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".
Nether Lands
Dan Fogelberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The clouds down below
I'm feeling so strong and alive
From this rocky perch
I'll continue to search
For the wind
And the snow
And the sky
I want a lover
I want some friends
And I want to live in the sun
And I want to do all the things that I
Never have done
Sunny bright mornings
And pale moonlit nights
Keep me from feeling alone
Now, I'm learning to fly
And this freedom is like
Nothing that I've ever known
I've seen the bottom
And I've been on top
But mostly I've lived in between
And where do you go
When you get to the end of
Your dream?
Off in the nether lands
I heard a sound
Like the beating of heavenly wings
And deep in my brain
I can hear a refrain
Of my soul as she rises and sings
Anthems to glory and
Anthems to love and
Hymns filled with earthly delight
Like the songs that the darkness
Composes to worship the light
Once in a vision
I came on some woods
And stood at a fork in the road
My choices were clear
Yet I froze with the fear
Of not knowing which way to go
One road was simple
Acceptance of life
The other road offered sweet peace
When I made my decision
My vision became my release
The lyrics of "Nether Lands" by Dan Fogelberg are a beautiful ode to finding one's place in life and the freedom that comes with self-discovery. The song opens with the singer on a mountaintop, feeling alive, and wanting to experience life to the fullest. He desires love, friends, and a life lived in the sun. The imagery of "wind, snow, and sky" evoke a sense of natural beauty and wonder.
The second verse speaks to the singer's longing for connection, both with others and with nature. He describes the beauty and comfort in both "sunny bright mornings" and "pale moonlit nights," and how they keep him from feeling alone. He has found a sense of freedom in learning to fly, both literally and metaphorically, and it is a feeling that he has never experienced before.
The final verse is perhaps the most powerful, evoking spiritual imagery and a sense of awe. The singer hears "anthems to glory and anthems to love" and "hymns filled with earthly delight," as if he is experiencing a divine revelation. When faced with a fork in the road, he must choose between accepting the simplicity of life or seeking peace in the unknown. Ultimately, he chooses the unknown, and this decision becomes his release.
Overall, "Nether Lands" is a song about self-discovery, finding one's place in the world, and the liberation that comes from making difficult choices. The lyrics are poetic and full of vivid imagery that evokes a sense of wonder and awe.
Line by Line Meaning
High on this mountain
From a mountaintop, feeling empowered and invigorated.
The clouds down below
Seeing clouds below, emphasizing being at a high altitude.
I'm feeling so strong and alive
Excited, full of life and energy.
From this rocky perch
Standing on a rocky outcropping, a precarious but commanding position.
I'll continue to search
Still looking for more to experience.
For the wind
Desiring the sensation of the wind blowing around.
And the snow
Wanting to experience the feeling of snow falling.
And the sky
Looking for new perspectives, even gazing up at the sky.
I want a lover
Craving romance and connection.
I want some friends
Looking for companionship and social interaction.
And I want to live in the sun
Seeking warmth and light, a metaphor for happiness.
And I want to do all the things that I
Desiring new experiences, taking risks.
Never have done
Feeling unfulfilled but hopeful for what lies ahead.
Sunny bright mornings
Enjoying the simple beauty of good weather and brightness.
And pale moonlit nights
Finding comfort and beauty in nighttime as well.
Keep me from feeling alone
Having good company or nice conditions to combat loneliness.
Now, I'm learning to fly
Learning something new and gaining new abilities or outlooks.
And this freedom is like
The newfound sense of freedom is incomparable.
Nothing that I've ever known
Something truly new and exciting.
I've seen the bottom
Having experienced lows or difficult times.
And I've been on top
Having also experienced successes or highs.
But mostly I've lived in between
Having primarily experienced a middling existence or average life.
And where do you go
Rhetoric question implying confusion about what lies ahead.
When you get to the end of
When one has achieved all they set out to do.
Your dream?
What happens then and what to strive for next.
Off in the nether lands
Refers to a far-off, mysterious place.
I heard a sound
A singular experience or realization.
Like the beating of heavenly wings
A sound with heavenly or divine connotations.
And deep in my brain
In one's thoughts or ideas.
I can hear a refrain
A recurring rhythm or pattern.
Of my soul as she rises and sings
The soul (inner self) feels it can soar and express itself.
Anthems to glory and
Songs that praise excellence.
Anthems to love and
Songs that celebrate love and its power.
Hymns filled with earthly delight
Songs that bring joy and contentment in life.
Like the songs that the darkness
Refers to one's difficult experiences.
Composes to worship the light
Finding meaning and appreciation even in hardships, as well as into better, brighter times.
Once in a vision
Remembering past aspirations and dreams.
I came on some woods
Encountering a wilderness or environment filled with new possibilities.
And stood at a fork in the road
At a point of decision or crossroads in life.
My choices were clear
Having a good grasp on what is being offered for the future.
Yet I froze with the fear
Overcome with the enormity of decisions or the vastness of unknown possibilities.
Of not knowing which way to go
Feeling uncertain about where an action in life will lead.
One road was simple
A choice that was easy or already proven.
Acceptance of life
Choosing to let life happen and accept outcomes, with all the good and bad that comes with it.
The other road offered sweet peace
A more uncertain, but potentially more fulfilling path.
When I made my decision
Having made up one's mind.
My vision became my release
Clearing one's mind and going after goals with determination.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dan Fogelberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Riva
High on this mountain
The clouds down below
I'm feeling so strong and alive
From this rocky perch
I'll continue to search
For the wind
And the snow
And the sky
I want a lover
I want some friends
And I want to live in the sun
And I want to do all the things that I
Never have done.
-Dan Fogelberg, Nether Lands
Rosey Pelicano
High on this mountain
The clouds down below
I'm feeling so strong and alive
From this rocky perch
I'll continue to search
For the wind
And the snow
And the sky
I want a lover
I want some friends
And I want to live in the sun
And I want to do all the things that I
Never have done.
Sunny bright mornings
And pale moonlit nights
Keep me from feeling alone
Now, I'm learning to fly
And this freedom is like
Nothing that I've ever known
I've seen the bottom
And I've been on top
But mostly I've lived in between
And where do you go
When you get to the end of
Your dream?
Off in the nether lands
I heard a sound
Like the beating of heavenly wings
And deep in my brain
I can hear a refrain
Of my soul as she rises and sings
Anthems to glory and
Anthems to love and
Hymns filled with early delight
Like the songs that the darkness
Composes to worship the light.
Once in a vision
I came on some woods
And stood at a fork in the road
My choices were clear
Yet I froze with the fear
Of not knowing which way to go.
One road was simple
Acceptance of life
The other road offered sweet peace
When I made my decision
My vision became my release.
Gilberto M
High on this mountain
The clouds down below
I'm feeling so strong and alive
From this rocky perch
I'll continue to search
For the wind
And the snow
And the sky
I want a lover
I want some friends
And I want to live in the sun
And I want to do all the things that I
Never have done
Sunny bright mornings
And pale moonlit nights
Keep me from feeling alone
Now, I'm learning to fly
And this freedom is like
Nothing that I've ever known
I've seen the bottom
And I've been on top
But mostly I've lived in between
And where do you go
When you get to the end of
Your dream?
Off in the nether lands
I heard a sound
Like the beating of heavenly wings
And deep in my brain
I can hear a refrain
Of my soul as she rises and sings
Anthems to glory and
Anthems to love and
Hymns filled with earthly delight
Like the songs that the darkness
Composes to worship the light
Once in a vision
I came on some woods
And stood at a fork in the road
My choices were clear
Yet I froze with the fear
Of not knowing which way to go
One road was simple
Acceptance of life
The other road offered sweet peace
When I made my decision
My vision became my release
Erica Chang
I'm overwhelmed every time I listen to the song. I'm always stunned by the beauty of it. It's such a masterpiece that no other musician can surpass. Thank you for making this video. It captured the beauty of the song. Dan, you're dearly missed.
01praisethelord
I agree my friend. The backgrounds were stunning, fitting the incredible song. RIP Dan
M Hansen
I whole heartily agree!!
J DeLaney
Everyone creates a masterpiece in life. This is Dan Fogelberg's. And it is beyond a masterpiece.
beeweejr
Ultimate masterpiece!
Eddie Andrews
@William Peacock I am listening to it now and just put a comment. You expressed my feelings precisely.
Sarah Nelson
Oh, so true.
Joy Flavell
I used to wake you to Netherlands every morning and sometimes fall asleep at night to it. Sweet beautiful peace
Angelica Munoz
A masterpiece indeed! And this Visual so perfect. I wish to meet someone with a heart for this music 💞💞
Andrew Patrick
Although this was not played much over the airwaves, I listened to this song many-times-over. Ethereal. I would love to have this played at my funeral.