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.
Love T.K.O.
Michael McDonald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Told myself time and time again 'This time I'm gonna win'
But in every fight things ain't right, losin' again
Takes a fool to lose twice, start all over again
[Chorus]
Think I'd better let it go
Looks like another love T.K.O.
Looks like another love T.K.O.
Tried to take control of love, love took control of me
Cause you lose all thought, sense of time and have a change of mind
Takin' the bumps and the bruises of all the things of a two-time loser
Try to hold on, faith is gone, it's just another sad song
[Chorus: x2]
Tried to take control of the love, love took control of me
Cause you lose all thought, sense of time and have a change of mind
Takin' the bumps and the bruises of all the things of a two-time loser
Try to hold on, the faith is gone, it's just another sad song
[Chorus: x4]
The lyrics of Love T.K.O. by Michael McDonald are an expression of the ups and downs of love, especially when love is lost. It's a reflection on the years of experience and the heartbreak that comes with holding onto love. The sentiment is clear throughout the song. The singer has been in love before and thought that it was going to last, but it didn't. Now he's in a similar position, and it seems like history is repeating itself.
The song highlights the loss of faith in love and how it's challenging to hold on to it despite the bumps and bruises that come with it. Even when you're trying to take control of your emotions and make plans to win in love, it's easy for love to take control of you, and everything falls apart. The singer knows that he has to let go of this love to avoid another TKO. He recognizes that it's better to walk away from this relationship and start all over again. However, the sadness in his voice shows that it's not an easy decision to make.
In summary, Love T.K.O. by Michael McDonald is a relatable song about the challenge of love and loss. It's an emotional journey that many listeners have been on, making it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Thinking back over my years I guess I shedded some tears
As I reflect on my life, I realize that there have been times when I cried due to heartbreak and disappointment.
Told myself time and time again 'This time I'm gonna win'
I repeatedly encouraged myself to believe that I will find love and be successful in it.
But in every fight things ain't right, losin' again
Regardless of how much effort I put in, things don't always work out and I end up losing in love.
Takes a fool to lose twice, start all over again
I've made the mistake of losing in love more than once, and I know I need to try again despite my past failures.
[Chorus] Think I'd better let it go
Looks like another love T.K.O.
I need to accept the fact that this love is not meant to be, as it seems to be another crushing defeat in my love life.
Tried to take control of love, love took control of me
I attempted to control my emotions in love, but ended up being overwhelmed and consumed by them instead.
Cause you lose all thought, sense of time and have a change of mind
Being in love can make you lose your sense of rational thinking, perception of time, and can alter how you see things.
Takin' the bumps and the bruises of all the things of a two-time loser
I've experienced the pain and trauma of past heartbreaks, and it feels like I'm going through it all again as a repeat offender.
Try to hold on, faith is gone, it's just another sad song
Despite my best efforts to hold on to hope, I'm losing faith and it seems like this relationship is just another sad tune in my love life.
[Chorus x2] Think I'd better let it go
Looks like another love T.K.O.
I need to let go of this relationship, as it appears to be yet another knockout in my love life.
[Chorus x4]
Repeating the chorus emphasizes the repeated pattern of defeat, the need to accept that this relationship is not meant to be, and the need to move on and try again.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cecil Womack, Gip Edward, Jr. Noble, Linda Womack
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind