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

Listen to the song; #2 on COLLABORATIONS

2010 - Towards the end of the year, I invited Cassie Perkins over to help me with some background vocals on several of my songs. While she was there she asked me to help her record her Christmas song. The timing seemed unusual until I finally figured out it was in ¾ time.

She told me not to put too many symbols into the drums, but otherwise gave me all the latitude I wanted in producing and arranging the song. I loved the song immediately and am proud to include it on my COLLABORATIONS collection. Here are the lyrics:

JOY TO THE WORLD
© 2010 Words & music by Cassie Perkins, recording & performance by Cassie Perkins and Reggie Michaud

Saint Nicholas knew of a treasure foretold
It’s worth would be great; so much greater than gold
And to the earth it would shine; His light
This gift was a child born on this bright night

A light to bring revelation to all
Glory; salvation beyond Israel
Peace and good will to all who believe
Jesus is He; Lamb of God, Prince of Peace

Halleluia… Joy to the world!
The King of heaven is come to the earth
Peace to all men; glory on high
All heaven sings; Jesus is born
He’s born tonight

So sing all ye saints rise up and proclaim
There is no end to this kingdom He reigns
Christmas the time to remember His birth
Creator of all came to love the whole earth

Halleluia… Joy to the world!
The King of heaven is come to the earth
Peace and good will; glory on high
All heaven sings; Jesus is born
He’s born tonight… tonight
He’s born tonight

Listen to the song; #3 on COLLABORATIONS

2010 - When we moved from the big house on Oak Creek Drive in Lakeside, I lost my big detached studio and crammed into an 8 X 8 bedroom at our new home on Heatherdale in Santee.

After the move, we invited Michell and Diane Cook over for dinner and to bless our new home, which he has been gracious enough to do for all the homes we have lived in. Afterwards I showed him my new little studio and he told me he had a couple of worship songs that he could never get anyone at the church to play. He said that they were not really finished and asked if I thought I could do something with them. So he sang them for me and I figured out the guitar chords and we recorded the basic song ideas. I got to work on the first one and YOU ARE THE KING is the result. I was really happy with the way it came out and so was Michell, but sadly enough we were still unable to get anyone at the church to play it. But you can certainly listen to it on my music website on the COLLABORATIONS album!

YOU ARE THE KING
© 2010 Words and music by Michell Cook & Reggie Michaud

To every creature born, You are the king; You are the King of Kings
Seated on Your throne, hear us as we sing; You are the King of Kings

And You are holy holy, You are Lord God Almighty
You are holy holy, You are… You are the King of Kings

And it’s You… only You, Jesus Lord, we bow down to
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done
Right here on earth as it is in heaven

Your kingdom is at hand it’s righteous and peace
And joy in the Holy Spirit
Spread Your name across every nation on earth
So every living thing shall hear it

You are holy holy, You are Lord God Almighty
You are holy holy, You are… You are the King of Kings

And You are holy holy, You are Lord God Almighty
You are holy holy, You are… You are the King of Kings

You are holy holy, You are Lord God Almighty
You are holy holy, You are… You are the King of Kings

Holy holy, You are Lord God Almighty
You are holy holy…

Listen to the song

2010 - I had just gotten started with recording music. I had a really nice big studio with some budget gear, but I was really enjoying myself and flexing my creative muscles. An old friend Cliff Rideout from Oakland Maine and I had recently met again on Facebook. We were messaging back and forth reminiscing about the old days and crazy things we used to do. Then he told me he was working on this song and sent me the lyrics. He called it “Don’t Just Tell Em Another Sad Story.” I was very interested in the subject matter and thought it would make a good bluesy tune. So I called him on the phone and he played it for me. The sound he had wasn’t too different from what I was hearing. So I set to work coming up with a sound somewhere between his version and mine. I added in a few lyrics here and there where the verses were too short. It didn’t take very long to come up with the song.

Give God The Glory became a very strong hook so I wanted to name it that, but he preferred the previous one. So I’ve gone back and forth on the title. But it’s pretty cool to collaborate with 5000 miles between us and come up with a pretty cool song! Here’s the lyrics:

GIVE GOD THE GLORY
© 2010 Words and music by Cliff Rideout & Reggie Michaud

You’ve got joy that’s stronger than pain
Ain’t no tear contest is all I’m saying
Every now and then there’s gonna be sorrow
When it comes your way you don’t have to wallow

Don’t just tell em another sad story
Share your joy and give God the glory

You’ve got pains that you just can’t bear
Take em and send em up to heaven in prayer
Care for the living and go to the quarry
Dig down deep for a heap of God’s glory

Don’t just tell em another sad story
Share your joy and give God the glory

I’m not saying no mourning or sorrow
Just make it short you may get more tomorrow
Don’t just tell em another sad story
Share your joy and give God the glory

Happiness is nice when it comes from the Spirit
But if you’ve got joy then you need to share it
You can use your joy and lift someone’s spirit
Just don’t be surprised if they don’t wanna hear it

Don’t just tell em another sad story
Share your joy and give God the glory - yeah

You’ve got joy that’s stronger than pain
It’s no tear contest is all I’m saying
Every now and then there’s gonna be sorrow
When it comes your way you don’t have to wallow

Don’t just tell em another sad story
Share your joy and give God the glory

Listen to the song; #6 on REGGIE'S GREATEST FLOPS

1988 - This is a silly little lullaby I used to sing to the kids while rocking them- much like my mom sang songs in French to me when she rocked me as a child. One I can remember clearly was “Doddie Chez Dor-Dor” (sp?) which as a child I thought was “Daddy Shave The Door!”

And although I have 1988 as the year on it, I’m pretty sure I came up with it much earlier when Bonnie was a baby. She liked to rock to sleep but many times would require more; like going for a ride in the car to get her to sleep. Monique was the opposite and didn’t want to be messed with at bed time- just set her in the crib and she would be out in no time.

Chelsea on the other hand was my little cuddle bunny. She loved to be rocked and sung to until she was out. So that’s probably why I tend to associate this song with her, since I sang it to her so many times. It is sung to the tune of SHORTNING BREAD and just had two very simple parts. Not much of an accomplishment for a songwriter, but I thought I’d include it in here just for historical purposes. Raising the children was so much a part of my everyday life back then. My normal work schedule was ten hours a day Monday thru Friday, and six hours on Saturdays. I always went straight home after work and tried to be as helpful with the children as possible.

Another important event that happened in 1988 was the merger of Dave Hoffman’s fellowship with his brother Mark’s fellowship into what we now call Foothills Church. It was a wonderful time of meeting new people and developing the worship band. Now that Foothills has grown to a big church family, all of my children have grown up too. But I still get to sing the song to my grandchildren; mostly Sebastian and Braydin. And now, here’s the song:

ROCK MY LITTLE BABY
Words by Reggie Michaud © 1988

Rock rock rock, rock my little baby
Rock rock rock, rock her all night long
Rock rock rock, rock my little baby
Rock rock rock, rock her all night long

She likes to rock in the rocking chair
Long as she's rocking she just don't care
She likes to rock all night long
Long as we’re rocking and singing this song

Rock rock rock, rock my little baby
Rock rock rock, rock him all day long
Rock rock rock, rock my little baby
Rock rock rock, rock him all day long

He likes to rock on his Daddy's lap
Round about noon comes time for a nap
He likes to rock till he falls asleep
Praying to my Lord his sweet soul to keep

Rock rock rock, rock my little baby
Rock rock rock, rock her all night long
Rock rock rock, rock my little baby
Rock rock rock, rock her all night long

She is the apple of her daddy’s eye
Rocking in the evening so the baby don’t cry
She got him wrapped round her finger too
Gonna have him singing till the rocking is through

Rock rock rock, rock my little baby
Rock rock rock, rock em all night long
Rock rock rock, rock my little baby
Rock rock rock, rock em all night long

They like to rock in the rocking chair
Long as they’re rocking they just don't care
They like to rock all night long
Long as they’re rocking and singing this song