Michael was born in Sarstedt, Germany. He started playing in his early teens when his brother Rudolph brought home a Flying V guitar, which captured Michael's imagination. His playing style is unusual in that he seems not to use conventionally practiced guitar scales but seems instead to improvise.
Schenker joined UFO under unusual circumstances. The band left the UK to play some dates in Germany. Their guitarist at the time; Bernie Marsden, forgot his passport and was unable to make the first gig. At the venue UFO spotted Michael playing a soundcheck with the Scorpions and managed to persuade him into playing that evening's show. Despite the language barrier; he spoke no English and they spoke no German, something clearly "clicked" and Schenker brought the ellusive X factor to the band and took them to another level musically.
Schenker has had a turbulent career with UFO, often walking out mid song and causing shows to be cancelled. He is evidently as temperamental as he is gifted. Schenker says his playing with UFO is like chocolate: fantastic for a while but once you've had enough....
Clearly a musical prodigy, Schenker was one of the 1970's most inspirational guitarists, influencing later musicians such as Kirk Hammett from the band Metallica.
Michael was offered gigs with Aerosmith and Ozzy Osbourne but decided he wanted to play his own music and not be a hired hand in another group. In 1979, he founded the Michael Schenker Group (M.S.G). The history of the Michael Schenker Group has been strewn with personality conflicts and "incidents" between band members. In 1982, original vocalist Gary Barden was sacked in favor of Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Alcatrazz) who lasted one album (Assault Attack) and was fired from the band after dropping his pants in a warm-up gig before the Reading festival. Gary Barden was enticed back to the band for Reading and stayed with M.S.G. for the recording of a new studio album (Built to Destroy) and a live album (Rock Will Never Die). After the second departure of vocalist Gary Barden after the Built to Destroy album, Michael reorganized the band around himself and vocalist Robin McAuley as the McAuley Schenker Group. After three albums in that configuration, Michael and Robin parted company.
Michael next rejoined UFO for the album Walk on Water. A short tour punctuated by a fight between Michael and vocalist Phil Mogg ended the reunion.
Michael resurrected the Michael Schenker Group with all new players and recorded three decent albums and toured yearly to appreciative Schenker-heads around the United States and Europe.
Michael fell on hard times in the early 2000's after his divorce in which he lost rights to his own music, his Mercedes and his prized Flying V guitars.
Michael picked himself up and got back to the business of making and performing music. The recording of the album Arachnophobiac and the resulting two years of touring got Michael back in rocking form.
2005 brings the 25th anniversary of the Michael Schenker Group. Michael is putting together a new album of songs called Tales of Rock and Roll honoring that anniversary. Singers from each iteration of the group have been enlisted to sing on a track or two.
A new Michael Schenker Group album is as much about finding out who is left in the band as it is about the music. Devoted fans love him regardless of his personal and personnel problems.
Written in the Sand
Michael Schenker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't wait another day
You really pushed it to the limit
I got stuck in yesterday
She's got all I want in the palm of her hand
And our fate is written in the sand
Written in the sand
I don't wanna wait forever
I just need you here today
Guess you found your little heaven
When your soul got swept away
She's got all I want in the palm of her hand
And our fate is written in the sand
Written in the sand
On a distant planet
Somewhere far away
It's too much to handle
When you're miles away
I can't seem to stand it
When it's gone astray
I got stuck in yesterday
She's got all I want in the palm of her hand
And our fate is written in the sand
She's got all I want in the palm of her hand
And our fate is written in the sand
Written in the sand
The lyrics of Michael Schenker's "Written in the Sand" depict the frustration and longing of the singer who can't bear to wait any longer for his lover. He expresses how much he wants her and implies that she's in control of their future together. The lines "She's got all I want in the palm of her hand/ And our fate is written in the sand" suggest that the singer believes that their destiny is already predetermined and entirely in the hands of his lover. The reference to being "stuck in yesterday" highlights how the singer feels trapped in waiting for his lover and unable to move forward with his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't wait another minute
I am impatient and cannot tolerate any further delay
I can't wait another day
I cannot bear to wait another day for the desired outcome
You really pushed it to the limit
Your actions have tested my patience and perseverance to the extreme
I got stuck in yesterday
My progress has come to a halt due to past events that still affect me
She's got all I want in the palm of her hand
The object of my affection possesses everything I desire and has complete control over me
And our fate is written in the sand
Our future together has already been decided and cannot be altered
I don't wanna wait forever
I am unwilling to be patient indefinitely
I just need you here today
The presence of the person I desire is essential to my well-being
Guess you found your little heaven
You have discovered your own personal paradise
When your soul got swept away
Your emotions and desires took over and consumed you completely
On a distant planet
In a place far away and unknown
Somewhere far away
In a distant location that is unfamiliar to me
It's too much to handle
The situation is overwhelming and difficult to manage
When you're miles away
When you are physically distant from me
I can't seem to stand it
I cannot tolerate the current circumstances any longer
When it's gone astray
When things have veered off course and away from what is desired
Written in the sand
The destiny of myself and the person I desire has been predetermined
Contributed by Cameron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
FeelingShred
the timestamps in the description were slightly off, here are the corrected ones:
00:00 Brave New World
04:14 Cry No More
09:32 I Believe
15:20 Back To Life
21:32 Written In The Sand
25:00 Essence
30:22 Love Never Dies
36:08 I Will Be There
41:11 Take Me Through The Night
47:18 Down The Drain
51:04 Into The Arena
55:02 Cry For The Nations
Fabiano Grotto
Michael Schenker Group - Written In The Sand (1996)
TRACKLIST:
00:00 1. Brave New World
04:14 2. Cry No More
09:34 3. I Believe
15:21 4. Back To Life
21:33 5. Written In The Sand
25:02 6. Essenz (instrumental)
30:23 7. Love Never Dies
36:09 8. I Will Be There
41:12 9. Take Me Through the Night
47:20 10. Down the Drain
51:06 11. Into The Arena (live bonus track)
55:02 12. Cry For The Nations (live bonus track)
FeelingShred
corrected timings and song order ;D
00:00 Brave New World
04:14 Cry No More
09:32 I Believe
15:20 Back To Life
21:32 Written In The Sand
25:00 Essence
30:22 Love Never Dies
36:08 I Will Be There
41:11 Take Me Through The Night
47:18 Down The Drain
51:04 Into The Arena
55:02 Cry For The Nations
Crispino Pastore
Such a great go-to record for me for years! Never gets old ever.
ADEMIR
Esse álbum é impecável ! Só tem fera tocando, na gravação japonesa tem dois bônus maravilhosos.
david smith
This is such an incredible album. He left UFO again. And found himself a great vocalist. And created a masterpiece.
Robert
Without a doubt the best vocalist he’s ever had.
Archie Ferrarini
Brilliant as usual! Thanks for the great music Michael Schenker.
Tommy Amato Rock Relief
I've always love this release from MSB, used to have the disc in 1996. Thanks so much for uploading! Great singing, great playing and a killer rhythm section!
Salvatore La Grasta
I have always loved MSG and this is a great album.
Archie Ferrarini
Written in the Sand is one of the best MSG songs ever ❤
Dale Hogan
I love this lineup! Michael, Barry, and Shane. Solid.
Wolf of Caladrien
Great work from Schenker! I like it very much. 😎🎸