Hailing from Lovejoy, GA, Michael began his musical education while singing in the church choir. However, Michael's greatest childhood aspiration was to be an Olympic athlete. He was well on his way, running track at Georgia Tech, until an injury sidelined his career and caused him to question what he wanted out of life.
It was a regular night out, and a small concert that initiated Michael’s musical career drive. From his seat at the bar, he witnessed the pure and raw enjoyment one could experience from performing, and the effect of sharing music with an audience. From that moment, he immersed himself into everything music and began performing on street corners, in coffee shops, at the federal penitentiary, in bars, and he eventually traveled in his van all over the country, making friends and fans along the way.
In 2001, a former band mate and then producer reached out to help Michael produce a raw demo. Together they went to Pop Rox production in New York with the raw demo, and a partnership was immediately formed. Pop Rox, under the guidance of hit producer Sam Hollander, signed Michael to a production deal and produced his first real demo. The demo was brought to several labels, and in 2002, Michael signed to Octone Records (now A&M/Octone).
His debut album, I AM, is an inspired collection of songs and melodies that muse on life, love and social consciousness. "When I went out, it was me, my van, and my guitar. It was a reflective time in my life, wandering across the country in solitude, seeking mind-opening experiences. At times it was very humbling, and at other times it was very empowering." This solitary creative pilgrimage ultimately became a time of self-discovery, inspiring many of the songs for the album.
Michael saw modest success from I AM that continued to grow in a snowball effect. He has toured with Dave Matthews Band, Maroon 5, Gavin DeGraw, Collective Soul, G Love and the Special Sauce, Blues Traveler, Howie Day, Everclear, and more. Songs from the album were featured throughout hit movies and television shows including One Tree Hill, The Sopranos, and Scrubs.
His prolific placements led to an ongoing partnership with Hilton Hotels Corp through their singer / songwriter music initiatives that helped launch the career of James Blunt. Hilton’s success with Michael led to his ultimate goal – The Olympic Dream. Hilton licensed Michael's song, "Speed Feels Better" as the anthem for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The song was featured throughout the Olympics and Hilton even brought him over to Beijing during the Olympics for an exclusive concert performance at the Great Wall of China.
The momentum from the Olympics placed “Speed Feels Better” in a unique position to be a breakout single. Athletes lined up to appear in the Nigel Dick directed music video which features marquee athletes including: Olympic medalist in swimming, Amanda Beard; tennis player, Andy Roddick; Hall of Fame NFL player, Barry Sanders; World Figure Skating Champion, Kimmie Meissner; and MLB All Star, Rick Ankiel.
Michael is currently touring while wrapping up in the studio with a star studded cast of major producers.
Miracle
Michael Tolcher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So how long had you gone
Before you realized your maps were wrong?
You're turning up in places
Where you don't belong
And the walls have something to hide
Well, I could be way over there in a minute
If the measure of the match was fair
Then you'd win it
But, you're bound to lose
[Chorus]
Well, It doesn't take a miracle
Or a natural disaster
To live in the world that you're after
The change is gonna happen to you
[Verse 2]
Well, it hardly seems worth the time you spend complaining
If you're bitching at a world full of people
And explaining yourself
And how their life could be so much better
If yous ain't so good
Well, I can leave it all up to the presidents
Relying on the people
To believe false evidence
You could fight your way into a permanent residence
In the big house, with free food, but no trees
[Chorus]
It doesn't take a miracle
Or a natural disaster
To live in the world that you're after
The change is gonna happen to you
It doesn't take a miracle
Or a natural disaster
To live in the world that you're after
The change is gonna happen to you
[Verse 3]
I could my voice out across a great loud speaker
And attempt to give strength to the folks feeling weaker
Yeah, you could call yourself
A genuine truthseeker
But, watch out because it might be found
It's kinda hard cause things ain't what they seem
But, it sure feels good to row gently down the stream
And it all makes sense
Life is but a dream
So, go merrily
Go merrily, yeah
[Chorus]
It doesn't take a miracle
Or a natural disaster
To live in the world that you're after
The change is gonna happen to you
Yea, it doesn't take a miracle
Or a natural disaster
To live in the world that you're after
The change is gonna happen to you
Change is gonna happen to you
[Outro]
So how long had you gone
Before you realized your maps were wrong?
