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.
No Lookin' Back
Michael McDonald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My wheels are the only sound
Runnin' at the speed of sight
I can't slow down
Out on the open road
Racing to beat the night
No matter where I go
So why don't I understand
What's trippin' me up
It used to be a simple thing
I can't hold on, I can't return
Time to let go, start to live and learn
I took the one way flight
Too high to see the ground
Now I know how long it takes
A heart to come down
Why don't I understand
What's trippin' me up
It ought to be a simple thing
I can't hold on, I can't return
Time to let go, start to live and learn
I can't hold on, I can't return
Rivers will run, bridges will burn
I'm not sure just how
But there's no lookin' back now
The lyrics to Michael McDonald's song "No Lookin' Back" describe a situation where the singer is on the open road, racing against time to beat the night. However, despite the apparent clarity of his destination, he is unsure of what is tripping him up. He seems to be holding onto something that he can't return to, and he knows that it is time to let go and start living and learning. The singer reflects on his journey and how he took a one-way flight that was too high to see the ground. Now that he knows how long it takes for the heart to come down, he still can't understand what's tripping him up. The singer ultimately resigns himself to the fact that there is no looking back now, and he must press forward, even if he's not sure how.
The lyrics to this song are open to interpretation, but it seems to be describing someone who has moved on from something but is finding it a little difficult to let go completely. The phrase "No Lookin' Back" seems to be a sort of declaration that there's no turning back now, which is indicative of someone who's fearful of moving on. Perhaps this is a personal situation for the singer, or perhaps it's a metaphor for something deeper, like coming to terms with aging or mortality. Regardless of what the song is about, it's a powerful statement about the need to let go of the past and start living in the present.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm fading out of sight
I'm losing my way and becoming invisible to others.
My wheels are the only sound
The only thing I can hear is the sound of my own life moving forward.
Runnin' at the speed of sight
I'm living fast and furiously, always keeping up with the latest trends and fads.
I can't slow down
I'm committed to moving forward, and I can't afford to slow down, even when others ask me to.
Out on the open road
I'm in a place where there are no rules, no boundaries, and no limits to what I can achieve.
Racing to beat the night
I'm trying to outdo the darkness that sometimes threatens to engulf me, to prove to myself that I can overcome my fears.
No matter where I go
I'm always on the move, always looking for something new, something different, something to give me a sense of purpose.
Guess I'll get there all right
Despite the uncertainty and the obstacles, I'm confident that I'll eventually find my way and achieve my goals.
So why don't I understand
What's trippin' me up
It used to be a simple thing
I'm confused and frustrated by the fact that what used to be easy and straightforward has become complicated and difficult to navigate.
I can't hold on, I can't return
Time to let go, start to live and learn
I must accept that I can't go back to the way things were before. Instead, I need to learn from my mistakes and move forward with a new perspective.
I took the one way flight
Too high to see the ground
Now I know how long it takes
A heart to come down
I made a decision that took me further away from reality and into a world of illusion. However, I've been humbled by the fact that it's not easy to return to a place of balance and serenity once you've left it.
Rivers will run, bridges will burn
I'm not sure just how
But there's no lookin' back now
Change is inevitable, and some of the things that used to be familiar and reliable will disappear. Although I don't know what the future holds, I'm prepared to embrace it and move forward, without regrets.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kenneth Clark Loggins, Michael H. Mcdonald, Ed Sanford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stevel.7565
Left my toxic family and friends in 2015. Life has been rewarding and a blessing ever since. Married, excellent career, and beautiful 18 month old daughter. Thank you, Michael.
@ameron1488
thats live!
@marquitaarmstrong399
Hurray for you. Stay blessed
@0906blue
So happy for you, God loves you very much. Didn't go that way for me but I'm so happy for you. Waiting on my blessing.
@vincentross7469
That's awesome! Keep up the good work.
@GibberingTool
Nice one 👍
@eshamuryeam9233
A very beautiful forgotten eloquent America. Dynamic, bright and special!
@pantelaja6528
Ete vam ga sad onaj cogonja Lebron i čamuge da vam govore šta i kako.😄
@davidbrosky8079
Very well said and heartfelt
@michaelbender9311
One of the best voices in the Rock/Pop History so far...