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".
River Of Souls
Dan Fogelberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I wait for the tide
It seems I've passed this way before
In an earlier time
I hear a voice like mystery
Blowing warm through the night
The silent moon embraces me
And I'm drawn to her light
I follow footprints in the sand
To a circle of stone
Find a fire burning bright
Though I came here alone
And in the play of shadows cast
I can dimly discern
The shapes of all who've gone before
Calling me to return
There are no names
That fit these faces
There are no lines that can define
These ancient spaces
The spirits dance across the ages
And melt into a river of souls
Lo que es de mio ~~ what is mine ~~
Lo que es de dios ~~ what is god's ~~
Lo que es del rio ~~ what is the river's ~~
Melt into a river of souls
I take my place along the shore
And I wait for the tide
It seems I've passed this way before
In an earlier time
To every man the mystery
Sings a different song
He fills his page of history
Dreams his dreams and is gone
There are no names
That fit these faces
There are no lines that can define
These ancient spaces
The spirits dance across the ages
And melt into a river of souls
Lo que es de mio ~~ what is mine ~~
Lo que es de dios ~~ what is god's ~~
Lo que es del rio ~~ what is the river's ~~
Melt into a river of souls
"River of Souls" by Dan Fogelberg is a song that explores the concept of life after death and the idea that all souls return to a river of existence, regardless of religion or belief. The lyrics describe a person waiting on the shore for the tide, feeling as though they have been there before in another time. There is a voice that blows through the night, and the silent moon provides a peaceful atmosphere. The singer follows footprints in the sand to a circle of stones, where a fire is burning brightly. Although they arrived there alone, the singer can sense the shapes of those who have passed before, calling them to return.
The lyrics suggest that there are no names or lines that can define these ancient spaces and faces. We are all part of the river of souls which is shared by gods, men, and nature. The spirits dance across time, merging with the river that flows from the past, through the present, and into the future. No matter who we are or what we have done, we are all part of the same cycle.
Overall, "River of Souls" is a philosophical song that deals with themes of the afterlife and our place in the universe. It invites listeners to reflect on the bigger picture of existence and our connection to everything around us.
Line by Line Meaning
I take my place along the shore
I position myself next to the shoreline
And I wait for the tide
I patiently anticipate the arrival of the tide
It seems I've passed this way before
It feels like I've been here in a previous time
In an earlier time
In a past era
I hear a voice like mystery
I perceive a mysterious-sounding voice
Blowing warm through the night
The voice emanates warmly through the nighttime air
The silent moon embraces me
The moon's quietness surrounds me
And I'm drawn to her light
I'm attracted to the light emanating from the moon
I follow footprints in the sand
I track footprints in the sand
To a circle of stone
To an enclosed space formed by stone
Find a fire burning bright
I come across a fire that is burning strongly
Though I came here alone
Even though I arrived without the company of others
And in the play of shadows cast
In the movement of shadows being created
I can dimly discern
I'm able to faintly recognize
The shapes of all who've gone before
The forms of those who have preceded me
Calling me to return
Inviting me to come back
There are no names
No verbal labels exist
That fit these faces
That can appropriately describe these countenances
There are no lines that can define
No borders can limit
These ancient spaces
These longtime areas
The spirits dance across the ages
The essences frolic throughout the centuries
And melt into a river of souls
Then mingle together, becoming a single river of spirits
Lo que es de mio
That which is mine
What is mine
The aspect over which I have control
Lo que es de dios
That which belongs to God
What is god's
The aspect that is in the divine's domain
Lo que es del rio
That which belongs to the river
What is the river's
The aspect that pertains to the watercourse
Melt into a river of souls
Join and coalesce into a group of spirits
To every man the mystery
The enigma affects each individual
Sings a different song
Produces a unique style or manner of expression
He fills his page of history
Individuals document their own past and legacy
Dreams his dreams and is gone
They harbor aspirations, then depart
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mel Baker
Dan's best work were the non commercial pieces. Netherlands, In the Passage and so many more like this one. As a young man he asked deep questions about love and meaning as he neared mid-life he gave us the Innocent Age, about looking back as you tried to find the way forward into late life. Here he looks at death. The tragedy for society is that he didn't live even longer to talk about the later part of the journey. So much of music is about early love and love lost, not about the deeper mysteries of meaning and the eternal. Dan had the genius to touch upon those things. It's why his work endures.
Garret Vaughn
The lyrics are so artistically crafted! Love the Latin vibe! What a master songwriter!
Paula Frick
Bill - you did it again! This is one of my favorites and you managed to capture it so perfectly. Your images and the blending of the stones at the memorial - Fantastic!
Ray Dunnett
What a giant polished soul Dan was! What a song! Prolific in every sense! RIP Dan❤️🎶
NONEXISTENT
Dan Fogelberg was an extraordinarily talented man. He did a great many beautiful songs; however, I must say this is one of my personal favorites. It applies to all of us. One day we all will join that "river of souls..." Live an honorable life so that God welcomes you in your time with arms outstretched. Thank you for this beautiful post.
Di Bn
Love this strangely beautiful song .....! Something surreal ... So beautiful reminds of some old Spanish song ........really captivating voice of Dan Fogelberg.......
Grant DeGaramo
A beautiful piece by Dan with a gorgeous Spanish guitar flair!! We miss him terribly!! What a wonderful God given talent!! He’s now blessing the halls of Heaven with his wonderful soulful music!✝️🌄🙏😇❤️🌅
Danny Meyer
Incredible song I love the Spanish guitar.
Reyna Lora
Wow, canción e interpretación maravillosas!!! 👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️
Paul Van Helden Photography
My gosh! What an absolutely incredible songwriter, singer and multi instrumentalist! I'm running out of superlatives! (I'll just create some new ones.) This song, like many of Dan's songs, is just 'through the roof' beautiful in every way.... Thank you JMEagle! Awesome job!