attempt was denied
And now you back, you say brand new
But here you'll see hearts aren't fixed with super glue

You don't care
You never will
You say you've changed
But you're lies'll never heal

Flash back when we had a bad day
And I guess you could say it ended in rain
I took the fall, and I took it all 
Every bitter accusation I still recall

I spoke truth and gave you life
While I withered away n you let me die
I went to the flow of your changing mood
Happy, sad, but almost always rude

I endured it all, all in vein
Now this hearts burned with a crimson stain
This couldn't last, not for long
When smoke clears you'll be all alone

You don't care
You never will
You say you've changed
But you're lies'll never heal

I got burned
But now I've learned
I've got burned
But now I've learned

That you don't care
You never will
You say you've changed
But you're lies'll never heal

Listen to the song; #6 on COLLABORATIONS

2012 - This was one of those songs that was popular when I was learning to sing and play the guitar. Along with my musician friends back then, we worked on harmonies and finger picking this one and many others by Cosby Stills Nash & Young. So when my stepdaughter Billie asked me to play it for her wedding, I said sure!

For the performance, I did a recording of the piano and bass and played my acoustic and sang. I slowed it down a bit to make the length work with the bridal procession they had planned. The wedding was at the Sports Multiplex in Santee on the stage area. The procession started out and crossed the bridge then looped around to the front of the stage, so it was fairly long. I think it worked out pretty good.

Afterwards I went back and recorded vocals and guitar to make the recording a final product. Nothing very fancy; just very basic. I can no longer reach those high notes very well, so the harmonies were left out. Anyways, I have a hard time getting motivated to put in a lot of effort for cover songs. Not to make excuses, but it’s very simple, and maybe it is best that way! Here are the lyrics:

OUR HOUSE
By Cosby Stills Nash & Young (with slight alterations) Cover by Reggie Michaud

I’ll light the fire while you place the flowers in the vase
That you bought today
Staring at the fire for hours and hours while I listen
To you play your love songs all night long for me
Only for me

Our house is a very, very, very fine house
With three cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy cause of you… and our

Come to me now and rest your head for just five minutes
Everything is done
Such a cozy room the windows are illuminated
By the evening sunshine through them
Fiery gems for you
Only for you

Our house is a very, very, very fine house
With three cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy cause of you… and our

I’ll light the fire while you place the flowers in the vase
That you bought today

Listen to the song; #4 on COLLABORATIONS

This is a song by Jon Hayman. We’ve been playing music together off and on since the late 80’s. This was the first song I had ever heard that he had written, so I was really excited to help him get it off the ground. He was collaborating with another friend of his back in Virginia. He came to my studio on Oak Creek Drive in Lakeside along with his son Luke playing standup bass. We fiddled around with it for a while, but Jon was never happy with what came out. I think he wanted it to be a lot faster and to have a lot of fiddle. Unfortunately, we didn’t have access to a fiddle player, so I did the best I could with it and included the results in my COLLABORATIONS collection. Here are the lyrics:

VIRGINIA BLUEBELL
© 2010 Words and music by Hayman, recorded and produced by Reggie Michaud

Blue Virginia bluebells need blue Virginia skies
Not as blue as what I see in my sweet lover’s eyes
I had to come back home to find what I’d been searching for
My sweet Virginia bluebell will bloom for me once more

Thirty years I’ve rambled; no place to call my own
Winter snows are coming on; can’t face this world alone
Steps are taking me back to that old familiar door
And my sweet Virginia bluebell will bloom for me once more

Blue Virginia bluebells need blue Virginia skies
Not as blue as what I see in my sweet lover’s eyes
I had to come back home to find what I’d been searching for
But my sweet Virginia bluebell will bloom for me once more

Well I’ve loved that mountain columbine on the rocky mountain side
California poppies warm those Laurel Canyon nights
Purple passion flowers may line that music city row
But my bluebell in Virginia’s hills will bloom for me once more

Blue Virginia bluebells need blue Virginia skies
Not as blue as what I see in my sweet lover’s eyes
I had to come back home to find what I’d been searching for
My sweet Virginia bluebell will bloom for me once more

Bluebells come out early, the snow’s still on the ground
They bloom then hide their face away till next Spring comes around
Our love once bloomed when we were young then faded with the cold
But love will surely bloom again in the Spring as we grow old

Blue Virginia bluebells need blue Virginia skies
Not as blue as what I see in my sweet lover’s eyes
I had to come back home to find what I’d been searching for
My sweet Virginia bluebell will bloom for me once more
Well my sweet Virginia bluebell will bloom for me once more