You're turning up in places
Where you don't belong
And everybody's got something to hide
In Michael Tolcher's song, "Miracle," the lyrics explore the idea that change is possible and it doesn't necessarily have to come from a miraculous event or a natural disaster, but rather from within oneself. The song is a call to action for listeners to take control of their lives and make the changes they want to see in their world.
The first verse opens with a question. The singer is asking how long it took for the listener to realize that their maps were wrong, meaning they were lost or confused about their life path. The second line suggests that the listener has ended up in places where they do not belong and that hidden walls are keeping them from their goals. The singer then suggests that they could be somewhere else very quickly if they had the strength to bear it. However, the measure of the competition is not fair, and the listener is bound to lose. In the chorus, Tolcher drives home the idea that the change the listener seeks is possible without a miracle or natural disaster. It is up to the listener to realize their own potential and make those changes happen.
In the second verse, the song takes on a more political tone. The singer suggests that it is not worth complaining about the world's problems without taking action. They call out those who claim to know how to make the world a better place while living a life they aren't satisfied with themselves. The singer suggests that people should not rely on their leaders and should take action themselves to create a better life. Rather than fighting for power and a lack of freedom, why not choose a simple life instead?
In the final verse, the singer suggests that they could use their voice to inspire others feeling weak. However, the listener needs to be careful as their self-proclaimed truth-seeking can sometimes lead them down the wrong path. The singer then suggests that despite the challenges, life is just a dream and that we should enjoy it while we can. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, reinforcing that change is possible without a miracle or natural disaster.
Overall, the song is a call to action for individuals to take responsibility for their lives and create the change that they seek.
Line by Line Meaning
So how long had you gone before you realized your maps were wrong?
How long did it take you to realize that you've been going the wrong way in life?
You're turning up in places where you don't belong
You're finding yourself in situations or places where you don't fit in or feel comfortable.
And the walls have something to hide
There are secrets or mysteries in the places you find yourself in.
Well, I could be way over there in a minute
It's easy for me to change my situation or circumstances.
If I had enough strength bear and grin it
If I were stronger, I could endure hardships and challenges with a positive attitude.
If the measure of the match was fair / Then you'd win it
If things were fair, you would be successful in life.
But, you're bound to lose
However, your life seems destined for failure and disappointment.
It doesn't take a miracle / Or a natural disaster / To live in the world that you're after
You don't need something drastic or extraordinary to achieve the life you want.
The change is gonna happen to you
You are capable of making changes to your life that will bring you happiness and fulfillment.
Well, it hardly seems worth the time you spend complaining
Complaining about life is a waste of time and energy.
If you're bitching at a world full of people / And explaining yourself / And how their life could be so much better
If you're constantly criticizing others for their choices and suggesting how they could improve their lives.
Well, I can leave it all up to the presidents / Relying on the people / To believe false evidence
Some people leave their lives in the hands of political leaders, who often use propaganda to gain support.
You could fight your way into a permanent residence / In the big house, with free food, but no trees
You could work hard to achieve financial success and live in a big house, but it may not bring you true happiness.
I could my voice out across a great loud speaker
I could speak up and use my voice to reach many people.
And attempt to give strength to the folks feeling weaker
I could try to inspire and encourage those who are struggling or feeling powerless.
Yeah, you could call yourself / A genuine truthseeker
Someone who seeks the truth in life and values honesty.
But, watch out because it might be found
However, seeking the truth may uncover things that are difficult or painful to face.
It's kinda hard cause things ain't what they seem
Life can be challenging and confusing because things aren't always what they appear to be.
But, it sure feels good to row gently down the stream / And it all makes sense / Life is but a dream / So, go merrily / Go merrily, yeah
Despite the difficulties in life, there's joy in taking things easy and enjoying the ride. Life can be but a dream, so enjoy it while you can.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: MICHAEL FRANCIS TOLCHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind