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.
Open the Door
Michael McDonald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We may not always understand
We may not always know the way
We can cry and we can hurt sometimes
But we both know what's important
At the end of the line
It's not always the case that we know just what to do
But when it comes to me and you
[Chorus:]
We've both been here before
So let love open up the door
What love will surely show us
Ain't that what we came here for?
So let love open the door
Maybe it's time that we hold on tight
In each others embrace
We might just see the morning light
'Cause when we touch
It's like a brand new start
It's there we find the music in each others heart
And we might just discover that we don't always see what's for real
Love is somethin' that you feel
We've both been here before
So let love open up the door
What love will surely show us
Ain't that what we came here for?
It ain't nothin' new
Just a chance to finally see this love through
This love has one purpose (and)
Never asks for anything more
So let love open the door
Sometimes words only mean so much
They don't say how we feel
They don't keep us in touch
It's too late once we drift apart
All that's left are the pieces of two broken hearts
[Chorus]
Amy sings...
Love is sweet, love is kind
Love will open up your mind
Let love open up the door
All that counts, nothin' more
Love is what we came here for
Let love open up the door
The song "Open the Door" by Michael McDonald is a love song with layered meanings. The song explores the idea that even when you are lost, feeling hurt, and may not know the way, love can inevitably guide you in the right direction. The lyrics urge couples to hold on tight to each other and discover the music in one another's hearts. The chorus emphasizes the core message of love being the key to unlocking a bright future, and we can find light even when we're lost. Furthermore, the lyrics highlight the importance of never drifting apart, listening to one's emotions, and being receptive to love.
The song is an emotional one, with delicate chords, and McDonald's soulful voice adding to the emotional resonance of the lyrics. The verses explore the complexities of love and its confusing ways. The chorus emphasizes letting go of fear and trusting love's ability to show us the way.
Line by Line Meaning
We're lost, baby that's ok
We may feel lost, but we reassure each other that it's alright
We may not always understand
Sometimes we won't comprehend everything, but that's okay too
We may not always know the way
We won't always have all the answers or a plan, but we can figure it out together
We can cry and we can hurt sometimes
We have emotions, and it's okay to express them and be vulnerable with each other
But we both know what's important
We share a mutual understanding of what matters most to us
At the end of the line
Ultimately, we're in this together until the end
It's not always the case that we know just what to do
We don't always have all the answers or a plan, but we can figure it out together
But when it comes to me and you
We are a team and we work things out together as partners
We've both been here before
We have experienced similar situations in the past
So let love open up the door
Let our love guide us through difficult times and provide us with comfort
What love will surely show us
Our love will reveal things to us that we may not have seen before
Ain't that what we came here for?
Isn't love the reason why we're together in the first place?
Maybe it's time that we hold on tight
We need to cling to each other and be there for one another
In each others embrace
Being close to each other provides us with comfort and security
We might just see the morning light
Despite tough times, things will eventually get better and brighter
'Cause when we touch
Our connection brings us joy and rejuvenation
It's like a brand new start
Being together feels refreshing and like a new beginning
It's there we find the music in each others heart
We discover a mutual rhythm and happiness in our love
And we might just discover that we don't always see what's for real
Sometimes our perspectives are clouded, and we may need to look at things differently with the help of our love
Love is somethin' that you feel
Our love is a genuine and strong feeling that we experience
It ain't nothin' new
Love is a universal feeling and concept that people have experienced for ages
Just a chance to finally see this love through
We have the opportunity to continue experiencing our love and strengthening our relationship
This love has one purpose (and)
Our love has a clear goal and mission
Never asks for anything more
Our love is pure and doesn't require anything else to exist
Sometimes words only mean so much
Sometimes words can't fully express the depth of our feelings
They don't say how we feel
Words may not always accurately convey our emotions and love
They don't keep us in touch
Words may not always keep us connected in the way that we need
It's too late once we drift apart
Once a distance comes between us, it may be too difficult to reconcile
All that's left are the pieces of two broken hearts
If our love fades, it will leave us both heartbroken and shattered
Love is sweet, love is kind
Love is gentle and compassionate
Love will open up your mind
Love can broaden our perspectives and help us grow as individuals
All that counts, nothin' more
Our love is what truly matters and is valuable to us
Love is what we came here for
Our love is the most important aspect of our life journey
Let love open up the door
Let's allow our love to guide and comfort us as we encounter challenges
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MICHAEL H. MC DONALD, TOMMY L. SIMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind