McDonald played in several local bands (such as Mike and the Majestics, Jerry Jay and the Sheratons, the Reebtoors, and The Guild) while attending McCluer High School in his hometown of Ferguson, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. He was 'discovered' while playing with a group called Blue and consequently moved to Los Angeles in 1970. He first gained wide attention as an adjunct member of the group Steely Dan, providing back-up vocals and keyboards. Michael continued to do background vocals for Steely Dan up to their 1980 Gaucho release.
McDonald was recruited by The Doobie Brothers in April 1975 when lead singer Tommy Johnston became ill during a national tour. As a member of the Doobies, he recorded some of his most memorable songs, such as "Takin' It To The Streets," "Little Darling," "Minute By Minute," and "What A Fool Believes" (which earned him a 1980 Grammy Award for Song of the Year).
After the Doobies' first farewell tour, McDonald continued with a very successful solo career. Among his hits are
* "I Keep Forgettin'", a duet with his sister Maureen, later sampled in 1994 by Warren G
* "Sweet Freedom", the theme to the 1986 MGM film Running Scared
* "Take It To Heart"
* "Yah Mo B There", a duet with James Ingram which won a 1985 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
* "On My Own", a 1986 duet with Patti Labelle which reached #1 on the US charts
McDonald has produced and/or appeared on albums recorded by many other artists, including his singer wife Amy Holland and Grammy winner Christopher Cross. He is also a co-founder of the small independent recording label Ramp Records, with studio designer Chris Pelonis and actor Jeff Bridges.
His current album out 3/4/8 is titled "Soul Speak."
*********
There is also Michael McDonald, an American songwriter based in Helsinki, Finland. Michael has played with Helsinki-based bands Montevideo and Treeball, and is about to release his first solo album in 2007.
Blink of an Eye
Michael McDonald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know my life seems like a minute
There I find living proof
Of all the wonder life hold in it
In the past I thought I had to learn
Any good that comes from this life we're living
Here and now, let us realize
Someday when you stand in the middle
Like it or not you're gonna look both ways
You're gonna find that time is a riddle
Where days turn into years and years into the blink of an eye
Child, once I saw a man on the TV
Lead a nation up a mountain
He said, children, look over yonder
The flame of truth is burning brightly
Sometimes you look so far, there's only so much time
Only so many of us are gonna get there
Here and now is all we really have
But if we can make it count we got no reason to worry
Someday when you stand in the middle
Like it or not you're gonna look both ways
You're gonna find that time is a riddle
Where days turn into years and years into the blink of an eye
You're gonna walk that mile
You're gonna be in that number
You're gonna make that journey
Just like the good book says
There's a time to be born, a time to cross over
The lyrics to Michael McDonald's song, "Blink of an Eye" reflect the realization that life is fleeting and time is truly a mystery. The opening lines, "Child, as I look in your eyes/You know my life seems like a minute," speaks to the idea that time seems to fly by in the blink of an eye, and that it's important to cherish the moments we have with loved ones, such as the child mentioned in the song. The mention of "living proof/Of all the wonder life hold in it" further emphasizes the importance of appreciating and finding wonder in the everyday moments of life.
The next lines, "In the past I thought I had to learn/Any good that comes from this life we're living," suggests that the singer has come to understand that the true value of life cannot be learned or measured. Instead, the realization that "this life's gift and it's already been given" brings a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the time we have on this earth. The song then switches to a discussion of a metaphorical mountain, and the importance of looking towards the flame of truth and making each moment count.
The chorus reinforces the concept of time being a "riddle," with the rapid passage of days turning into years in the blink of an eye. However, the final lines of the song affirm the idea that there is still time to accomplish what we need to in life, as "there's a time to be born, a time to cross over."
Overall, "Blink of an Eye" serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of cherishing the present moment and living life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Child, as I look in your eyes
I see the wonder and fleeting nature of life in your innocent eyes.
You know my life seems like a minute
Compared to the vastness of time, my life feels like a mere moment.
There I find living proof
Your existence is proof of the beauty and preciousness of life.
Of all the wonder life hold in it
Life holds endless wonders and treasures that are worth cherishing.
In the past I thought I had to learn
I used to believe that I had to seek knowledge and wisdom in order to fully experience life.
Any good that comes from this life we're living
But in reality, the goodness of life is already present in our existence.
Here and now, let us realize
Therefore, we should focus on the present moment and acknowledge the gifts that life has bestowed upon us.
That this life's gift and it's already been given
Life is a gift that has already been given to us, and we should be grateful for it.
Someday when you stand in the middle
One day, when you are in the midst of your life journey,
Like it or not you're gonna look both ways
You will realize that you have a limited amount of time and must make the most of it.
You're gonna find that time is a riddle
Time is a mysterious and elusive concept that is difficult to comprehend.
Where days turn into years and years into the blink of an eye
Days turn into years and time flies by quickly, without us realizing it.
Child, once I saw a man on the TV
Once, I saw a man on television who inspired me.
Lead a nation up a mountain
He led a nation to great heights and achievements.
He said, children, look over yonder
He urged children to look towards the future and to strive for greatness.
The flame of truth is burning brightly
He reminded them that truth and justice are invaluable virtues that should guide their actions.
Sometimes you look so far, there's only so much time
At times, we may get lost in our dreams and aspirations, but time is always limited.
Only so many of us are gonna get there
Only a few people will actually achieve their desired goals in life.
Here and now is all we really have
Therefore, we should focus on the present moment and make the most of what we have.
But if we can make it count we got no reason to worry
If we can make our lives count and leave a positive impact, we have no reason to worry about the future.
You're gonna walk that mile
You will have to work hard to achieve your goals.
You're gonna be in that number
You will be counted among those who have succeeded.
You're gonna make that journey
You will embark on a personal journey to fulfill your dreams and aspirations.
Just like the good book says
As it is written in the Bible,
There's a time to be born, a time to cross over
There is a time for everything in life, from birth to death, and we must make the most of the time we have.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GEORGE PERILLI, MICHAEL H. MCDONALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind