A gifted artist in every sense of the word - writer, singer, musician and p… Read Full Bio ↴A gifted artist in every sense of the word - writer, singer, musician and performer - Michael Tolcher deftly blends unfailing melodic and organic pop sensibilities with a deep understanding of soul and urban grooves drawn from his Southern upbringing.

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.

Sooner or Later
Michael Tolcher Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pull the hair back from your eyes,
Let the people see your pretty face
Try not to say anything weird

Save your questions without answers,
'Til your old enough to know
That things ain't as they appeared

Before you go out in the sun
Cover your skin and don't get burned
Beware the cancer,
It might kill you when you're old

Be first in line, raise your hand
Remember everything you hear
And playing in the rain is worth catching cold

[Chorus]
Sooner or later we'll be lookin' back on everything
And we'll laugh about it like we knew what all was happening and
Someday you might listen to what people have to say
Now you learn the hard way

We only want what's best for you
That's why we tell you what to do
And nevermind if nothing makes sense

'Cause It all works out in the end
You're just like us without a friend
But you can build a privacy fence (yeah)

[Chorus]

Some things you have to learn
Them all on your own
You can't rely on anybody else
Or the point of view of a source unknown
If it feels good, and sounds nice, then it's your choice
Don't doubt yourself, don't even think twice

Pull the hair back from your eyes,
Let the people see your pretty face
You know they like it when you smile
(Find a reason to smile)

Try not to focus on yourself
Share that love with someone else
Don't let the bitters bring you down (down)
Don't let anything bring you down

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The song "Sooner or Later" by Michael Tolcher is a cautionary tale about growing up and learning to navigate the confusing world around you. The first verse urges the listener to present themselves in a positive light, but also warns them not to say anything strange. The second verse advises saving difficult questions until you are mature enough to understand the world's complexities, and to watch out for dangers like skin cancer. The third verse encourages listening and learning from everything and everyone around you, even if it means catching a cold from playing in the rain.

The chorus reminds the listener that someday they will look back on their life and laugh at how little they knew, and that it is important to listen to the advice of others. However, the song also acknowledges that some things cannot be learned from anyone else and that sometimes it is better to trust your own instincts. The final verse implores the listener to maintain a positive attitude, to love and help others, and to never let negativity drag them down.

The song's message is universal and relevant to people of all ages. It is a reminder to be open-minded and willing to learn from those around you, but also to trust your instincts and make your own decisions. The song's catchy melody and relatable lyrics have made it a popular hit, enjoyed by people of all ages.

Line by Line Meaning

Pull the hair back from your eyes,
Make sure you're not hiding your face from others.

Let the people see your pretty face
Show your beauty to the world.

Try not to say anything weird
Be normal and don't come off as strange.

Save your questions without answers,
Don't ask questions you don't know the answer to.

'Til your old enough to know
Wait until you're ready to understand.

That things ain't as they appeared
Things might not always be what they seem.

Before you go out in the sun
Take precautions to protect yourself from the sun.

Cover your skin and don't get burned
Prevent sunburns and potential skin cancer.

Beware the cancer,
Be cautious about the risk of cancer.

It might kill you when you're old
Cancer can be deadly when you're older.

Be first in line, raise your hand
Be proactive and participate in things.

Remember everything you hear
Pay attention and remember the advice you're given.

And playing in the rain is worth catching cold
Some risks are worth taking for the joy and experience they bring.

[Chorus]
We'll eventually look back and laugh at everything, and you'll learn things the hard way.

Sooner or later we'll be lookin' back on everything
Eventually, we'll reflect on everything we've experienced.

And we'll laugh about it like we knew what all was happening and
We'll find humor in things that we didn't fully understand at the time.

Someday you might listen to what people have to say
You might eventually appreciate the advice and wisdom others share with you.

Now you learn the hard way
You'll have to learn things through experience, not always through advice.

We only want what's best for you
We care about your well-being.

That's why we tell you what to do
We're giving you guidance and advice.

And nevermind if nothing makes sense
Don't worry if things don't immediately make sense.

'Cause It all works out in the end
Everything will be okay in the long run.

You're just like us without a friend
We understand how it feels to not have someone to turn to.

But you can build a privacy fence (yeah)
You can protect yourself and your personal life if you need to.

Some things you have to learn
There are certain things you need to learn on your own.

Them all on your own
You need to learn those things without help.

You can't rely on anybody else
You can't always depend on others.

Or the point of view of a source unknown
Don't base your actions or thoughts on unverified information.

If it feels good, and sounds nice, then it's your choice
You have the freedom to choose what you enjoy and what sounds good to you.

Don't doubt yourself, don't even think twice
Trust yourself and your choices.

Try not to focus on yourself
Don't be too self-absorbed.

Share that love with someone else
Spread kindness and positivity to others.

Don't let the bitters bring you down (down)
Don't let negativity or tough experiences get the best of you.

Don't let anything bring you down
Stay strong and don't let anything defeat you.

[Chorus]
We'll eventually look back and laugh at everything, and you'll learn things the hard way.

Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: JOHN CHARLES LODGE, JUSTIN HAYWARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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