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.
When I Get Out
Danny Michel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and taking you out like I used to do.
I've been counting the days, I've been stitching up plans,
And apparently now I'm a better man.
So let's ride till the sky turns blue,
there's just 13 days to you.
Well they taught me a trade and the ways of the Lord,
'Cause that's all I need to sing to you.
When I get out I'm heading straight for you,
I've got some things I've been dying to do.
Show me the house where you were born,
and I'll kiss your face until my lips are worn.
And we'll sleep until the sun turns blue,
there's just 13 days to you.
I'm gonna grow my hair, I'm gonna run a bath.
I wanna just sit here and watch you laugh.
I'm gonna wash the car, I'm gonna cut the grass.
When I get out I'm gonna drop some bucks,
gas up the caddie come and pick me up.
I feel the blood flowing through my luck,
we're gonna drop the needle, gonna raise a cup.
We're going wild till the sky turns blue,
there's just 13 days to you.
There's a few more lines on your pretty face,
and there's a few more pounds 'round this old waist,
but that don't change you and me a bit.
But when I got out there was no one there,
no red caddie and no golden hair.
I got no cigarettes and no taxi fare,
just a slaughterhouse stench filling up the air.
I just cried... say it ain't true.
Now there's 100 days of blue,
there's 100 days of blue.
In Danny Michel's song "When I Get Out," the singer is anticipating his release from prison, and he plans to rush straight to the woman he loves. He counts down 13 days until he can reunite with her, planning to take her out and show her how much he has changed. The singer expresses his desire to enjoy the simple things with her, such as sleeping in, sitting outside and laughing, and doing ordinary domestic chores for her. However, when he is finally released, he discovers that the woman he loves is not there to meet him, and he is heartbroken.
The song speaks to feelings of longing and the anticipation of reuniting with someone who makes life worth living. The singer's desire for normalcy and the simple pleasures of life is a stark contrast to the restrictions of prison, and his desire to spend time with his loved one is palpable. Overall, "When I Get Out" is a poignant reminder of the importance of human connection and the hope that motivates us to keep going.
Line by Line Meaning
When I get out I'm running straight to you, and taking you out like I used to do.
Upon leaving prison, I am immediately coming to meet you and take you on a date just like I used to do before my incarceration.
I've been counting the days, I've been stitching up plans, And apparently now I'm a better man.
I have been eagerly awaiting my release and have taken the time to make plans to better myself in hopes of being a better partner to you.
So let's ride till the sky turns blue, there's just 13 days to you.
Let us spend all of our time together doing fun things until the day comes when I can be with you again.
Well they taught me a trade and the ways of the Lord, so I built a guitar and I learnt 4 chords. 'Cause that's all I need to sing to you.
In prison, I learned new skills that include musical instruments, and I taught myself to play four chords so that I can sing to you.
When I get out I'm heading straight for you, I've got some things I've been dying to do.
Immediately upon my release, I want to spend my time doing things I've missed doing with you.
Show me the house where you were born, and I'll kiss your face until my lips are worn. And we'll sleep until the sun turns blue, there's just 13 days to you.
While I am with you, I want to explore your world and take the opportunity to kiss you repeatedly and enjoy sleeping by your side until daylight fades away.
I'm gonna grow my hair, I'm gonna run a bath. I wanna just sit here and watch you laugh. I'm gonna wash the car, I'm gonna cut the grass.
I intend on pampering myself by growing out my hair, getting clean in a robust bath, watching you laugh, and doing respectable chores around the house.
When I get out I'm gonna drop some bucks, gas up the caddie come and pick me up. I feel the blood flowing through my luck, we're gonna drop the needle, gonna raise a cup. We're going wild till the sky turns blue, there's just 13 days to you.
I'm going to spend some money and fuel up my Cadillac to pick you up. We will bask in our happiness while we indulge in wild pastimes until morning.
There's a few more lines on your pretty face, and there's a few more pounds 'round this old waist, but that don't change you and me a bit.
Though we may show signs of aging with a few more wrinkles and a slightly heavier frame, our relationship will remain strong as ever.
But when I got out there was no one there, no red caddie and no golden hair. I got no cigarettes and no taxi fare, just a slaughterhouse stench filling up the air. I just cried... say it ain't true. Now there's 100 days of blue, there's 100 days of blue.
Surprisingly, I found that nobody had come to pick me up outside of the prison gates. With shock overwhelming me, I was alone with an unpleasant aroma filling the air, and no one came to greet me. This caused me to weep and I am now faced with yet another 100 days without you.
Contributed by Ava Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.