The youngest of three sons, Dan was born in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Margaret (née Irvine), a classically-trained pianist, and Lawrence Peter Fogelberg, a high school band director, who spent most of his career at Peoria Woodruff High School and Pekin High School. Dan Fogelberg's mother was a Scottish immigrant and his father was of Swedish descent. His father would later be the inspiration for the song Leader of the Band. Using a Mel Bay course book, Dan taught himself to play a Hawaiian slide guitar his grandfather gave to him; he also learned to play the piano. He started his music career at age 14 when he joined his first band, The Clan, which paid homage to The Beatles. His second band was another cover combo, The Coachmen, which in 1967 released two singles on Ledger Records: "Maybe Time Will Let Me Forget" and "Don't Want To Lose Her." Another was the blues band, Frankie and the Aliens, who toured regionally during the 1980s covering songs by Cream and Muddy Waters, among others.
After graduating from Woodruff High School in 1969, he studied theater arts and painting at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and began performing as a solo acoustic player in area coffeehouses including the Red Herring Coffeehouse where he made his first solo recordings as part of a folk festival recording in 1971. There, he was discovered in 1971 by Irving Azoff. Fogelberg and Azoff – who started his music-management career promoting another Champaign-Urbana act, REO Speedwagon – moved to California to seek their fortunes. Fogelberg became a session musician who played with pop-folk artists like Van Morrison. In 1972, he released his debut album Home Free to lukewarm response. His second effort was much more successful: the 1974 Joe Walsh-produced album Souvenirs and its hit song "Part of the Plan" made him a major star.
Following Souvenirs, Fogelberg released a string of gold and platinum albums, including Captured Angel (1975) and Nether Lands (1977), and found commercial success with songs like "The Power of Gold." His 1978 Twin Sons of Different Mothers was the first of two collaborations with jazz flutist Tim Weisberg. 1979's Phoenix reached the Top 10, with "Longer" becoming a #2 hit and wedding standard in winter 1980. This was followed by his Top 20 hit "Heart Hotels."
The Innocent Age, released in October 1981, was Fogelberg's critical and commercial peak. This double album song cycle included four of his biggest hits: "Leader of the Band," "Hard To Say," "Run for the Roses", and "Same Old Lang Syne," based on a real-life accidental meeting with a former girlfriend (Jill Anderson). In 1984, he rocked a little again with the album Windows And Walls.
later years:
Fogelberg released High Country Snows in 1985. Recorded in Nashville, it showcased his (and some of the industry's best) talent in the bluegrass genre. Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Doc Watson, Jerry Douglas, David Grisman, Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen were among those who contributed to the record. In a world defined by "life in the fast lane" Fogelberg described the music as "life in the off-ramp." 1987 heralded a return to rock with Exiles, while 1990's The Wild Places was a tribute to Earth preservation. In 1991, he released the live album Greetings from the West.
River of Souls, released in 1993, was Fogelberg's last studio album for Sony Records. In 1997, Portrait encompassed his career with four discs, each highlighting a different facet of his music: "Ballads," "Rock and Roll," "Tales and Travels" (which displayed his talents as a narrative songwriter) and "Hits." In 1999 he fulfilled a career-long dream of creating a Christmas album called First Christmas Morning, and in 2003, Full Circle showcased a return to the folk-influenced, 1970s soft rock-style of music for which he and other singer-songwriters from his era had gained popular recognition.
Fogelberg also used his music to address social issues, including peace and Native American concerns. He was particularly outspoken about his commitment to the environment and to finding alternatives to nuclear power. To that end, Fogelberg included "Face the Fire" on the Phoenix album and performed at a number of the Musicians United for Safe Energy "No Nukes" concerts in 1979 and 1980.
