“scarecrow’s dream”

Probably my favorite Dan Fogelberg song.

This video is utterly ridiculous, just so you know. I don’t post this for the video, but for the song itself. I mean, every time the lyrics say “crowned” — guess what? There’s a crown! I’ve talked about this before: these amateur YouTube “filmmakers” and their literal interpretations of every little thing — it’s all quite painful. So, please, just listen, because you’ll laugh if you watch. There are faeries and random torsos and crowns and trees stark against an unforgiving sky, blahdie blah blah. And, as we all know, trees stark against an unforgiving sky say, “I am 15 and I am very deep.” Oh, and it’s mostly in black and white, so it’s super duper deep.

Dan Fogelberg is turning in his too-early grave on this one. Fair warning. It is ridiculous.

So whatever yourself. Just listen. I love the lyrics.

Seldom seen
A scarecrow’s dream
I hang in the hopes of replacement
Castles tall
I built them all
But I dream that I’m trapped in
the basement.

And if you ever hear me calling out
And if you’ve been by paupers crowned
Between the worlds of men and make-believe
I can be found.

Plans I’ve made
A masquerade
Fading in fear of the coming day
Heroes’ tales
Like nightingales
Wrestle the wind as they run away.

And if you ever hear them calling out
And if you’ve been by paupers crowned
Between the worlds of men and make-believe
I can be found.

Garden gate
An empty plate
Waiting for someone to come and fill
Scarecrow’s dreams
Like frozen streams
Thirst for the fall
But they’re running still.

And if you ever hear me calling out
And if you’ve been by paupers crowned
Between the worlds of men and make-believe
I can be found.

10 Replies to ““scarecrow’s dream””

  1. Fogelberg’s music makes me glad down in my bones. Once a few years ago, I used one of his songs in church as a worship solo. I love his unique chord structures; they evoke really interesting colors in my head and they have a lovely aroma. 🙂 Yeah, I’m one of those weirdos. heh

  2. Yeah, there’s such a richness to his work. I wouldn’t say it makes me glad, other than glad it’s there, but mostly, it makes me ache. There’s always a longing in his songs. So I listen to them when I’m in a certain mood.

  3. I was a big fan of his for a long long time, and was lucky enough to get to know him a little bit. He lived not far from me in Colorado back in the day.

    He was not only so very talented, but also a very down to earth guy. He would often play at some of the local bars, always under an assumed name. He put just as much into those sets as he did his concerts.

    Damn glad his music is still there. His wife Jean and friends are keeping his legacy alive, check out http://thelivinglegacy.net/

  4. Dan Fogleberg makes me ache too – I have to be careful when I listen to him, because he can cause a tailspin if I’m in a melancholy mood. Auld Lang Syne, for example.

  5. This brings back great memories of traveling the long highways of California with the family back in the day. Dad would always have the radio tuned in to a local AM station that would play songs like this. The world needs more song writers like him. Songs that tell a story from the heart. Thanks for sharing Tracey.

  6. Rude1 — Thanks for the link. I’d heard that about him, how he played in local bars. I think that’s how he met Jean? If I’m remembering right.

    sheila — Yeah. You really have to dole him out carefully. I can tailspin with him, too. I have very specific memories surrounding his music.

    Brian — Some of mine are road trip memories, too.

  7. I created a Dan Fogelberg station on Pandora today. I highly recommend it if you like storyteller type songs like Dan’s. I’ve heard a bit of Jim Croce, Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon & Garfunkyhair, Harry Chapin, and the like.

  8. Brian — What do you mean? Splain please. You created a Dan Fogelberg station? Where is this place? Me no unnerstan. Help me.

    Also: /Simon & Garfunkyhair./ Hahahahahaha.

  9. pandora.com is a music site that let’s you create your own music stations. After you sign up (for free) it will let you make a station based on a performer, song, or genre. For example, today I clicked on the “create a station” button and entered Dan Fogelberg. BAM. done. It instantly starts by playing a Dan Fogelberg song and then continues playing songs that are similar to Dan’s songs. They call it the Music Genome Project. It is best explained here http://www.pandora.com/corporate/. Let’s say you have a hankering for some BeeGee’s, type in their name and you’ve got hours of BeeGee-esque music. If you like the song Lolo by The Kinks, type in Lola and choose the song name and they’ll play songs that are similar to Lola. You like New Wave music from the ’80’s, type it in. Nice and easy, just like I like it.

    I love it. The free service lets you listen to about thirty hours of music each month. Thanks for letting me ramble on about one of my favorite webstops.

    Hope that ‘splains well.

  10. Dan Fogelberg’s music always inspired me. I collected all of his albums (on vinyl) when I was a teenager. I used to listen to him whenever I felt like drawing or painting. His songs still inspire me today. The way the words and music weave together beautifully orchestrating the story they tell. Would’ve loved to have met him.

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