Patrick simmons/michael mcdonald

When I was so low
You were there to lift me up
Well, there's one thing that I know for sure
You're gonna win life's lovin' cup

Darlin', you're always there at my rescue
Dependin' on you
Darlin', you're always there by my side
You're always there by my side
Darlin', you're always there at my rescue

Dependin' on you

And when I get too high
You are there to cool me down
So fine, someone to turn to
Keepin' my feet on the ground

Dependin' on you

Darlin', you're always there at my rescue
Dependin' on you
Darlin', you're always there by my side
You're always there by my side
Darlin', you're always there at my rescue

I just keep dependin' on you
Someone to turn to
Keepin' my feet on the ground
So fine...

Darlin', you're always there at my rescue
Dependin' on you
Darlin', you're always there by my side
You're always there by my side...

Overall Meaning

The Doobie Brothers' song "Dependin' on You" is a tribute to the dependability and support of a cherished partner. The lyrics are a heartfelt expression of gratitude to a lover who has been there through the good times and the bad times. The song explores the theme of needing someone to turn to during life's ups and downs and beautifully captures the emotions that come with relying on a companion for strength and stability.

The song's opening verse describes a time when the singer was feeling low, and the partner was there to lift him up. The lyrics make it clear that the person being addressed in the song is not just a casual friend or acquaintance but someone who has become an essential part of the singer's life. The chorus emphasizes this dependence on the partner, with the repetition of the phrase "Dependin' on you" underscoring the significance of the relationship.

The second verse expresses the idea that the partner also acts as a grounding force when the singer is feeling too high or overly confident. The lyrics suggest that the partner helps the singer maintain balance and stay level-headed, preventing him from getting carried away in his own ego.

Overall, "Dependin' on You" is a touching song about the vital role of companionship and emotional support. It reminds us that having someone to turn to during challenging times makes all the difference.

Line by Line Meaning

When I was so low
During times of personal struggle

You were there to lift me up
You provided support and helped elevate me

Well, there's one thing that I know for sure
Without a doubt, I'm certain

You're gonna win life's lovin' cup
You will succeed in life's pursuit of love

Darlin', you're always there at my rescue
You are consistently available to help me when needed

Dependin' on you
I rely on you for support and assistance

And when I get too high
During times of personal excitement or stress

You are there to cool me down
You offer calming and grounding support

So fine, someone to turn to
You are an exceptional person to seek guidance from

Keepin' my feet on the ground
Ensuring that I remain grounded and focused on reality

I just keep dependin' on you
I continue to rely on you heavily

Darlin', you're always there by my side
You are a constant presence in my life

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MICHAEL H. MC DONALD, PATRICK R. SIMMONS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@stugabe33

3y↑3

🗣️🎵When I was so low
You were there to lift me up
Well, there's one thing that I know for sure
You're gonna win life's lovin' cup

Darlin', you're always there at my rescue
Dependin' on you
Darlin', you're always there by my side
You're always there by my side
Darlin', you're always there at my rescue

Dependin' on you

And when I get too high
You are there to cool me down
So fine, someone to turn to
Keepin' my feet on the ground

Dependin' on you

Darlin', you're always there at my rescue
Dependin' on you
Darlin', you're always there by my side
You're always there by my side
Darlin', you're always there at my rescue

I just keep dependin' on you
Someone to turn to
Keepin' my feet on the ground
So fine...

Darlin', you're always there at my rescue
Dependin' on you
Darlin', you're always there by my side
You're always there by my side.🎵

@MrMayhemVI

6y↑3

When I was so low
You were there to lift me up
Well, there's one thing that I know for sure
You're gonna win life's lovin' cup

Darlin', you're always there at my rescue
Dependin' on you
Darlin', you're always there by my side
You're always there by my side
Darlin', you're always there at my rescue

Dependin' on you

And when I get too high
You are there to cool me down
So fine, someone to turn to
Keepin' my feet on the ground

Dependin' on you

Darlin', you're always there at my rescue
Dependin' on you
Darlin', you're always there by my side
You're always there by my side
Darlin', you're always there at my rescue

I just keep dependin' on you
Someone to turn to
Keepin' my feet on the ground
So fine...

Darlin', you're always there at my rescue
Dependin' on you
Darlin', you're always there by my side
You're always there by my side...

@flipnsac

8y↑7

PAT SIMMONS : Guitars and Vocals
MICHAEL McDONALD : Keyboards, Synthesizers and Vocals
JOHN McFEE : Guitars and Vocals
KEITH KNUDSEN: Drums and Vocals
CHET McCRACKEN : Drums
TIRAN PORTER : Bass and Vocals
CORNELIUS BUMPUS: Tenor and Soprano Saxophone, Organ and Vocals

WITH

TED TEMPLEMAN : Percussion and Vocals

All comments from YouTube:

@mackcastillo6183

2y↑26

love the DOOBIE BROTHERS ONE OF THE GREATEST BANDS OF ALLTIME.