His live concerts won acclaim across the nation over the years. Fogelberg said one of his proudest moments came in 1979 when he played New York City's Carnegie Hall for an audience including his mother and father. Most summers, Fogelberg would perform with full band or in solo acoustic setting; the formats allowed him to show the breadth and depth of his talent as a singer, guitarist, pianist and bandleader. In 2002, fans showed their appreciation by choosing Fogelberg to be one of the first 10 inductees into the Performers Hall of Fame at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.
In May 2004, Fogelberg was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He underwent therapy and achieved a partial remission, which did not eliminate his cancer but reduced it and stopped its spread. On August 13, 2005, his 54th birthday, Fogelberg announced the success of his cancer treatments and he thanked fans for their support. He said that he had no immediate plans to return to making music but was keeping his options open and enjoying spending time with his wife, musician Jean Fogelberg.
Fogelberg maintained residences in Deer Isle, Maine and at Mountain Bird Ranch, a 610-acre property near Pagosa Springs, Colorado that he bought in 1982. The ranch was put up for sale in 2005.
After battling prostate cancer for three years, Fogelberg died on December 16, 2007 at his home in Maine with his wife Jean by his side.
Soon after his death, Fogelberg's wife, Jean, announced that a song written and recorded for her by Fogelberg for Valentine's Day 2005, Sometimes a Song, would be sold on the Internet and all proceeds would go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The song was released on Valentine's Day 2008. She further announced that this song would be included in a collection of eleven previously unrecorded songs (nine originals) to be released on a CD provisionally entitled "Love In Time".
Holy Road
Dan Fogelberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the planet earth spinning 'round and 'round
And as I cast my gaze about,
I watched her lovely light go out
The light went out
And floating in the black of space
I was looking into god's own face
He said well ain't it a shame what they've done to her
After I'd shown them to the holy road, the holy road
After I'd shown them to the holy road, the holy road
Well, I laid a bounty in their hands
And only gave them ten commands
But they never learned their lessons very well
And they drove my garden straight to hell
That's when they fell off of the holy road, the holy road
That's when they fell off of the holy road, the holy road
Let me tell you
Well the popes were frauds and the kings were fools
And your presidents only dupes and tools
And the money makers and the chiefs of staff
Who worshipped of that golden calf
They turned their backs upon the holy road, the holy road
They turned their backs upon the holy road, the holy road
And then I told him
Well you made the sun and you made the sky
The things that crawl and the things that fly
And then you made the human race
And he said well everybody makes mistakes
I thought they'd want to walk the holy road, the holy road
I thought they'd want to walk the holy road, the holy road
And even though it was just a dream
It seemed as real as it could seem
And often dreams the truth forebodes
You got to get back children on the holy road
Get back children on the holy road
Get back children on the holy road
Get back children on the holy road
Holy road, the holy road
Gotta get back on the holy road, the holy road
Gotta get back on the holy road, the holy road
Gotta get back on the holy road, the holy road
On the holy road, on the holy road
On the holy road people, on the holy road
On the holy road now, the holy road
On the holy road children, on the holy road
The lyrics of Dan Fogelberg's song Holy Road refer to the state of the earth, seen from a dream perspective through the eyes of the singer. He dreams about looking down at the spinning planet earth, feeling despair and watching as the lovely light goes out. As he gazes into the black of space, he sees God's face, and in His hands, he holds the tiny earth. God then speaks about how it is a shame what they have done to the earth. He had shown them the holy road, but they fell off of it.
The lyrics suggest that God had given humans the tools necessary to succeed and to stay on the holy path, but instead, they turned their backs upon it. The kings, the popes, the presidents, and the ones who worshipped the golden calf were all foolish in their ways. They have fallen off the holy road and refused to learn their lessons. Even though it was just a dream, the lyrics suggest that it forebodes the truth. The singer, therefore, urges people to get back on the holy road.
