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.
Miracle
Michael McDonald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That a lamb lost unto this world
Would be the victory that we need
As he lay beneath the shining star
Chosen before time began
Eternal love from our father
It takes a miracle
It takes a miracle
To the mind it is illogical
[Chorus:]
A world in need
A heart in chains
That's all god needs
To make a miracle
A soul ashamed
A life of pain
That's all god needs
To make a miracle
How does a wise man know
That it's not just another star
How do I chose to follow
What speaks unto my heart
It takes a miracle
How sweet the sound my father's voice
It takes a miracle
This holy night we will rejoice
[Chorus:]
This time has come that we might know his way
In this world a need to find our faith
To understand what we know nothing of
We lead the faith to understand the power of love
It takes a miracle
How sweet the sound my father's voice
It takes a miracle
This holy night we will rejoice
The song "Miracle" by Michael McDonald is a powerful gospel song that reflects on the Christian belief in the birth of Jesus Christ as a miracle. The lines, "How many would believe, That a lamb lost unto this world, Would be the victory that we need," are referencing the life and death of Jesus, who Christians believe was the sacrifice needed to save humanity. The "shining star" refers to the Star of Bethlehem, which was seen by the wise men and led them to the baby Jesus.
The chorus of the song speaks to the power of faith and the ability of God to perform miracles in the lives of believers. McDonald sings, "It takes a miracle, To the world it is impossible, It takes a miracle, To the mind it is illogical." This highlights the fact that faith in God requires a belief in something beyond what we can see or comprehend.
The final verses of the song speak to the importance of faith and the need to understand the power of love. Lines like, "In this world a need to find our faith, To understand what we know nothing of, We lead the faith to understand the power of love," emphasize the ongoing journey of faith and the continual need to seek and understand God's love.
Overall, "Miracle" is a beautiful and inspiring song that affirms a belief in the power of God and the importance of faith in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
How many would believe
How many people would actually believe in the power of a lamb, who was lost in this world, to bring us the victory we need?
That a lamb lost unto this world
The lamb, who was lost and had to go through hardships in this world, is a symbol of hope and victory.
Would be the victory that we need
The victory we seek can come from unexpected sources, like a lost lamb.
As he lay beneath the shining star
The lamb, abandoned and alone, lay beneath the shining star, a symbol of hope and salvation.
Chosen before time began
God had chosen the lamb, and his fate was set even before the beginning of time.
Eternal love from our father
God's love is infinite and eternal, and it encompasses all creatures, including the lost lamb.
It takes a miracle
Only a miracle can bring about the intervention that we need to overcome our struggles.
To the world it is impossible
What we see as impossible can be possible only with the power of God's intervention.
To the mind it is illogical
Our limited minds cannot comprehend the power of faith and miracles, but they exist and can move mountains.
A world in need
The world is in need of divine intervention to overcome its problems and find hope and salvation.
A heart in chains
Many people's hearts are chained by their problems and struggles, and they need God's intervention to set them free.
That's all god needs
God only needs our sincere faith, hope, and trust to bring about a miracle and set us free.
To make a miracle
God can use anything, anyone, or any situation to bring about a miracle and show His power and love.
A soul ashamed
Many people feel ashamed, guilty, or unworthy of God's love, and they need a miracle to set them free from their pain and shame.
A life of pain
Many people live in pain, suffering, and despair, and they need God's miraculous intervention to heal their wounds and bring them new life.
How does a wise man know
How can we know with certainty what is wise or foolish, good or evil, true or false, without seeking God's guidance and wisdom?
That it's not just another star
The star that guided the wise men was not just any star, but a unique and miraculous sign from God to show them the way.
How do I chose to follow
How can we choose to follow God's plan and purpose for our life, and not just our own desires, fears, or doubts?
What speaks unto my heart
We need to listen to our heart, the inner voice of God's wisdom and love, to discern His will and purpose for our life.
This time has come that we might know his way
This is the time for us to seek and know God's way, and to follow it with faith, hope, and love.
In this world a need to find our faith
In this world of confusion, pain, and suffering, we need to find our faith, the anchor of our soul that gives us hope and strength.
To understand what we know nothing of
We need to seek God's wisdom and understanding to comprehend the mysteries and wonders of His plan and creation.
We lead the faith to understand the power of love
We can inspire others by our faith to also understand the power of love, the greatest force in the universe, that can conquer all evil and hatred.
This holy night we will rejoice
On this holy night, we will rejoice in the miracle of God's love, and celebrate His gift of salvation to all who believe and trust in Him.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MARC HARRIS, MICHAEL MCDONALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Helen Beseda
The lyrics to this song are so moving - and with Mike McD's voice, it's stellar. A world in need, a heart in chains, that's all God needs to make a miracle. A soul ashamed, a life of pain, that's all my God needs, to make a miracle. AMEN. Bring on those miracles!
Brent Foster
My new favorite holiday song. Michael is a LEGEND!!!!
Anthony Peters
There's something very genuine about this man. He has an aura of goodness about him somehow.
Jean Jones
He is a believer in the God of miracles. His life is a testimony of the Grace and goodness of the God of the Bible. Just saw him in a concert recently, very few dry eyes.
Kathy Kline
He is.
Sharon Kutz
He voice has not changed. Saw him at a state fair with Doobie Brothers many years ago. Voice i s still smooth
Wilhelmina Collier
Another gift of a timely song from the soul of Mr. Michael McDonald !!! Beautiful❤❤
Wilhelmina Collier
Another uplifting gift from the man!!!! Thank you for getting me through this pandemic. ❤❤❤
Holladay Cummings
The voice is an amazing gift...
Suzz7432
I’ve been listening to this one for years. Brings tears to my eyes. The most beautiful lyrics ever.