@carlospizano4647

3y↑24

Heard this song in concert last night for the 50 anniversary tour in Phoenix Az. It sounded on point! The Doobies were firing on all cylinders!

@saleemcat9864

2y↑2

I'm jealous. Love me some Doobies

@razorcatshark3223

3y↑49

Truly an under appreciated song 🎧

@TurtleFrack

2y↑4

It may be unappreciated, but they Do Be Brothers.

@tracyhendley17

6y↑49

I always loved this song. The guitar and vocals are so damn cool.

@JohnTheBear1961

6y↑38

This album will be 40 years old in December. Timeless.

@cece3194

1y↑2

🙈do I laugh or cry?

@SSS-fo8ln

1y↑2

This is why doobies are timeless.. good music always is timeless!!💗

@thechain-stayed4934

1y↑1

TIMELESS

@kevinkilduff2064

22w

This transition phase to the Michael McDonald R&B style was an amazing success for the Doobies. Amazing how seamlessly they could venture from rock to country/rock to R&B. The Doobies are one of rocks most talented and flexible bands . And they’re still at it with Tom J back, as good as ever!

@yuljohnson5502

4y↑17

A great live performance by the Doobie brothers performing one of their most groovy and soulful hits. Pat simmons i thought always did a great job with the vocals on this song and also on the guitar. Also love Mike macdonald's vocals in the background towards the end of the song!!!

@dangreving1094

6y↑31

Those guitar solos make me want to get up and run around, love that sound!!!!

@veeshead

4y↑3

That’s great! The solos make me want to go on a three day camping trip.

@davecoalwood9487

🤣👍👍👍

@otisroseboro5613

Same Here

@dangreving1094

@@otisroseboro5613 hey thanks for the comment had to go back and listen.. just happen to have a guitar in my hands, so fun.

@bretstanley9449

6y↑37

Slightly different from the album version yet it seems to be a studio recording. Nice! Pat is a great guitarist. He could do both finger picking, rhythm playing and scorching, yet melodic lead work. Incredible!

@DickDogs

4y↑3

Everyone in the band is a monster

@rajivduggal9958

4y↑1

🙏👍

@joshuakatz2499

3y↑2

Sounds like they use the bulk of the original studio recording including backup vocals and went with live lead vocals and lead guitar.

@donbailey6600

3y↑1

Yep, Kkind of a let down.... Nice to see them in their hey day tho

@patrickb5783

37w↑1

What an amazing live version

@yuljohnson6838

1y↑2

Great performance by the Doobie brothers to one of their most soulful and funkiest songs!!!

@txsx7858

40w↑1

Amazing sound they all make together

@rockindrummerguyh484

2y↑2

Great Song ,,,,,,,,,, loved it for years

@sheiladaniels9552

2y↑2

Love it!

@mikehasuga4959

1y↑2

Hell yeah!!!! Outstanding. Saw the Band in the early 1970's.

@rafaelmillan5800

1y↑3

FREAKIN AMAZING!!!!!!!

@stugabe33

3y↑3

@MrTaurus48228

3y↑6

Love this song

@steelydannnn

2y↑1

A true classic in every time life 🎸🎺🎹

@drewwin794

1y↑3

Awesome!

@georgemiller1924

1y↑2

Love this song can't wait to see them in Hawaii nei 🤙🤙

@savagemako17

36w↑1

Jeff "missle man, Skunk" Baxter looks bored to tears. One of my favorite Doobies. Patrick Simmons is WAY under appreciated. I think he was the driving force behind the band. Way to go guys!!

@zelofanoful

4y↑9

I love The Doobie Brothers!!! Thanks for the beautiful music. :-)
How about a little Tournee in Europe?

@ernestchacon4928

2y↑1

I remember this song vividly. You can see how calm and disciplined the weed gave these guys during performance. In high school 1978 !!!

@dianefitzgerald3850

27w↑1

Such good music what the hell happened to the world.

@DaddyDuckTown

4y↑8

This song actually sounds more like old school doobies, mainly cause of the guitar riff.

@TheOneAboveAll

4y↑16

Pat Simmons rips on this one! 1 of my favorite songs.

@ukiahsguitarsolos3436

2y↑1

Love this song! Just tackled the solos,.....very tricky.

@otisroseboro5613

1y↑2

I Give This Song 👍👍👍👍💯

@paulo23pd

1y↑2

This is such a good track! Is it me or does this remind me of Steely Dan in parts, like the horns and piano?

@jimlyons809

1y↑1

1:43-2:29 is pure DAN.

@Lee-tq4si

48w↑1

@@jimlyons809 perhaps just a touch. Then again, band members Michael Mc Donald and Skunk Baxter were both Steely Dan alumni.

@judithhr

22w↑1

Not just you! If Fagen was lead vocal it would sound exactly like a Dan song.

@Michael-xj6qt

2y↑1

MAGIC as always

@johnnyholland8765

2y↑2

Love that song. Ol Skunk sittin in his chair rockin out...

@SSS-fo8ln

49w

Dependin on the Doobies to Give Us 50 more Rockin Years!! CONGRATS PS...🤘💗

@MrMayhemVI

6y↑3

@josephbrown9523

2y↑1

OH MY GOD!! NOW IT ALL MAKES SENSE!!

@johnfrere8772

1y↑3

Love this song and most of the Doobies tracks....Miss the main man Mr. Johnston. I feel sad that there was a time when he was not part of the group. Glad so glad they all put their differences aside and reclaimed their space in music.

@rickrolf6126

1y↑2

It wasn’t differences, Tom Johnston had a bleeding ulcer, and had to leave the band for health reasons. When they reformed in the late 80’s, he was healed and back as the lead singer.

@2003Cpayne

48w↑1

@@rickrolf6126 He did come back after the health issues, and left again in 1977. It was creative differences that time; he felt like he'd lost his place in the band.

@kikioperez9483

9y↑2

👍👍👍😎😎😎 tocan bien padre

@kikioperez9483

9y↑1

Hola carnal😎✌

@kikioperez9483

9y↑1

Esta chida la rola😎😎👍👍👍

@brucesporn8259

21w↑1

Brilliant rhythm section groove. So sexy. Try keeping your feet still, let alone "on the ground"!

@choclatesaltyballz

2y↑1

Darling you're always there at the rescue!

Many English people would get even that wrong 😂😂

@GemSugar17

1y↑1

So resonate...I wish it was returned tho. One sided relationships suck.

@user-dk3hu9fe8n

5y↑1

золотой состав))

@rajivduggal9958

4y↑4

Wow! & I always thought Baxter did these solos!👆👍🙏. Gr8 Pat🤗

@timsydlowski5208

So did I

@davecoalwood9487

2y↑2

Funking Brilliant.

@roberthanna3493

3y↑6

You can definitely hear the steely dan influence

@southernman22

2y↑1

Doobie brothers defined mellow und cool

@patrickb5783

20w

Jeff skunk Baxter nailed it

@garywalters5468

4y↑2

you can identify the era even w/o the sound on simply by those occasional white "vcr track" lines on the screen and michel's BLACK beard.

@davecoalwood9487

3y↑2

For Fucks Sake This is the Tops, Really just jaw droppinly great. 👍👍😁👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

@walther9161

So no Tom and you have Skink sitting-in… amazing stuff

@joany7475

3y↑4

Rocking in 2021

@homebody61

1y↑1

2023

@pewsterbaby

1y↑1

Don't remember hearing this single upon release. I can recall 10 Doobies singles from hearing them on the radio. 6 with Johnston and 4 with McDonald. Never heard this played in NYC radio listening radius. The song is too wishy washy, actually. They were getting toooo soft with McDonald.

@bonanzabear288

Keith is almost nodding off on the drums, he had a horrible Heroin habit at this time

@MRoldan69

💚💚💚💚

@rickbaker4571

3y↑2

They looked bored... miss ya Keith!

@christocr

7y↑10

So Skunk Baxter seems to be just sort of chilling in this video.

@bretstanley9449

4y↑2

Yeah, the seated guitarist vibe never really did catch on!

@rajivduggal9958

Sulking/Skunking 😆🤣🤣.JK...gr8 guitarist

@TheDavcormier

2y↑1

I always thought he played the second solo in that song but apparently he wasn't. Great song anyway and Pat Simmons is a very fine guitarist too.

@rustykuntz94

7y↑8

Keith looks pretty wasted here, I know from the Behind The Music they said he developed a major heroin habit in the late 70s, his eyes are barely open.

@lyndonwoodward8329

4y↑1

Is that the guy that played guitar on Donna Summer's " Hot Stuff"? The one with the long hair?

@christocr

4y↑3

The one sitting on the speaker cabinet, "Skunk" Baxter.

@guitarhazer9695

9y↑10

Beautiful hair

@julianaalcantara3595

46w

In me!

@krisscanlon4051

4y↑3

I'm Skunk Baxter and I'm taking a seat!

@roscoegarbonzo9966

Congrats Guys! RRHOF

@nocotton

43w

And Skunk does basically nothing?

@danadian9514

Why is Skunk sitting down?

@nickarvanites9409

3y↑2

jeff skunk baxter just chillin in a chair.he's ,,now some aerospace engineer or something....

@julianaalcantara3595

46w

Thanks

@SRG1761

9y↑3

What is the name of the band members ?

@rustykuntz94

8y↑1

+Music and hollywood movies lover That could take all day there's so many Doobies.

@cottagechskitty

8y↑8

Lead vocalist is Patrick Simmons, the "glue" that has always been in the Doobies.

@SRG1761

8y↑1

Thanks for the information. Thanks a ton.

@SRG1761

8y↑1

Thanks for your reply all the same.

@flipnsac

8y↑7

8 More Replies...

@stub2022

Some of the band isn't feeling this tune...lol

@stub2022

4y↑1

Skunk has bad bunions.

@shyman99

8y↑5

I never liked when artists would do live promos. Promos should represent the actual recording and be lip synced. Live performances are for concert videos.