Michael McDonald Album

(Michael McDonald/Kenny Loggins & Ed Sanford)

I'm fading out of sight
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
Guess I'll get there all right

So why don't I understand
What's trippin' me up
It used to be a simple thing

[Chorus:]
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

[Chorus]

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

(Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller/Michael McDonald/Ed Sanford)

[Chorus:]
I keep forgettin' we're not in love anymore
I keep forgettin' things will never be the same again
I keep forgettin' how you made that so clear
I keep forgettin'

Everytime you're near
Everytime I see you smile
Hear your "hello"
Saying you can only stay a while

Hey, I know that it's hard for you
To say the things that we both know are true
But tell me how come (I)

[Chorus]

Everytime I hear
How you never want to live a lie
How it's gone to far
And you don't have to tell me why

Why you're gone and the game is through
If this is what's real, if this is what's true
Tell me how come (I)

[Chorus]

Don't say that, don't say that, don't say that
I know you're not mine anymore-anyway-anytime
But tell me how come (I)

[Chorus]

(Michael McDonald & Kenny Loggins)

Maybe it's true what they say about it
Maybe we can't make the ends meet
Maybe we'll all have to do without it
Maybe this world's just incomplete

Still we all look for the truth in our lives
Searching from different sides
So hard living in a desperate world
But we all do the best that we can

[Chorus 1:]
Some people see a change
Some will remain the same
But all of them live their lives under the gun
Some see the road as clear
Some say the end is here
They say it's a hopeless fight, well I say I gotta try

Maybe there's too much to think about it
Maybe there ain't nothin' left to say
But if our time's really runnin' out
Then this is no time to run away

'cause we're destined to look for the truth in this life
Blinded by tearful eyes
If it's no use tryin' in a desperate world
Then tell me why was I born

[Chorus 2:]
Some people see a change
Some will remain the same
But all of them live their lives under the gun
Some see the road as clear
Some say the end is here
They say it's a hopeless fight, but I say I gotta try

Lonely-living too lonely
Is it too late
To turn it all around

[Chorus 2]

Someone's tryin'
Someone's cryin' out
While we live under the gun
Someone's livin'
Someone's givin' up

(Michael McDonald & David Pack)

Lost and lonely lives
Drifting like waves at sea
We make it day by day
Watching the world go by

In a moment when time stands still
From here we look out on forever

[Chorus:]
Darling, our love
One love that never fades away
Our love
This love will light the world on its way

Shattered, hopeless dreams
Sifting like grains of sand
We claim it and here we stay
Watching the world go by

And with the strength that we spend in this life
In hope that it goes on forever
We believe as we promise to try, that

[Chorus]

In a moment when time stands still
From here we look out on forever
And we can see all that time will tell

[Chorus]

(James Ingram/Michael McDonald/Rod Temperton/Quincy Jones)

Heavenly father watching us all
We take from each other and give nothing at all
Well it's a dog-gone shame
But never too late for change
So if your luck runs low
Just reach out and call his name, his name

[Chorus:]
Yah mo be there (up and over)
Yah mo be there (up and over)
Yah mo be there (up and over)
Yah mo be there (up and over)
Whenever you call

Never be lonely lost in the night
Just run from the darkness
Looking for the light
'cause it's a long hard road
That leads to a brighter day (hey)
Don't let your heart grow cold
Just reach out and call his name, his name

[Chorus]

You can count on it brother
'cause we're all just finding our way
Travelling through time
People got to keep pushing on
No matter how many dreams slip away
Yah mo be there

Well it's a dog-gone shame
But never too late for change
So when your luck runs low
Just reach out and call his name, his name

(Burt Bacharach & C B Sayer)

So many times
Said it was forever
Said our love would always be true
Something in my heart always knew
I'd be lying here beside you

On my own
On my own
On my own

So many promises
Never should be spoken
Now I know what loving you cost
Now we're up to talking divorce
And we weren't even married

On my own
Once again
One more time
By myself

No one said it was easy
But it once was so easy
Well I believed in love
Now here I stand

I wonder why I'm on my own
Why did it end this way (on my own)
This wasn't how it was supposed to be (on my own)
I wish that we could do it all again

