Dan Fogelberg - Forefathers

Dedicated to Jean Fogelberg

Studio version of Forefathers from The Wild Places CD - 1990. Timothy B. Schmit, David Crosby and Russ Kunkel were a few of the notables on the CD

This was a collaborative effort with LessonsLearned85 who also made the request for the video. Thanks Kevin.

Photographs are from "our forefathers", the early immigrants. It seems fitting to post this great Dan tune on this Labor Day Holiday weekend in tribute to the brave men and women who came to North America in pursuit of a better life and happiness.

There are 2 photographs in the video that were taken by Dan who was an avid photographer :)

The last pic is Designed by Jean Fogelberg exclusively for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. You can purchase your pin at prostatecancerfoundation.org. Information about the pin is also at http://www.danfogelberg.com/news.html

The symbolism of the design:

~ The Scottish sword - Dan was half Scots-Irish (as many of you know, his mother was born in Scotland); he fought a valiant battle against cancer; and he was my knight in shining armor (and apparently, many of you felt the same way).

~ The Fleur-de-lis (flower of life) was used in Scottish heraldry, and is said to symbolize many things, but among them: purity, light, life, and hope.

~ The guitar is a rendering of one of Dan's favorite Stratocasters, used on stage over many years.

~ Deep forest green and gold were Dan's favorite color combination.


Forefathers

They came from Scandinavia, the land of midnight sun
And crossed the North Atlantic when this century was young
They'd heard that in America every man was free
To live the way he chose to live and be who he could be
Some of them were farmers there and tilled the frozen soil
But all they got was poverty for all their earnest toil
They say one was a sailor who sailed the wide world round
Made home port, got drunk one night, walked off the pier and drowned
My mother was of Scottish blood, it's there that she was born
They brought her to America in 1924
They left behind the highlands and the heather-covered hills
And came to find America with broad expectant dreams and iron wills
My granddad worked the steel mills of central Illinois
His daughter was his jewel, his son was just his boy
For thirty years he worked the mills and stoked the coke-fed fires
And looked toward the day when he'd at last turn 65 and could retire
(Chorus)
And the sons become the fathers and their daughters will be wives
As the torch is passed from hand to hand
And we struggle through our lives
Though the generations wander, the lineage survives
And all of us, from dust to dust, we all become forefathers by and by
The woman and the man were wed just after the war
And they settled in this river town and three fine sons she bore
One became a lawyer and one fine pictures drew
And one became this lonely soul who sits here now
And sings this song to you
(Chorus)
By and By By and By

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Dan
• Fogelberg
• Forefathers

[beggarsgame]

Thanks for all the great comments! Did anyone identify the 2 photographs in the video that Dan took? More info in the video description :)

[trishluvsdan]

the oil lamp and the grave yard scene with the crosses? thank you so much for all the videos, where we can go every day and get to see him perform and listen to his music. you are keeping him and his legacy alive and that is the greatest gift you can do for him, and for us Dan Fans. I miss him so much. He is in my thoughts every single day. I go to his web site and look at all the pictures of him especially the ones Jean has so lovingly posted there for us to see and read about.

[beggarsgame]

This video has been up for nearly a year and you (Trishluvsdan) are the first to comment on the pictures in the video Dan took :) Piles of Smiles :)

[may12553]

Thank you so much for this...you did a beautiful job. This is one of my favorites. So many of Dan's songs are "my favorites" The pictures you used in your video make me think of my own family's journey from Ireland, Italy, and Holland. People came here, leagally, honestly, and worked hard their whole lives. Didn't mean to get political...thank you again this...Michele

[stardust732]

This is helping me think about life today, i do not care for entrapments i never got a driving under the influense in the state of washington. In California and Missouri i have. I feel they advertize at gas stations so much and sell causing people to think of getting a felony that way. Washington has a law i think about what they can sell at gas stations

[MomaNaturesdaughter]

Our Family trees eventually end up with the same trunk...by Mothernaturesdaughter aka Gay Johnston

[FeralChuck]

His death was such a loss...

[kevinhof63]

I've watched this wonderful video at least ten times over the past few days. Beautifully done, and I just adore Dan's music! He was one of a kind that's for sure!

[rocmaven]

jerrod niemann is playing watseka theatre watseka illinois on sept 3

[SaradThamia]

I have fond memories of listening to this album with my momma. This came out when I was eight and listened to it with her a lot. She always liked this song. I've always liked Lovers In A Dangerous Time. The only version I can find on YouTube is the Bare Naked Ladies cover. It's just not the same. I'm really fond of Anastasia's Eyes and Blind To The Truth. Wish I could find those on YT. I would love to get this for me and Momma. Thanks for posting. Brought back great memories. ;)

[bigjack940]

I just found tful video. Thanks for posting it.

[shadowpheonix666]

they dont make music like this anymore. it was a sad day in history when he died. god rest his soul

[dragonsofliberty]

Great vid... thanks so much for posting! I really like the pictures you chose. The lyrics of this song are so compelling... even though my family history is very different from what is described here, it makes me feel more connected to my ancestors when I hear it.

Would you be willing to post the song "Blind to the Truth" from this same album? That song is messed up on my old cassette tape and I can't find it anywhere online.

[lydiaart]

Lovely song and wonderful photos to accompany it. I saw Dan twice in concert. Both times it was great.