A Sad Day

Today I learned one of my all-time favorite singer/songwriters passed away. Dan Fogelberg died from prostate cancer this morning. He was only 56.

Dan Fogelberg - RIP
12.16.2007

I grew up listening to Dan Fogelberg's moving lyrics and angelic singing voice. I used to sing his wonderful melodious tunes to the top of my lungs while in my bedroom in high school. I played my guitar to his songs, learning as many of them as I could. You might know him from "Same Old Lang Syne" which is often played this time of year. It's a bittersweet song which makes me cry anyway, but now it will always make me cry. He also wrote "Run for the Roses", written for the Kentucky Derby and thoroughbred horse racing. But "Part of the Plan" is among my all-time favorite songs ever...Ever. That was the first song I remember hearing by him and it is the most meaningful to me. Here are the lyrics:

"I have these moments all steady and strong
I'm feeling so holy and humble
The next thing I know I'm all worried and weak
And I feel myself starting to crumble
The meanings get lost and the teachings get tossed
And you don't know what you're going to do next
You wait for the sun but it never quite comes
Some kind of message comes through to you
Some kind of message comes through
And it says to you...
(Chorus)
Love when you can
Cry when you have to
Be who you must
That's a part of the plan
Await your arrival with simple survival
And one day we'll all understand
One day we'll all understand
One day we'll all understand

I had a woman who gave me her soul
But I wasn't ready to take it
Her heart was so fragile and heavy to hold
And I was afraid I might break it
Your conscience awakes and you see your mistakes
And you wish someone would buy your confessions
The days miss their mark and the night gets so dark
And some kind of message comes through to you
Some kind of message shoots through --
And it says to you...
(Chorus)
Love when you can
Cry when you have to
Be who you must
That's a part of the plan
Await your arrival with simple survival
And one day we'll all understand
One day we'll all understand
One day we'll all understand

There is no Eden or Heavenly gates
That you're gonna make it to one day
But all of the answers you seek can be found
In the dreams that you dream on the way"

I learned to play the song "Twin's Theme" on the piano which is from the album "Twin Sons of Different Mothers" with Tim Weisberg. I played it for an assignment in my piano class in college in 1980. Talk about a moving piece of music. When I first heard that song it moved me to tears. Listen to it sometime. His music was often moving. His lyrics were as well. I'll always be moved by music and his was among the most touching I ever heard.

I cried when I read of his death. He was too young. The same age as my brother. So full of talent, love for life and for the gift of our Earth. He will be missed even though his music will live on.

It was a sad day.