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RIVER OF SOULS

Released September 1993 by Epic Records. 

All compositions by Dan Fogelberg© 1993Sacred Circle Music (ASCAP)

 

Magic Every Moment

(Is That) All There Is

The Minstrel

Faces Of America

Holy Road

Serengeti Moon

Higher Ground

A Love Like This

River Of Souls

A Voice For Peace

Credits

 

Dan Fogelberg - organ, steel-string guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar, bass  guitar, mandolin, percussion, piano, keyboard, vocals

Alejandro "Alex" Acuña - percussion, conga, udu

Bill Bergman - horn

Michael Botts - cymbals, drums, bass drums, hi-hat

Pam Boulding - Appalachian dulcimer, hammer dulcimer

Philip Boulding - harp, whistle, Tin whistle, pennywhistle, Celtic harp

David Campbell - conductor

Lenny Castro - conga, timbales

Gene Elders - fiddle

Dennis Farias - horn

Mike Finnegan - organ (music, organ

Daniel Fornero - horn

Bob Glaub - bass

Michael Hanna - keyboard

Larry Klein - bass, fretless bass

Russ Kunkel - cymbals, drums

Stephen "Doc" Kupka - baritone saxophone

Robert McEntree - electric guitar

Vince Melamed - synthesizer, marimba

Billy Payne - piano

Mike Porcaro - bass

Carlos Vega - drums

Julia Tillman Waters - background vocals

Oren Waters - background vocals

Maxine Willard Waters - background vocals

 

Producer: Dan Fogelberg

Engineers: Dan Fogelberg, Marty Lewis, Dave Reynolds, Elliot Scheiner, James Tuttle

Assistant engineers: Neal Avron, Anastasia Fogelberg, Dave Glover, Mike Kloster, Kevin Nimmo

Mixing: Elliot Scheiner

Mixing assistant: Tom Winslow

Mastering: Denny Purcell

Programming: Dan Fogelberg

Drum programming: Dan Fogelberg

Sampling: Dan Fogelberg

Arranger: David Campbell

Horn arrangements: Bill Bergman

String arrangements: David Campbell

Art direction: Kosh, Brian Wittman

Design: Kosh, Brian Wittman

Photography: Henry Diltz

 

Lyrics

 

Magic Every Moment 

 

I awoke this morning to a shattering sound 

And I went downstairs and found these shards of glass strewn all around 

There upon the floor I found this poor broken dove 

And it made me realize how very fragile is this life that we so love 

I came back up to bed and I held you so tight 

And I prayed up to the Father, oh I prayed with all my might 

That He'd always keep you with me, that He'd always keep you safe 

And when I went downstairs I found that dove had somehow up and flown away 

 

(Chorus) 

There's a magic every moment 

There's a miracles each day 

There's a magic every moment 

Oh won't you let the music play 

Oh won't you let the music play 

 

On a high and windy island I was gazing out to sea 

When a long forgotten feeling came and took control of me 

It was then the clouds burst open and the sun came pouring through 

When it hit those dancing waters in an instant all eternity I knew 

There's so much we take for granted--there's so much we never say 

We get caught up in the motion of just a living day to day 

We are fettered to the future, we are prisoners of the past 

And we never seem to notice 'til our lives have finally 

Slipped right through our grasp 

 

(Chorus) 

 

You can see forever in a single drop of dew 

You can see that same forever if you look down deep inside of you 

There's a spark of the creator in every living thing 

He respects me when I work but He so loves me when I sing 

 

(Repeat Chorus Twice) 

 

 

All There Is 

 

In the eyes of the world your touch is like gold 

Your reputation's so cool and cruel and controlled 

You count your money in your prison tower 

Made of concrete, glass, and steel 

Feeling cozy in the hollow warmth of another business deal 

You've climbed your way to the top but lately it seems 

That there's a hole in the heart of the American dream 

Sittin' pretty in your trophy room with your shining souvenirs 

That just remind you of the wasted time and the lateness of the years 

 

(Chorus) 

Is that all...is that all there is 

Is that all...there must be more than this 

 

In the eyes of the world your touch is like gold 

Your reputation's so cool and cruel and controlled

In a moment it could all be gone in the twinkling of an eye 

Then what's your pile of precious pride worth then 

If you've never wondered why 

 

(Repeat Chorus Twice) 

More than this...is that all there is 

All there is...is that all there is 

All there is...is that all there is 

 

 

The Minstrel 

 

There's a love in my life neither mistress or wife 

And she waits for me every morning by the sea 

Where the fishing hawk wheels and the sun warms the seals 

There she lays at her silent anchorage for me 

 

She is fine, she is fleet -- she will run, reach or beat 

With a song in her rigging and her sails 

And when day is done we will lay two as one 

And sleep 'neath the rolling rhythm of the stars 

 

And we sail away off to Jericho Bay 

Where the blue of the sea meets the sky 

And the song that she sings me, it brings me such peace 

When the seas rise up angry and high 

She's a friend of mine...The Minstrel 

 

There are loons off to port and the porpoises sport 

In her wake as she breaks the rolling main 

And with the wind in her sails, we will run with the whales 

As they swim through their dark, diminishing domain 

 

And they sail away off to Jericho Bay 

Where the blue of the sea meets the sky 

And the song that she sings me, it brings me such peace 

When the seas rise up angry and high 

She's a friend of mine...The Minstrel 

 

 

Faces Of America 

 

There was a time, a simpler time 

When a man could be sure of where he stood 

I used to work at the yard, working honest and hard 

The hours were long but the pay was good 

I had a family and friends, oh so many friends 

We'd drive to the lake on holidays 

Back then it wasn't so dear for a sandwich or beer 

At night I still dream I can see their faces 

 

Certain things that you depend upon 

There are places that you know 

And the faces of America 

Oh, where do they go, where did they go 

 

I was born on a farm, a midwestern farm 

I rode on the tractor with my dad 

And though we never had much it was always enough 

And we made the best with what we had 

But then came four years of drought and the bottom dropped out 

My father was broken like the rest 

And I can still see his hands signing over his lands 

And the bankers grow fat on the flesh of the dispossessed 

 

Certain things that you depend upon 

There are places I can go I sift the ashes of America 

For someplace I used to know (someplace I used to know) 

Someplace I used to know (someplace I used to know) 

Someplace I used to know 

 

There was a time, a simpler time 

When a man could be sure of where he stood 

I used to work at the yard, working honest and hard 

The hours were long but the pay was oh so good 

Certain things that you depend upon I used to think were guaranteed 

Like the right of every man to work 

And feed his family, and feed his family 

And the faces of America seem so distant and estranged 

Have their eyes become too blind to see 

How much their hearts have changed (how much their hearts have changed) 

How much their hearts have changed (how much their hearts have changed) 

How much their hearts have changed 

 

 

Holy Road 

 

Last night I dreamed I was looking down 

On the planet Earth a-spinning 'round and 'round 

And as I cast my gaze about, I watched her lovely light go out... 

Ummm, the light went out 

And floating in the black of space, I was looking into God's own face 

And in His hand He held this tiny Earth 

He said, "well ain't it a shame what they've a-done to her 

 

After I'd shown them to the holy road, the holy road 

After I'd shown them to the holy road, the holy road" 

 

"Well, I laid a bounty in their hands and only gave a-them ten commands 

But they never learned their lessons very well 

And they drove My garden straight to hell 

 

That's when they fell off of the holy road, the holy road 

That's when they fell off of the holy road, the holy road" 

Let me tell ya... 

 

"Well the popes were frauds and the kings were fools 

And your presidents only dupes and tools 

Oooo, and the money makers and the Chiefs of Staff 

Who worshipped of that golden calf 

 

They turned their backs upon the holy road, the holy road 

They turned their backs upon the holy road, the holy road" 

And then I told Him... 

 

"Well, You made the sun and You made the sky 

The things that crawl and the things that fly 

And then You made the human race" 

And He said, "Well, everybody makes mistakes 

 

I thought they'd want to walk the holy road, the holy road 

I thought they'd want to walk the holy road, the holy road" 

 

And even though it was just a dream, it seemed as real as it could seem 

And often dreams the truth forebodes 

You got to get back children on the holy road 

Get back children on the holy road... 

Get back children on the holy road 

Get back children on the holy road 

Holy road, the holy road 

Gotta get back on the holy road, the holy road 

Gotta get back on the holy road, the holy road 

Gotta get back on the holy road, the holy road 

(Oooo...yeah) 

On the holy road, on the holy road 

On the holy road, people, on the holy road 

On the holy road now, the holy road 

On the holy road, children, on the holy road (yes) 

 

 

Serengeti Moon 

 

The grass is high and the work is done 

Send the sun to his sleeping place 

Now we'll dance and make love beneath the Serengeti moon 

The Gods are laughing their twinkling eyes 

Shine on us in the clear night sky 

Take my hand...let us walk beneath the Serengeti moon 

 

(Chorus) 

Oh, let the music play 

Mamalang melodia yalla (listen to the melody) 

Fill your heart with joy and mirth 

Thabishing pelo tsa lona (let your hearts rejoice) 

Oh, let the rain clouds come 

Mameland melodie yalla 

Spill their life upon this earth (Whoa-oh) 

 

The grass is high and the work is done 

Send the sun to his sleeping place 

Now we'll dance and make love beneath the Serengeti moon 

The Serengeti moon 

The Serengeti moon 

 

 

Higher Ground 

 

Rain keeps falling -- keeps a-falling down 

Like it's never going to quit 

Trouble stalks this one horse town 

Like it can smell the fear inside of it 

Through the night the fires rage 

Mixing juices 'til they disengage 

Mouths get hungry and the hands reach out 

Is there something we should talk about 

 

We've got to head for higher ground (Oh no) 

Oh good people there's hard choices going down now 

We've got to head for higher ground 

Head for higher ground...higher ground 

 

Shattered trusts and broken vows can exact a heavy toll 

And in the race of heart and mind 

Sure, the loser is the soul 

 

We've got to head for higher ground (Oh no) 

Good people there's hard choices going down now 

We've got to head for higher ground 

Head for higher ground...higher ground 

Higher...higher...higher...higher 

Higher....higher...higher 

 

Faithless deeds for faithless times 

All men are guilty of their brothers' crimes 

So few are chosen; there's even fewer called 

So few can ever read the writing on the wall 

 

We've got to head for higher ground (Oh people) 

Oh people there's hard choices going down now 

We've got to head for higher ground 

Head for higher ground...higher 

We've got to head for higher ground (Oh-oh Oh-oh) 

Good people there's hard choices going down now 

We've got to head for higher ground 

Head for higher ground...higher ground 

 

 

A Love Like This 

 

And now the lonely days are done 

And with each rising of the sun, love begins anew 

And if you ever ask me why I know that my love will never die 

I'll say these words to you 

Of all the souls I've ever known 

Mine sings to yours and yours alone 

And yours sings just to me 

In all this world I'll never find 

A heart that could beat as close to mine 

And this time I can see 

(Chorus) 

A love like this is so hard to find 

And so many never do 

And loves like this, when they even exist 

Are precious and few 

You know they're precious and few 

(Repeat Chorus) 

Down the miles, through the years 

Yours is the star by which I steer 

The brightest star I've known 

And when I feel all hope is gone 

Yours is the love that leads me on 

The light that guides me home 

The light that guides me home 

Your light will guide me home 

 

 

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 

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 

 

(Chorus) 

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 

(Refrain Espagnole) 

Lo que es 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 

 

(Chorus & Refrain) 

 

 

A Voice For Peace 

 

You know that everybody has a voice 

And how they use it is their own free choice 

In your glory I will not rejoice 

If you choose the ways of war 

If you choose the ways of war 

Ashes to ashes and dust to dust 

My country 'tis of thee; in God we trust 

But how much longer will He shelter us 

While we choose the ways of war 

While the winds of war rage on 

 

(Chorus) 

Let mine (oh let my small voice) be a voice for peace 

Oh let mine (oh let my small voice) be a voice for peace 

Oh let mine (oh let my small voice) be a voice for peace 

Let it start here with me--oh let mine be a voice for peace 

 

The good book tells us thou shalt not kill 

The truth came shining and it's shining still 

But how much blood upon this earth must spill 

Before we lay our weapons down 

Let us lay our weapons down 

 

(Chorus) 

 

Let mine (oh let my small voice) be a voice for peace 

Oh let mine (oh let my small voice) be a voice for peace 

Oh let mine (oh let my small voice) be a voice for peace 

Let it start here with me, oh let mine be a voice 

And in the face of the beast, oh let mine be a voice 

Until the breaths in me cease, oh let mine be a voice for peace 

Let mine (oh let my small voice) be a voice for peace 

Oh let mine (oh let my small voice) be a voice for peace 

Oh let mine (oh let my small voice) be a voice for peace 

Oh let mine (oh let my small voice) be a voice for peace 

Raise your voice up, raise your voice up 

Raise your voice up and sing for the promise 

(Sing as a round with the last chorus) 

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