Interesting facts about the song Holy Road include that the song is from the album The Wild Places, released by Dan Fogelberg in 1990. The song was written and composed by Fogelberg, who was an American musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He was famous for his unique style of combining rock music, folk, and classical music in his songs. Another interesting fact is that the song features a cool and meditative track of strings and brass instruments. Moreover, Dan Fogelberg was inspired by the work of environmental groups such as Greenpeace when he wrote the song.
Other interesting facts include that it was nominated for an environmental media award in 2000. In addition, the song was used as part of a public awareness campaign about the environment by the US government. Dan Fogelberg's album, The Wild Places, showcases his love for nature and the environment. Finally, the chords of the song Holy Road are F, G, Am, Em, F, G, Am, Em, Am, G, F, G, F, and G.
Chords:
F G Am Em
F G Am Em
Am G F G
F G Am Em
Am G F G
F G Am Em
F G Am Em
Am G F G
F G Am Em
Am G F G
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I dreamed I was looking down
The song starts with the singer dreaming that he is observing the planet earth and how it is rotating.
On the planet earth spinning 'round and 'round
The earth is spinning continuously like a top, rotating around the sun.
And as I cast my gaze about,
The singer takes a closer look at the world from a high point of view.
I watched her lovely light go out
He observes that the earthly atmosphere is damaged and its vital glow diminished.
The light went out
He is stressing the fact that earth is not in a good shape.
And floating in the black of space
The singer is feeling like he is weightless, hovering in space.
I was looking into god's own face
The singer looks up towards a divine figure.
And in his hand he held this tiny earth
The divine figure holds the world in his hand showing how delicate and precious it is.
He said well ain't it a shame what they've done to her
God realizes the mistakes civilization has made towards the world.
After I'd shown them to the holy road, the holy road
God is referring to the right path, trying to guide the human race towards it.
Well, I laid a bounty in their hands
God entrusts humanity a huge responsibility towards the earth.
And only gave them ten commands
God initially thought of humanity as reasonable and sets it free with only ten commandments.
But they never learned their lessons very well
Humanity has failed countless times to learn from its prior mistakes.
And they drove my garden straight to hell
The world has been destroyed beyond repair and lost its previous beauty.
That's when they fell off of the holy road, the holy road
Humanity has strayed away from the right path due to its greed and ignorance.
Well the popes were frauds and the kings were fools
The artist points out the hypothetically powerful figures are often corrupt and shortsighted.
And your presidents only dupes and tools
The political figures often become a walking advertisement for the rich businesspeople.
And the money makers and the chiefs of staff
He refers to the rich capitalists who solely aim for profit and benefits.
Who worshipped of that golden calf
The ones who prioritize material wealth and artificial possessions over the real essence of life have lost their way.
They turned their backs upon the holy road, the holy road
All men who prioritize artificiality will end up losing the sight of the right path.
Well, you made the sun and you made the sky
The artist expresses his appreciation for God's creation.
The things that crawl and the things that fly
A grateful narrator acknowledges both the tiny and the massive creations of the universe.
And then you made the human race
God has made humans wise, creative and rational beings.
And he said well everybody makes mistakes
God tries to explain that humanity is bound to make several mistakes throughout its journey.
I thought they'd want to walk the holy road, the holy road
God expected man to choose the right path, despite knowing it's not an easy one to follow.
And even though it was just a dream
He clarifies that this conversation with God was a mere dream.
It seemed as real as it could seem
The vividness of the dream made it as real as it could get.
And often dreams the truth forebodes
He believes dreams carry some elements of the truth, even if they are not fully comprehensible.
You got to get back children on the holy road
The prophet believes mankind should return to the right path as soon as practical.
Get back children on the holy road
The repetition emphasizes the importance of reclaiming the right path.
On the holy road, on the holy road
On the path of the right path.
On the holy road people, on the holy road
The artist is calling for everyone to make the effort to return to the holy road.
On the holy road now, the holy road
Right here, right now, everyone must choose the right path.
On the holy road children, on the holy road
The artist sees children as the future and wants them to start their journey on the right path.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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