So many times
I know I could have told you
Losin' you, it cuts like a knife
You walked out and there went my life
I don't want to live without you

On my own
Once again
This wasn't how it was supposed to be (on my own)
I wish that we could do it all again (on my own)
I never dreamed I'd spend one night alone
By myself

I've got to find out what was mine again (on my own)
My heart is saying that it's time again (on my own)
And I think that I'm as sure as you

(Michael McDonald/Chuck Sabatino & David Pack)

Girl, they ain't no way out
When something is meant to be
Darling, there ain't no doubt
I'm right where I want to be

So everything you see as the end of our road
I see as only a start
This ain't no time to stop before we begin
And though there's no promises

[Chorus:]
Everytime I think how good it could be
I start to be believe it's up to the stars
I should use my head
But that only tends to lose me and confuse me
Everytime I think how good it could be
I surely believe we'll make it that far
I should use my head
But I only know you by heart, by heart

Girl, I know I'm in
Over my head
But now I need to find out
Just what you want from me

And if I'm reaching too high, you know we live and learn
That's all it takes in this life
I can't be overly cautious where love's concerned
I know there's no promises

[Chorus]

(Michael McDonald)

I met a man standing on the street today
Through his eyes, the world looked so grim
As if we all don't know just what it's like
When the rain falls down and the lightning strikes

But then girl, I've been runnin' most of my life
And I've been around long enough to learn
That one man's blue sky is another man's rain
And no matter what is in it for me, I only know for him

[Chorus:]
These are bad times
These are real bad times
These are sad times
These are bad times

I know we each bear the brunt of our lies
But not until the spirit sinks so low
Does a man start to feel all alone
And when he turns his back on trust
Then they've only just begun

[Chorus]

Oh, I can see there ain't much good left to save

If all we have, we let time erase
But I can still make the blues fade away
Till all I see is your sweet face

(Michael McDonald)

Broken heart, bloodshot stare,
Signs of a fool who cared too much
Now she's gone and he can't remember
How to live without her touch
Hopin' to die but surely livin' to tell
'cause when it comes to matters of the heart
There is nothing a fool won't get used to

After all the whiskey and wisdom he could swallow
He thought it was time to start loving again
So he found someone and prayed his heart would follow
But he could hardly do more than pretend
And though she knew in her heart that his love was lie
When it comes to matters of the heart
There is nothing a fool won't get used to

Well, of all the things love teaches
Of all the ways that it opens our eyes
No more profound than the lesson he learned
The day she walked out of his life
When the road gets most narrow
It's then he remembers her smile
And he sees these words forming on her lips
Across a river of tears he once cried

'cause when it comes to matters of the heart
There is nothing a fool won't get used to
No there is nothing a fool won't get used to

(Rod Temperton)

No more runnin' down the wrong road
Dancin' to a diff'rent drum
Can't you see what's goin' on
Deep inside your heart
Always searchin' for the real thing
Livin' like it's far away
Just leave all the madness in yesterday
You're holdin' the key
When you believe it

[Chorus:]
Shine sweet freedom
Shine your light on me
You are the magic
You're right where I wanna be
Oh sweet freedom carry me along
We'll keep the spirit alive on and on

We'll be dancin' in the moonlight
Smilin' with the risin' sun
Livin' like we've never done
Goin' all the way
Reachin' out to meet the changes
Touchin' every shining star
The light of tomorrow is right where we are
There's no turnin' back
From what I'm feeling

[Chorus]

Coz there'll be starlight all night
When we're close together
Share those feelings dancin' in your eyes
Tonight they're guiding us
Shinin' till the mornin' light

(David Pack And Michael McDonald)

When the morning breaks with the rising sun
Our past mistakes are gonna be undone
'cause no other love could have opened my eyes
To the simple joy of just being alive

'cause in this world it still takes love to get the word started
Talkin' 'bout change just ain't enough to get the word started
We gotta show the world what we're made of, get the word started
These times are gonna get rough, so get the word started
Right now

When shadows fall, our love will shine
On all the good things baby that are left to find
If we don't believe that have half a chance
Then all hopes and dreams are gonna slip through our hands

(Michael McDonald & Chuck Sabatino)

I'm not used to saying things like that
'cause all my best intentions fall so flat
But when it comes down to it
My love for you knows no limit, darling
I'll say, I'll do

[Chorus:]
Any foolish thing to call on your affection
Any foolish thing to show how much I care
Any foolish thing that we say might come about
(any foolish thing that we say might just come true)
Don't take it lightly, girl
'cause it could just work out
(I'd bet it all on you)
That this love won't be any foolish thing

I know you don't believe in every line you hear
Forgive me if I'm sounding too sincere
But I can't take chances you might slip away
While I wait for the right time
And place to say

[Chorus]

Could turn you away
Can lead you astray

Or shadow this love I feel
Anything I say
Might make you see
That deep in my heart
Your love is safe with me

[Chorus]

(Diane Warren And Michael McDonald)

I know that you're afraid to love
You've been hurt before
Love broke your heart so you closed the door
Now here I am outside your world,
Wishin' you'd let me in
Give me half a chance to prove you wrong
Baby all your tears have come and gone
Talkin' 'bout a brand new start

Take it to heart, baby believe it
This love is so strong that it won't let you go
Baby hold on, you'll see just how good it's gonna be
It's gonna be here long as you need it
Never take your world and tear it apart
Take it to heart baby

You're gonna have to trust someone
It's a shame if you don't
Because it ain't no life living all alone
Let me show you how to love again
There's no broken heart that love won't mend
Talkin' 'bout a brand new start

I just want to be the one that'll be there by your side
So take this love of mine
Take it to heart

Baby believe it, this love is so strong, love is so strong baby

(love is a second chance to find all that we lost
Love's always worth a try no matter what the cost
I know you don't believe your tears have come and gone
Give me but half a chance and I will prove you wrong)

[Originally by Stevie Wonder]

People keep on learnin'
Soldiers keep on warrin'
World keep on turnin'
Cause it won't be too long

Powers keep on lyin'
While your people keep on dyin'
World keep on turnin'
Cause it won't be too long

I'm so darn glad he let me try it again
Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin'
Till I reach my highest ground

Teachers keep on teachin'
Preachers keep on preachin'
World keep on turnin'
Cause it won't be too long
Oh no

Lovers keep on lovin'
Believers keep on believin'
Sleepers just stop sleepin'
Cause it won't be too long
Oh no

I'm so glad that he let me try it again
Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin'
Till I reach my highest ground...Whew!

Till I reach my highest ground
No one's gonna bring me down
Oh no
Till I reach my highest ground
Don't let nobody bring you down (they'll sho 'nuff try)
God is gonna show you higher ground
He's the only friend you have around

(Michael McDonald & Grady Walker)

The sight of her ain't like before
For a lonely heart, you should feel much more
You left behind a time when dreams came true
And in this real and lonely world
We only do what we can do

All night long that telephone rings
You remember how you loved that girl
Now you think it don't mean a thing
It keeps coming back
So you turn away

Well, that's all behind you now
Like rollin' thunder
It just fades away somehow
As we get lost in the parade

Never tried to give what she was looking for
And to a lonely heart, love's an open door

All night long that telephone rings
You remember how you loved that girl
Just when you think it doesn't mean a thing
It starts coming back
So you turn away

Well, that's all behind you now
Like rollin' thunder
It just fades away somehow
As we get lost in the parade

(George Perilli And Michael McDonald)

Child, as I look in your eyes
You know my life seems like a minute
There I find living proof
Of all the wonder life hold in it
In the past I thought I had to learn
Any good that comes from this life we're living
Here and now, let us realize
That this life's gift and it's already been given

[Chorus:]
Someday when you stand in the middle
Like it or not you're gonna look both ways
You're gonna find that time is a riddle
Where days turn into years
And years into the blink of an eye

Child, once I saw a man on the tv
Lead a nation up a mountain
He said, children, look over yonder
The flame of truth is burning brightly
Sometimes you look so far, there's only so much time
Only so many of us are gonna get there
Here and now is all we really have
But if we can make it count
We got no reason to worry

[Chorus]

You're gonna walk that mile
You're gonna be in that number
You're gonna make that journey
Just like the good book says
There's a time to be born, a time to cross over