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.
Still Not Over You
Michael McDonald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, no, no, no
No flowers where there used to be
Just on the table there
Just like you they're gone
And now the table's bare
I see
Memories of a love so strong
This lonely room just echoes
Telling me you're gone
[Chorus: ]
It's not over yet
Each night in my dreams
You're back in my arms
Still here in my arms
Like you used to be
But each morning I awake
And I face reality
I'm still not over you
Getting over me
A foolish heart, like mine
Will always take for granted
That precious love like yours
Will wait till I come back
But too many times
I turned away
Leaving you to cry alone
But with every tear I'm learning
All the ways that I was wrong
[Chorus:]
I'm still not over you
And I'll never be
I'm still not over you
Getting over me
In "Still Not Over You," Michael McDonald sings about a love that he lost and is struggling to move on from. He describes a feeling of emptiness, as the flowers that used to be present in the room are gone, and there's nothing left but memories of the strong love he once shared with his partner. Everywhere he turns, he is constantly reminded of his former flame, and the loneliness in the room amplifies these emotions. McDonald admits that he was foolish and took his partner's love for granted, assuming it would always be there waiting for him when he returns. However, he eventually learned the error of his ways as he watched his partner cry alone too many times. He is still not over his partner because every night, she is in his dreams, and he holds her in his arms like he used to. However, reality sets in each morning, and he faces the harsh truth of losing her.
The song captures the bittersweet feelings that come with heartbreak. It's easy to see the pain that McDonald is feeling as he tries (and fails) to move on from the relationship. He acknowledges that he was at fault for the breakup, and it's clear that he's remorseful for his careless actions. The lyrics are easy to relate to, as almost everyone has experienced heartbreak at some point in their lives. The melody is simple but impactful, adding another layer of emotion to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
No flowers where there used to be
The absence of flowers signifies the end of our relationship
Just on the table there
The flowers left only brief memories
Just like you they're gone
Just like you, the flowers are gone too
And now the table's bare
The table looks empty without the flowers or you
Everywhere I turn
Everywhere I look, I'm reminded of the love we had
I see Memories of a love so strong
I see memories of a love that was deep and powerful
This lonely room just echoes
This empty room amplifies my loneliness
Telling me you're gone
The silence in the room confirms that you have left
It's not over yet
Despite the breakup, I'm still holding onto our love
Each night in my dreams
You continue to appear in my dreams and thoughts
You're back in my arms
In my dreams, I still hold onto the idea of being reunited with you
Still here in my arms
In my dreams, you're still with me
Like you used to be
Just like the past, I cling onto memories of you
But each morning I awake
Every morning I wake up to the reality that you're not here
And I face reality
I acknowledge the truth that our relationship is over
I'm still not over you
I'm still struggling to move on from you
Getting over me
You may have moved on, but I'm still dealing with the consequences of my actions
A foolish heart, like mine
I was foolish to have taken you for granted
Will always take for granted
I didn't appreciate your love as much as I should have
That precious love like yours
Our love was special and valuable
Will wait till I come back
I believed that you would always be there for me, even if I hurt you
But too many times
I hurt you repeatedly
I turned away
I didn't give you the love and attention that you deserved
Leaving you to cry alone
I made you feel alone and neglected
But with every tear I'm learning
I'm realizing my mistakes by acknowledging the pain I caused you
All the ways that I was wrong
I was wrong in many ways and didn't treat you as I should have
I'll never be
I don't think I'll ever be able to forget you or move on completely
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DENNIS MORGAN, SIMON CLIMIE, MICHAEL H. MCDONALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind