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."
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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.
I Knew You Were Waiting
Michael McDonald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And wins the battle
I know the taste of victory
Though I went through some nights
Consumed by the shadows
I was crippled emotionally
Somehow I made it through the heartache
Yes I did, I escaped
I kept my faith (I know you did), kept my faith
[Chorus]
When the river was deep I didn't falter
When the mountain was high I still believed
When the valley was low it didn't stop me, no no
I knew you were waiting, I knew you were waiting for me
With an endless desire I kept on searching
Sure in time our eyes would meet
Like the bridge is on fire
The hurt is over, one touch and you set me free
I don't regret a single moment, no I don't looking hack
When I think of all those disappointments
I just laugh (I know you do), I just laugh
[Chorus]
So we were drawn together through destiny
I know this love we shared was meant to be
I knew you were waiting, I, I knew you were waiting
I knew you were waiting, knew you were waiting for me
I did not falter when the mountain was high
I still believed when the valley was low
It did not stop me I knew you were waiting, I knew you were waiting for me
When the mountain was high, knew you were waiting
When the valley was low, I knew it baby, I knew it baby
I knew you were waiting, I knew you were waiting
Knew you were waiting for me
I cant not falter, when the mountain was high
I still believed when the valley was low
It did not stop me
Cause I knew you were waiting
Knew you were waiting for me
When the mountain was high
When the valley was low...
The lyrics to Michael McDonald's song "I Knew You Were Waiting" tell a story of perseverance in love. The opening lines compare the singer's journey to that of a warrior who has fought and won a battle – suggesting that the singer has overcome significant challenges in their life. The following lines describe the singer's emotional struggles, but also highlight their strength and resilience. Though they may have been "consumed by the shadows" at times, they managed to keep their faith and eventually found their way out of the darkness.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the singer's determination in the face of adversity. The repetition of the phrase "I knew you were waiting" suggests that despite the difficulties the singer has faced, they have remained confident in their belief that true love was waiting for them. They did not falter when faced with deep rivers or high mountains – metaphorical obstacles that could represent any number of challenges the singer may have faced in their journey. Likewise, they did not let low valleys stop them from reaching their destination. In the end, their persistence paid off and they found the love they had been seeking.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Knew You Were Waiting" are a testament to the power of perseverance and faith. Despite facing difficult times, the singer remained committed to their goal and eventually found their way to the love they had been searching for.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a warrior that fights
And wins the battle
Just like a warrior who fights and ultimately succeeds in winning the battle, I too have tasted the sweetness of victory.
I know the taste of victory
I have experienced the feeling of succeeding and achieving success.
Though I went through some nights
Consumed by the shadows
I was crippled emotionally
Although I went through emotional turmoil and was left in complete darkness, my spirit still held on within me.
Somehow I made it through the heartache
Yes I did, I escaped
Despite the emotional turmoil and darkness, I managed to rise above the pain and escape it successfully.
I found my way out of the darkness
I kept my faith (I know you did), kept my faith
I found my way out of the darkness and I never lost my faith in myself and my abilities to pull through.
When the river was deep I didn't falter
When the mountain was high I still believed
When the valley was low it didn't stop me, no no
I knew you were waiting, I knew you were waiting for me
Despite going through tough times, nothing could hinder me or halt my progress. I was able to conquer any obstacles in my path as I held on to the belief and knowledge that someone was waiting for me on the other side.
With an endless desire I kept on searching
Sure in time our eyes would meet
With an unquenchable thirst, I kept searching for something more, believing that someday our paths would cross.
Like the bridge is on fire
The hurt is over, one touch and you set me free
Just like when a bridge catches fire and is eventually extinguished, the pain and hurt were also quenched leading to freedom and healing with just one touch.
I don't regret a single moment, no I don't looking back
When I think of all those disappointments
I just laugh (I know you do), I just laugh
I have no regrets and I don't look back on disappointments with bitterness. Instead, I laugh thinking of all those moments, knowing that they were lessons that ultimately led to me being where I am now.
So we were drawn together through destiny
I know this love we shared was meant to be
Our meeting and coming together was fate or destiny, and I am certain that our love and relationship was predetermined and meant to be.
I did not falter when the mountain was high
I still believed when the valley was low
It did not stop me I knew you were waiting, I knew you were waiting for me
When the mountain was high, knew you were waiting
When the valley was low, I knew it baby, I knew it baby
I knew you were waiting, I knew you were waiting
Knew you were waiting for me
I cant not falter, when the mountain was high
I still believed when the valley was low
It did not stop me
Cause I knew you were waiting
Knew you were waiting for me
When the mountain was high
When the valley was low...
No matter how tough the times were, I never lost faith or faltered. I knew deep down that you were waiting for me, whether the mountain was high or the valley was low. It did not hinder me, knowing that you were waiting and rooting for me on the other side, even when times were tough.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dennis Morgan, Simon Climie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind