Born in 1970 and raised in Kitchener, Ontario , he began his professional career playing with the Rhinos before beginning a solo career. In the late 1990s, he moved to Ottawa, where he developed a loyal following with a weekly show at the Manx Pub on Elgin St. In his live shows, he often uses looped live samples of his guitar and other instruments to create a richly layered solo performance. While at the Manx he often entertained with cover versions of songs by some of his favourite artists, including David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, and the Rheostatics. At the same time, he began to amass an extensive repertoire of original tunes, and briefly joined local power-pop band Starling.
As a songwriter, he has released six albums, including an album devoted to covers David Bowie songs. His albums have often been recorded in a home-studio with him performing most, if not all, instruments. He is a talented guitarist who is universally lauded for his lyrics, having been compared to Elvis Costello and received accolades from renowned Canadian author Timothy Findley.
In 2004, Danny was nominated for Best New Artist at the Juno Awards following the release of his album "Tales from the Invisible Man" the previous year. The award went to Michael Bublé.
Sweet Things
Danny Michel Lyrics
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London Calling and the Pressure Drop
Skipping double dutch with your sister's friends
The landlord's calling for the rent again
If all I have is all I need
And all I need is all I have
Then why is all I ever want is more
Why can't I see the sweet things until they're all gone
Sitting on the grass at your mother's grave
Staring at the letters that spell my name
Stars still shine in a sky blue sky
You just gotta look with better eyes
I lay face down in the summer dirt
My ear pressed into the conducting earth
I hear radio waves and ghosts that fizzle and fade
It's ten years later now
You said I wondered about your age
I said I got ID'd today
You said "ya, I get that too
It's like we'll never die
Just grow younger every day"
Shoebox photos and birthday cards
I've got an old tube amp and no guitar
Living in a Salvation Army shoe
All we had was me and you
The song "Sweet Things" by Danny Michel is a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the difficulty of appreciating the joys we have while we still have them. The lyrics begin with the image of someone counting out quarters at a record shop, listening to iconic songs like London Calling by The Clash and Pressure Drop by Toots and The Maytals. We then hear about the experience of skipping double dutch with a sister's friends and the stress of dealing with a landlord who constantly demands rent payments. Despite having everything they need in life, the singer still feels a restless longing for something more.
The chorus of the song reflects on this paradox, asking why we are always searching for more when we have all we need. The lyrics suggest that we often fail to appreciate the "sweet things" in life until they are gone, implying that taking things for granted is a common human failing. The song then shifts to a scene of sitting on the grass at a mother's grave, staring at the letters that spell the singer's name. Despite the sadness of this moment, the song suggests that there is still beauty to be found in the world, encouraging listeners to look at the stars and appreciate the world around them.
The final section of the song flashes forward ten years, with the singer reflecting on how quickly time has passed. The lyrics suggest that even though we may be getting older, we can still feel young and full of life if we approach the world with the right attitude. The song ends with a bittersweet evocation of shoebox photos, birthday cards, and shared experiences that have helped the singer see the beauty in the world. Overall, "Sweet Things" is a powerful song about the importance of cherishing the people and experiences that make life sweet.
Line by Line Meaning
Counting out quarters at the record shop
I was paying for my music at the store
London Calling and the Pressure Drop
I selected London Calling and the Pressure Drop songs
Skipping double dutch with your sister's friends
Playing with your sibling's friends jumping rope
The landlord's calling for the rent again
The landlord is demanding rent payment
If all I have is all I need
I realize that I have all that I require
And all I need is all I have
I'm grateful for what I have at the moment
Then why is all I ever want is more
Despite what I have, I always want more
Why can't I see the sweet things until they're all gone
I don't value the good things in my life till they're gone
Sitting on the grass at your mother's grave
I sat on the lawn in front of my mother's sepulcher
Staring at the letters that spell my name
I focused on the letters of my name engraved on the tombstone
Stars still shine in a sky blue sky
Despite the challenges, life can still be beautiful
You just gotta look with better eyes
To fully appreciate life's beauty, one needs to look at things from a different perspective
I lay face down in the summer dirt
Lying on my stomach on the dusty ground during summer
My ear pressed into the conducting earth
I sensed vibrations through my ear that originate from the ground
I hear radio waves and ghosts that fizzle and fade
I perceive faint sounds that fade away, maybe a radio or ghostly echoes
It's ten years later now
Ten years have passed since something occurred
You said I wondered about your age
Your mate was curious about your age
I said I got ID'd today
I explained that I was asked for my ID recently
You said "ya, I get that too
Your mate understood the experience perfectly
It's like we'll never die
It seems like we're invincible and never ages
Just grow younger every day"
Instead of aging, we feel younger every day
Shoebox photos and birthday cards
I keep old birthday cards and photos in a box
I've got an old tube amp and no guitar
I have a tube amp, but I'm missing a guitar
Living in a Salvation Army shoe
I live in a shoe that the Salvation Army provided me
All we had was me and you
We had nothing else but each other
Contributed by Savannah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michel Comeau
This is one of the most amazing songs ever written. Brings me back in time to my innocent youth of endless possibility and dreams unbound. LOVE IT!
BrainFreeze
Such a great song. Many layers...so happy.
Kenny David
I Listen to this song everyday before going outside, makes my day.
Kristof
Why can't I see them? <3 Amazing song
dwight listmayer
Great percussion!
Chris Sauve
great song.