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.
Into The Mystic
Michael McDonald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Also younger than the sun
Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic
Hark, now hear the sailors cry
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic
And when that fog horn blows I will be coming home
I don't have to fear it
Cause I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
Then magnificently we will flow into the mystic
Come on girl
Can you hear it
Come on girl
Into the mystic
And when that fog horn blows you know I will be coming home
And when that fog horn blows I got to hear it
I don't have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And together we will flow into the mystic
I want to hear it
You don't have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul
Come on girl...
Hear the sailors cry
Into the mystic
The lyrics to Michael McDonald's song "Into The Mystic" paint a vivid picture of a journey through the ocean. The lines "We were born before the wind, also younger than the sun" seem to indicate that the singer and his companion are experiencing a journey that is simultaneously timeless and deeply connected to the natural world. The lyrics speak of a journey "into the mystic", a phrase that suggests a spiritual or otherworldly experience. The simple phrase "hark, now hear the sailors cry, smell the sea and feel the sky" evokes a sense of deeper connection to both the natural world and to one's own soul.
The chorus of the song seems to suggest that the singer and his companion will experience a transformative journey, with the repeated line "I want to rock your gypsy soul" echoing a sense of freedom and exploration. The line "And when that fog horn blows I will be coming home" indicates a sense of comfort and familiarity with the journey, and the idea that the singer is ultimately returning to a place of safety and security.
Overall, the lyrics to "Into The Mystic" evoke a sense of wonder, mystery, and interconnectedness with the natural world. The song celebrates the joy and beauty of exploring life's mysteries, and suggests that there is always room for growth and transformation, no matter how old we are or how long we have been on our journey.
Line by Line Meaning
We were born before the wind
We were born before any troubles in life hit us.
Also younger than the sun
We were young enough to have an abundant life ahead of us.
Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic
Before we got our boat that we sailed into the unknown with.
Hark, now hear the sailors cry
Listen to the sound of the sailors calling us.
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Enjoy the crisp air around us as we embrace the sea.
Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic
Allow yourself to get lost and be one with nature as we embark on this journey.
And when that fog horn blows I will be coming home
When we hear the fog horn, it's time to go back to where we belong, our home.
And when the fog horn blows I want to hear it
I crave to hear the fog horn that will indicate that we are to return home safely.
I don't have to fear it
I'm not afraid of the unknown because I'm with someone I trust and love.
Cause I want to rock your gypsy soul
I want to move you and take you on a journey like nomads.
Just like way back in the days of old
I want to take you back to the time when life felt simpler and love was pure.
Then magnificently we will flow into the mystic
Together, we will gracefully move into the unknown with magnificence.
Come on girl
Let's go.
Can you hear it
Are you ready for the journey?
And when that fog horn blows you know I will be coming home
When we hear the fog horn, we both know it's time to head back home.
And when that fog horn blows I got to hear it
I need to hear the fog horn as it's a signal that we're heading home safely.
I don't have to fear it
I'm not scared because I'm with the one I love and trust.
I want to rock your gypsy soul
I want to take you on a journey as I did before.
And together we will flow into the mystic
Together we will explore the unknown with ease and poise.
I want to hear it
I want to hear that fog horn, so I know we are safe and heading back home.
You don't have to fear it
There is no reason to be scared as we will go together.
Come on girl...
Let's go experience the unknown together.
Hear the sailors cry
Listen to the sailors and their inviting calls, luring us to the sea.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind