Born in London, McDonald served five years in the British Army as a bandsman. His music talent ranged from classical orchestra to dance bands to rock. In 1969, he was in King Crimson's initial line up, which recorded their first album In the Court of the Crimson King. McDonald and drummer Michael Giles departed and formed a spin-off group that released one album titled McDonald and Giles. He re-appeared in King Crimson in 1974 and intended to rejoin the band as a full member but did not get the opportunity to do so given Fripp's decision to split the group.
He became a founding member of the band Foreigner in 1976, for whom he played guitar as well as his trademark woodwinds and keyboards. He was a session musician and appeared in the recording of the hit single "Get It On (Bang a Gong)" by T. Rex, and recordings by Linda Lewis, Christine Harwood amongst others. He also had some production credits to his name, including albums by Fruupp, Darryll Way's Wolf and Fireballet. In 1999, he released a solo album, Drivers Eyes.
In 1997, the release of the King Crimson 4-CD set Epitaph, consisting of rare live recordings of the 1969 version of King Crimson, renewed interest in the early Crimson material. Out of that interest, the 21st Century Schizoid Band was formed in 2002 and several tours and live albums have followed. The band includes former King Crimson members Michael Giles (drums & percussion), Peter Giles (bass), Ian McDonald (sax, flute, keyboards), Mel Collins (alto/tenor sax, flute, keyboards) and also Jakko Jakszyk from Level 42 on guitar and lead vocals. After the first tour Michael Giles was replaced with another former King Crimson drummer Ian Wallace, who has since died.
In Your Hands
Ian McDonald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you believed in me
And all I had to do was go on
You brought my world around
When I had run aground
And given up on my dreams for so long
I tried to hide
And then I found you somewhere
The day we cried
The key was in your hands
Yes, it was in your hands
A single touch of the key
You captivated me
I was lost in your incredible sound
With every note you played
You took my breath away
You got me so I nearly drowned
You brought music to my ears
To fill the wanton silence
That filled my years
And my heart was in your hands
A subtle change of key
But such a change for me
Since the day you came into my life
You got me going
And now you're gone
But somehow, somewhere darling
Our love lives on
And so I understand
The world is in our hands
My life is in my hands
Your life is in your hands
The lyrics of Ian McDonald’s ‘In Your Hands’ capture the essence of the transformative power of love. The song talks about how believing in someone can change their life. The lyrics “A simple turn of the key, when you believed in me, and all I had to do was go on” portrays how sometimes all it takes is someone else’s belief in us to keep going. The “key was in your hands” metaphorically represents the control or empowerment that love and belief can have on individuals. The song also talks about how love can take us out of despair, as the lyrics “you brought my world around when I had run aground and given up on my dreams for so long” suggests. Love transforms and takes people out of their dark corners, giving them new purpose and meaning.
The lyrics continue to emphasize the transformative power of love with the line “a single touch of the key, you captivated me, I was lost in your incredible sound.” The melody and tune of the music captivate the singer, and they are immersed in the music of love. The lyrics, “with every note you played, you took my breath away, you got me so I nearly drowned,” suggests complete surrender to the power of the love amassing in the singer's life. The lyrics also talk about how love can help individuals find their voice, fill the emptiness of their lives, and bring them out of the shadows of silence.
In conclusion, Ian McDonald’s ‘In Your Hands’ is a powerful song about the transformational power of love, how it can uplift people from despair and how it can influence individuals to reach for their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
A simple turn of the key
You helped me with just a little effort
When you believed in me
You trusted in me and gave me hope
And all I had to do was go on
And I was able to continue with my life
You brought my world around
You changed my perspective on things
When I had run aground
When I was stuck and couldn't move
And given up on my dreams for so long
And I had lost hope for achieving my dreams
When you found me
When you came into my life
I tried to hide
I was hesitant and guarded
And then I found you somewhere
But then I discovered you in a certain place
The day we cried
The day we shared our emotions and cried together
The key was in your hands
You held the power to help me
Yes, it was in your hands
And it was all up to you
A single touch of the key
You made a small but significant effort
You captivated me
You held my attention and interest
I was lost in your incredible sound
I was entranced by the music you created
With every note you played
With each musical sound you made
You took my breath away
You amazed and astounded me
You got me so I nearly drowned
You overwhelmed me and left me feeling breathless
You brought music to my ears
You made my life more enjoyable with your musical talent
To fill the wanton silence
To lessen the loneliness I felt
That filled my years
That had been present for many years
And my heart was in your hands
You had my love and affection
A subtle change of key
A small but meaningful difference
But such a change for me
But it made a significant impact on my life
Since the day you came into my life
Since the moment you entered my life
You got me going
You motivated and inspired me to move forward
And now you're gone
And now you're no longer in my life
But somehow, somewhere darling
But I still feel a connection with you, my love
Our love lives on
Our love continues to exist and affect me
And so I understand
And now I realize
The world is in our hands
We have the power to make a difference in the world
My life is in my hands
I control my own life and decisions
Your life is in your hands
You control your own life and decisions
Contributed by Elena W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@artbaruzzi7489
Very please to hear an old King of Grace
@user-hr6oy7co6s
Cool!
@vascosousa6151
Cool AOR !!!