In May 1966 "Message to Michael" became Warwick's first Top 20 hit since "Reach Out for Me" 16 months previously; also in May 1966 "Message to Michael" became a Top Ten hit, Warwick's third after "Anyone Who Had a Heart" and "Walk on By". The Billboard Hot 100 peak of "Message to Michael" was #8; Billboard's R&B chart would afford "Message to Michael" a #5 peak, which remains Dionne Warwick's alltime best R&B chart showing for a solo recording: she'd previously hit #5 R&B with her first release "Don't Make Me Over" and after "Message to Michael" would reach #5 R&B as a soloist with both "Alfie" and "Once You Hit the Road".
"Message to Michael" was not a major international hit for Dionne Warwick: it was released in April 1966 in the UK to chart no higher than #55. In Australia "Message to Michael" reached #44.
As Burt Bacharach and Hal David were not involved in the recording of "Message to Michael" – the team being in fact opposed to Dionne Warwick recording their song – the producers' credit on the track reads "a Blue Jac Production", Blue Jac Productions being the name Bacharach/David and Warwick had incorporated under in 1962 (officially Blue Jac Productions, rather than Warwick personally, were signed to Scepter Records; the same production credit would be employed for Warwick's 1970 single "Make It Easy on Yourself", which was a recording from a live performance.)
In his 1968 book: What the World Needs Now and Other Love Lyrics, Hal David emphatically admitted his misgivings over Warwick recording "Message to Michael" proved ill-founded, indeed stating "Dionne's vocal was so brilliant that it was obvious we had subconsciously written the song for her even while we thought we were writing it for a man". The song re-recorded for Warwick ill fated 2006 album "My Friends & Me" as a duet with Cyndi Lauper.
Message To Michael
Dionne Warwick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kentucky bluebird, fly away
And take a message to Michael, message to Michael
He sings each night in some cafe
In his search to find wealth and fame
I hear Michael has gone and changed his name
Kentucky bluebird, fly away
And take a message to Michael, message to Michael
Tell him I miss him more each day
As his train pulled out down the track
Michael promised he'd soon be coming back
Oh tell him how my heart just breaks in two
Since he journeyed far
And even though his dreams of fame fell through
To me he will always be a star
Spread your wings for New Orleans
Kentucky bluebird, fly away
And take a message to Michael, message to Michael
Ask him to start for home today
When you find him please let him know
Rich or poor, I will always love him so
Fly away, Kentucky bluebird
Fly away, Kentucky bluebird
Fly away, fly away, fly away, fly away
The beginning of “Message to Michael” by Dionne Warwick sends a message to a Kentucky bluebird asking it to fly to New Orleans and bring a message to the singer's lost love, Michael. Michael has departed for the big city in search of wealth and fame, leaving his sweetheart behind. The singer laments that it's been a year since Michael last visited her, but it feels like much longer. She wants the bluebird to tell Michael that she misses him desperately and that her heart is breaking in two without him.
Despite not finding fame, the singer still views Michael as a star, and regardless of his financial status, she promises to love him forever. The song has a melancholic tone, and Warwick's voice expresses the singer's longing and sadness effortlessly. “Message to Michael” is a poignant reflection on love and loss, which has touched many hearts over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Spread your wings for New Orleans
Go far and fly to New Orleans
Kentucky bluebird, fly away
Spread your wings like a bluebird from Kentucky and fly away
And take a message to Michael, message to Michael
Bring a message to Michael
He sings each night in some cafe
Michael is singing every night in a cafe
In his search to find wealth and fame
Michael is trying to find fame and fortune
I hear Michael has gone and changed his name
It is rumored that Michael has changed his name
It's a year since he was here
It has been a year since Michael was last here
Tell him I miss him more each day
Inform Michael that I miss him more each day
As his train pulled out down the track
As the train pulls away and he leaves
Michael promised he'd soon be coming back
Michael promised he would return soon
Oh tell him how my heart just breaks in two
Tell Michael how heartbroken I am
Since he journeyed far
Since Michael has gone on a long journey
And even though his dreams of fame fell through
Even though Michael's dreams of fame did not come true
To me he will always be a star
To me, Michael will always be a star
Ask him to start for home today
Request Michael to start coming home today
When you find him please let him know
When you find Michael, please tell him
Rich or poor, I will always love him so
No matter if Michael is rich or poor, I will always love him
Fly away, Kentucky bluebird
Fly away, bluebird from Kentucky
Fly away, fly away, fly away, fly away
Keep on flying away
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aline Dowd
on I Cry Alone
Brings back oh so many memories.