Dan Fogelberg

Dan Fogelberg died on December 16, 2007 of prostate cancer. I felt a sense of loss. I can’t say I followed his career closely, although I did enjoy many of his songs.

If you are like me, there as songs that define different periods or moments of your life.

I can remember the first time I heard She Loves You by The Beatles. You Needed Me by Anne Murray came to me at a moment when I needed it most.

It was Dan Fogelberg’s Longer that I remember fondly.

During my year of teaching in Drayton Valley, Alberta, I had hopes of becoming an integral part of a small town. After a month, I realized that this wasn’t going to happen. Each weekend, I couldn’t wait to take the hour and a half drive into Edmonton to visit friends.

As I drove back to Drayton Valley each Sunday night, I would listen to the radio. Every time I would hear the song Longer and remember the love and care friends had given me on the weekend. When I heard that song, it reminded me that people loved me and I loved them. This is what helped get me through one of the most difficult years in my life.

When Fogelberg died, it’s like an era ended. One of my dreams in life is that I will write a song that will touch as many hearts as Longer.

If you haven’t heard it, click on the hyperlink. The lyrics are below.


Longer
Longer than there've been fishes in the ocean
Higher than any bird ever flew
Longer than there've been stars up in the heavens
I've been in love with you

Stronger than any mountain cathedral
Truer than any tree ever grew
Deeper than any forest primeval
I am in love with you

I'll bring fires in the winters
You'll send showers in the springs
We'll fly through the falls and summers
With love on our wings

Through the years as the fire starts to mellow
Burning lines in the book of our lives
Though the binding cracks
And the pages start to yellow
I'll be in love with you
I'll be in love with you

[Instrumental Interlude]

Longer than there've been fishes in the ocean
Higher than any bird ever flew
Longer than there've been stars up in the heavens
I've been in love with you
I am in love with you

As an added treat, click on the hyperlink and listen to one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard. This was done with Fogelberg teaming up with Tim Weisberg playing the flute. It is called County Clare.