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.
Walk On By
Michael McDonald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I start to cry each time we meet
Walk on by, walk on by
Foolish pride
Is all that I have left
So let me hide
The tears and the sadness you gave me
Walk on by
And walk on by
And walk by
I just can't get over losing you
And so if I seem broken and blue
Walk on by, walk on by
Make believe
That you don't see the tears
Just let me grieve
In private 'cause each time I see you
I break down and cry
Walk on by
Walk on by
Walk on by
Walk on by
Walk on by
Walk on by
Walk on by
Walk on by
Walk on by
Make believe
That you don't see the tears
Just let me grieve
In private 'cause each time I see you
I break down and cry
Walk on by
Walk on by
Walk on by
Walk on by
Walk on by
Walk on by
The lyrics to Michael McDonald's song "Walk On By" express a deep sense of heartbreak and regret that often accompanies the end of a relationship. The singer asks to be left alone and for the person he is addressing to simply walk by him without noticing his pain. Each time they meet, he is overcome with emotions and is unable to hide his tears. The lyrics speak to feelings of vulnerability, deep sadness, and a desire for privacy in the face of heartbreak.
The line "foolish pride is all that I have left" suggests that the singer is struggling with his own ego and the fact that he is unable to move on from this relationship. He is left with little but his own sense of self-importance, and he clings to it as a way of preserving his own sense of worth. However, this ultimately leaves him feeling isolated and alone, as he is unable to express his true feelings to the person he loves.
Overall, the lyrics to "Walk On By" offer a powerful expression of the difficulties that come with heartbreak and the sometimes-overwhelming emotions that can accompany it. The song is a powerful reminder of the need for compassion and understanding when dealing with these kinds of intense emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
If you see me walking down the street
If you happen to come across me on the street while I'm walking
And I start to cry each time we meet
And I begin to weep whenever we cross paths
Walk on by, walk on by
Please continue on your way and don't stop to comfort me
Foolish pride
I am being foolishly prideful
Is all that I have left
It's the only thing I'm clinging onto
So let me hide
I'd rather not show my sadness
The tears and the sadness you gave me
The tears and sadness that came from you leaving me
When you said goodbye
When you departed from me
Walk on by
Just continue on your way
And walk on by
And don't look back
I just can't get over losing you
I am struggling to cope with the loss of you
And so if I seem broken and blue
So if I come across as damaged and sad
Walk on by, walk on by
Please don't stop to comfort me
Make believe
Pretend
That you don't see the tears
That you didn't notice me crying
Just let me grieve
Allow me to mourn
In private 'cause each time I see you
In secret because every time I see you
I break down and cry
I become emotional and cry
Walk on by
Please don't stop to comfort me
Walk on by
And don't look back
Walk on by
Just continue on your way
Walk on by
And don't stop for me
Walk on by
And don't look back
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind